A4 Timing Belt Change

[andyraff]

Hi All

I am looking for some advice regarding when to change the timing belt on my 1996 1.6 A4. When should this be done? The car is on 86000. I have had the car for a few months there is no record of this being done on the service history.

Would it be best to buy the timing belt from somewhere like ebay then have it fitted at a small garage? or is this something that should be done by an experienced Audi mechanic?

[Dave Avant]

For the price of a timing belt, its best to go to a good auto factors or even Audi if you're feeling flush!! :D

Should be around £25 for a good belt make like 'Gates'. Not sure on the petrol engines, but the diesel is 60,000 miles - I need to check mine!! But generally about 70,000 miles is the norm with more modern cars doing 90,000 until belt change or some as little as 25,000 like some Alfa models.

Also change the tensioner pulley.

[Boardboy]

Andyraff If it were me I would buy a genuine belt and tensioner. If your car has done 86,000 and you have no record of it being changed, change it. It's a big expense if it lets go. The girlfriends Golf had then tensioner seize and it cooked the belt. £600 to get it fixed.
Change it before it's to late and independant garage could do it but like I say I'd use genuine for something like this.
regards Boardboy

[Sam]

All of the above is good advice and the parts themselves (tensioners, water pump, belts etc) come in at around £100.

It's the labour that you pay for. The front end has to come off and so on.

There's a few procedures detailed on dedicated Passat/A4 forums if you're at all interested in DIY.

[adamss24]

Acording to autodata, the manufacturer did not specify a replacement interval so the previous use of the vehicle have to be taken in consideration. Is it fitted with the automatic belt tensioner ? I suggest you change asap if no records of the cambelt been changed. As a rule of thumb, belt should be replaced every 50-60k or 4-5 years, wichever commes first ! Usually the first timing belt is required at about 80-90k on older vag engines but its expensive to fix if it breaks. I will go to a good mechanic/vag specialist who done it beffore. Not a difficult task to complete but it needs some special tools and the steps have to be followed by the book. Good luck.