A3 Timing Belt Change?

[cammywhite]

Hi Guys,

I just bought an A3 1.8 T Sport 1999 from a friend who tells me the timing belt is due a change at 80,000miles. The car has now passed that mark so I recently called my local garage to make a booking. I was told by the garage that the model I have doesn't need a change until it hits 112,000miles.

I was also told to check the 3 letter code on the belt cover. It should say AGN, AGU, or APY. I can't see this anywhere near the belt.

Can you guys advise when the belt should be changed and what code should be on my model of car.

Cheers in advance
Cammy White

[davegwynn]

Hey Cammy,

Unless I am much mistaken, the engine in your A3 will be the same unit as the 1.8T in the Passat of the same vintage (as well as a suprising variety of other VW/Audi/Skoda models), and the timing belts on these engines seem to need doing at about 60K miles. VW used to recommend 80K for the engine in the passat, but there are numerous incidences of failure before there if you go poking about on forums. I think leaving the timing belt change to over 110K is madness, unless I am missing something and there is a crazy chain drive version of the 1.8 unit. Was this a local VW main dealer?

Personally I would say to get it changed ASAP, it is one of these things that are likely to come and bite you if you don't get it done. And when it bites, it will bite hard.

Unless, that is, the belt was changed early for some reason - and the 112K they recommend take this into account. Does it have any service history?

As to finding the engine code, in the passat it is on a sticker in the spare tyre well. Might also be in the A3 service book/info?

[sharc]

Hey Cammy
I asked the same question after my dealer told me a cambelt service was due.
The official line at the moment is that the belt will last for 112,000 miles. It says so in your service manual, at the front. The problem is that Audi change their recommendations from time to time, so the dealers change their advice to you.
Don't waste £3-400 if you don't need to!
I hope this reply reaches you in time :)
Andy

[RickT]

this was changed to about 60k for most models back in about 2000..

I would get it done if your at 80k.. beeter be safe than sorry..

RicKT

[sharc]

Yeah, but it's been changed back again, according to an independent specialist I contacted. Yes, I supposes it's better to be safe than sorry, but they obviously designed the belt to last 112,000 originally.....

[Eshrules]

latest techincal bulletin im aware of advised for timing belts, 60k or every 4 years, whichever comes first.

it isnt one of those things you can afford to risk, its preventative maintenance, the cost of a timing belt (around £300/500) change compared to the cost of the overhaul needed after a failure (££££'s) does not even bear thinking about, its a no brainer :D

[Eshrules]

Yeah, but it's been changed back again, according to an independent specialist I contacted. Yes, I supposes it's better to be safe than sorry, but they obviously designed the belt to last 112,000 originally.....


missed this post... i strongly doubt that audi ever reccomended a 112k change interval for the timing belt..... thats ludicrous, and anyway, the belt wear is not directly attributed to the mileage it has covered, any techie will agree with me on this one, in that the belt weathers and wears away over time, end of the day, its only rubber, does rubber last forever?

:( sadly not

[cammywhite]

Thanks Folks for all your replies. I was expecting such a slit opinion, it appears that this subject it open for debate.

My mechanic buddie will do the work for £120 but says I shouldn't waste my cash as it's not needed til 112k. I'm gonna get it done in a week or two regardless.

As previously stated, Better safe than sorry!

Thanks again
Cammy

[bora(ing) nick]

£120 is a bargain.... i think i'm right in saying that you need to get the tensioner replaced as well, as its actually this this fails leading to excess wear on the belt...

Nick

[Eshrules]

Thanks Folks for all your replies. I was expecting such a slit opinion, it appears that this subject it open for debate.

My mechanic buddie will do the work for £120 but says I shouldn't waste my cash as it's not needed til 112k. I'm gonna get it done in a week or two regardless.

As previously stated, Better safe than sorry!

Thanks again
Cammy


:aargh4: ignore your mechanic, get on the phone to a vw/audi main dealer and ask their service section what the manufacturer reccomends! trust me, it isnt 112k mate :( please dont ever leave it that long

nicks right in saying the tensioner needs doing, id always do this as a matter of course with the belt 9/10 its not the belt that fails but the tensioner itself... tails of great expense resulting from the failure of such are not ones i like to hear :(

[RickT]

take the cover off and inspect the belt...

You will be best getting a cam belt kit and do the water pump at the same time..

RicKT

[sharc]

I hate to argue with you, Carl, but it's printed, right there in the service schedule that came with the car! :p

I see what you mean, though, about better safe than sorry. If you're intending to keep the car for a while, then it's worth doing. I'm selling mine, so I'll leave the decision up to the buyer.

Andy

[Eshrules]

I hate to argue with you, Carl, but it's printed, right there in the service schedule that came with the car! :p

I see what you mean, though, about better safe than sorry. If you're intending to keep the car for a while, then it's worth doing. I'm selling mine, so I'll leave the decision up to the buyer.

Andy
its not an argument LOl its the difference between diluted opinion and factual information

what is this service book you keep referring to? it is not gospel, techincal bulletins are released as an update to the initial information given. eg for golfs... the intial advice being to change @ 80k. techincal bulletin now specifies, 60k or every 4 years and i would apply the same thinking to most of the VAG range, with exception, of course, to the timing chained cars (unsure which)

to leave the choice to the new buyer is irresponsible... if the belt needs doing, it needs doing... in all honesty, in regards to the OP's origional question, a 1999 1.8t with 112k on the clock, needs it doing, regardless of any information or dispute opinions.

[RickT]

Go to Audi and ask them.... 60k is the golden number now across the range... it was same on the A4 B5.. that sevice book had mega miles before cam belt and due to bosh the supplier for VAG-Cam belts over promising life in the belts...

60K... Its your choice..

RicKT

[sharc]

The book I'm referring to is the service schedule that the dealer stamps in every time it's serviced. At the front it details exactly what needs doing an when. For 1.8T A3's ONLY, it specifies 112K for the timing belt.
Yes, I know that Audi update these numbers every now and again, but the last I heard is that it had gone back to 112K. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I posted my reply based on the info I had been given from a specialist who I assume knew what he was talking about.

The original poster of this thread didn't state the mileage of his car, just that it had done more than 80K.

Andy

[Eshrules]

Go to Audi and ask them.... 60k is the golden number now across the range... it was same on the A4 B5.. that sevice book had mega miles before cam belt and due to bosh the supplier for VAG-Cam belts over promising life in the belts...

60K... Its your choice..

RicKT

good idea.... this thread is getting too confusing for the OP to possibly glean a definitive answer from. :Blush: