Cambelt / Drivebelt service (@120k)

[nowa]

Hi all,

So its time for a cambelt service on my 2.0TDI (C7.5) A6

Been very happy with it so far and its closing to 120k

Just thought to ask for advice on what pulleys to order now when the front bumper is coming off and stripping down starts?

I'm planning on buying the Ina cambelt kit and of course the water pump as well. What I am wondering about is if there are any pulleys I should change on the drive belt too?

On my previous 2.0TDI A4 (B8) I made the mistake of not doing anything to the drivebelt (@ 80k) when I did a cambelt service and just a year later the drivebelt snapped. I put a new one back on but it only lasted for a few months and I had to strip everything down again and change the drive belt tension pulley and alternator pulley... That could have been avoided if I had changed it at the same time as the cambelt service. So just thought I'd ask if anyone has any experience with this? Anyone done a 120k cambelt service and has any suggestion regarding what other pulleys would be good to change at the same time?

I will as mentioned obvously change the waterpump too, and I am thinking of changing the drive belt and drive belt tension pulley too... but what about the alternator pulley and... AC pulley, is that something that goes by the drive belt and needs changing at 120k?

Many thanks for any suggestions!

[danclyon]

Unless I've missed something, you are 70k over the change interval. How old is the car?

I too read the manual and it says 120k on my A6 Ultra (2015) Diesel - however, that is 120k miles OR 5 years. I questioned Audi UK and the dealer, and my local specialist and all said the same. The book says 120k miles, as they sell a lot into fleet that clock up 80k miles in 2 years and then sit for 18 months in storage at an airfield for age to catch up with reasonable mileage. That means the cambelt doesn't have to be changed by the first owner, and it gets flogged onto the second or perhaps third owner before the 120k mentioned in the book comes round.

That said, Audi UK Customer Services said 75k miles or 5 years for "non-fleet use" (i.e. not plugging up and down motorways on long runs each day), supplying dealer said 75k or 5 years, and my trusted independent said exactly the same thing.

Check carefully, as if it's an ultra it's probably got the water-pump with the thermostat built in which is more expensive than the non-thermostat one (though why they put a bloody thermostat on it vs. just not making the impeller out of a material that ages in hot water beats me!). When I checked at ECP they said for my reg it had a standard water pump, but my indy who did the work for me showed me the one from TPS for my VIN and it was different. If you can, best get a complete kit, belt and tensioners, and do the water pump if you really are at 120k miles....

D.

[nowa]

Thanks for writing Danclyon.

Indeed it is a 2.0TDI Ultra (65 reg) I too felt 120k miles was a bit long for the cambelt service... But I risked it since most of my driving is steady speed on highways... Its now on 116k so I will be ordering the parts soon. I always intended to do the whole kit, with tensioners and water pump... But as mentioned, last time I did a cambelt service on my old A4, I did not do anything to the drive belt or anything that the drive belt runs, and that was a mistake, and since the drive belt is just in front of the cambelt, I thought to ask if anyone has any experience of any drive pulleys needing to be changed at 120k?

[danclyon]

Like you I moved to A6 from A4. I hit alternator clutch problems at about 110k and that had to be replaced, and the aux belt was replaced every 2nd cambelt change. Given the A4 interval was 60k miles (PD engine) the Aux belt was changed twice in my ownership from 21k miles to 250k miles. My indy, who is my source of all useful reminders, didn't mention the aux belt needed doing, but he did say the cambelt was showing noticeable signs of wear. Although I do a lot of motorway miles, it's the start/stop cycles that worry me...

Good luck on changing, and as I say, make sure you get the right water pump

[nowa]

Thanks again,

So looks like I'll do the aux (drive) belt, tensioner and perhaps the alternator pulley/clutch while I do the cambelt kit and water pump...
Thanks for the heads up reg. the pump, you are sure I will need the one with built in thermostat?

[Crasher]

I must admit that driving your car would cause me some contractions of one’s sphincter, I have a cam belt to do on the same car in the morning.

[nowa]

You recon I'm on the last thread of the belt? 😮

On my A4 (B8 2.0TDI) I changed the belt (kit) at 80k and then again at 180k, then sold it at 195k... But the old belt looked fine both times...

Are you doing something to the aux (drive) belt and pulleys on yours tomorrow?

[Crasher]

It isn't mine, it is a customers... at the moment it is down at the MOT station. When they fail it doesn't tend to be a threadbare type failure, it is usually the teeth, they just tear off leaving a smooth patch. It's back now, A6 Avant CNHA Slime... built 22.05.2015 and done just shy of 50k.

[nowa]

I'll better get on with mine this week then. .. @50k you probably won't do anything on the aux belt on yours. Any experience on what tends to go on the aux belt side?

[danclyon]

It isn't mine, it is a customers... at the moment it is down at the MOT station. When they fail it doesn't tend to be a threadbare type failure, it is usually the teeth, they just tear off leaving a smooth patch. It's back now, A6 Avant CNHA Slime... built 22.05.2015 and done just shy of 50k.

Mine is CNHA, my mates is CNHA, but they have different water pumps....boggle. Anyway, mine was done at 68k, and I shall stick to the 60-70k or 5 year mark per the guidance of my indy....and Crasher seems to be in agreement so I'm feeling happy