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jimgad
16-11-2006, 11:42 AM
Can anyone tell a mechanical novice how to tell if a cambelt has been changed?
Bought my A4 from a main dealer I've used before, and as the full service history DIDN'T mention a cambelt change, I agreed to buy on condition it was changed, as the car is at 68k miles, as well as a full service.
The garage workshop is a few miles from the dealer, and when I went to pick it up the following week the full service had been stamped... but no mention of the belt change. When I queried that, the manager said it was an oversight and stamped it with the belt change in the requisite place.
I've bought cars there before.... and generally feel I can trust them, but when it comes to the possibility of the belt going......well......:((
So if anyone has any idea of what I could look for under the bonnet that would indicate it had been done, I'd be very grateful!
Cheers
Jim

adamss24
16-11-2006, 01:38 PM
Hi, remove the engine cover and then unclip the cambelt plastic cover. If it is dull mat black color then its new, if its shiny and fried then it hasnt been changed. Also turn the engine with a spanner( or by putting it in 4th gear and rock it slightly forward) and see the belt marks/arrows and manufacturer name- they should be clear to read. If in doubt, replace it toghether with new tensioners !

Dave Avant
16-11-2006, 05:34 PM
I'm in the same boat, just bought an A4 TDi. It does have Audi history and was last serviced at 58K miles. In the service book it has a tick on the 60,000mile service - which according to the service notes at the begining of the book this should be the belt service. I phoned them and they said it hadn't been done, but I would have thought it would have as the mileage. Its an ex lease car and most services are just paid for and not scrimped.

I'm going to whip the belt cover off and check. If the dealer has done it the tensioner may look newer and the belt. As said an 'old' belt will be shiny.

JR001
20-11-2006, 09:39 PM
Important to remember that belt change is not carried out as part of the service. It is additional work and normally is of the order of approx£370 on top of your service cost!

dppowell
29-11-2006, 05:19 PM
Having just bought my first A4 yesterday (2.8 Quattro) and a mechanical novice how do I
a) Remove the engine cover and
b) Identify the plastic Cambelt cover to remove that?

Thanks
David

Bartoosh
01-12-2006, 07:49 PM
Ask him where it was serviced and check with the garage.
This job is normally conducted by an Audi garage or specialist as the ramifications of the belt breaking are just too painful to even consider.

Personally I would insist on concrete proof from the dealer as an Audi dealer will quote £500 - £700 to change the belt!!

auiron
03-12-2006, 11:20 PM
Ask him where it was serviced and check with the garage.
This job is normally conducted by an Audi garage or specialist as the ramifications of the belt breaking are just too painful to even consider.

Personally I would insist on concrete proof from the dealer as an Audi dealer will quote £500 - £700 to change the belt!!

I quite agree with what you say and the main dealer will be able to look up the receipt details and see if the timing belt change was carried out. It is possible to get a copy of the receipt if you insist on seeing the manager at the Audi Dealership. It will also carry an Audi 2 year warranty or maximum of 60,000 miles, providing servicing at an Audi Dealer is carried out at the correct intervals.

Dave Avant
04-12-2006, 11:37 AM
Finally got round to checking the belt this weekend, dead easy to check on the TDi.

Yes it has been changed!! :approve: The belt wasn't shiny and the tensioner was new as the surface the belt runs on was still 'matt' another pulley further down was very shiny as expected at 66K miles, also had new auxillary belt. As Adam says, the print on the belt was all readable too, although some belts can still have print on after alot of miles, but at the edge of the belt you can see where it hasn't been touched so as new and there wasn't alot of difference in that and the part that had been running on the rollers.

Daft thing is I rang the dealer and they said it hadn't been done!! I think they couldn't find the history and was best to say it hadn't been done or trying to see if they could get some money out of me as I said I was a new owner.

Then I rechecked the service book and it was ticked for the 60,000 mile service 'additional work' - then noticed at the top right the 'Cambelt change' part was filled in with the mileage, didn't notice that before!!

Bartoosh
05-12-2006, 10:45 AM
Good for you.

For anyone needing a cambelt change in future insist on having the other belts changed at the same time. The parts are relatively cheap and no extra labour is required.

The dealer may moan about sticking to standard protocol but if you walk away the prospect of losing £500 - £700 will soon make them reconsider!

Teutonic_Tamer
05-12-2006, 01:38 PM
Important to remember that belt change is not carried out as part of the service. It is additional work and normally is of the order of approx£370 on top of your service cost!

Yes, but if the car went in for a service at close to 60k miles, and the service book schedule states "Additional work at 60,000 miles = replace cam belt", then the dealer should have replaced the belt and charged accordingly.

If, on the other hand, the customer refused the belt change, the dealer should have annoted the service history accordingly.

Teutonic_Tamer
05-12-2006, 01:43 PM
Good for you.

For anyone needing a cambelt change in future insist on having the other belts changed at the same time. The parts are relatively cheap and no extra labour is required.

The shedules do actually state that any auxillary belts will be replaced at the same time as a com belt change.