Simon.C
17-10-2012, 09:04 AM
Morning all.
My 1999.5 A4 2.5 TDi Q Tip is due a belt change. I would normally entrust this work to a good independent VAG specialist, however I feel the car has reached an age where a bit more poking around might be prudent whilst the front end is stripped down. There appears to be an oil leak somewhere in that area (alternator is covered in oil, as is the sump and undertray) and I quite like the idea of giving everything a thorough (steam?) clean at the same time. This has led me to contemplate doing the job myself - that plus the fact that I have never found a garage that I have been 100% happy with.
My shopping list would include all belts, tensioners, idlers, dampers, etc plus water pump and thermostat. I would also be investing in the proper cam, crank and pump locking kit and probably a few special tools (for loosening cam sprockets, etc). Problem is, that lot comes to almost as much as putting my cleaning plan to one side and paying to have the work done. That just leaves the question of the oil leak and a thorough inspection of everything else in that area - can I trust a garage to do that or will I just get fobbed off with "couldn't find any faults" like I did last time?
In view of the fact that oil seals do shrink and dry out with age, should I just instruct the garage to change every oil seal in that area? Am I correct to presume that there is a seal where the dipstick tube meets the engine? Are there any other parts in there that ought to be replaced? There appears to be a small coil spring/damper assembly buried in there that doesn't feature on the extended 'what to change' list.
Car is at 165000 and I plan to keep it for a long time yet - they really are very good cars.
Thanks for reading my 1st post. I hope I haven't missed a protocol by diving straight in like this!
My 1999.5 A4 2.5 TDi Q Tip is due a belt change. I would normally entrust this work to a good independent VAG specialist, however I feel the car has reached an age where a bit more poking around might be prudent whilst the front end is stripped down. There appears to be an oil leak somewhere in that area (alternator is covered in oil, as is the sump and undertray) and I quite like the idea of giving everything a thorough (steam?) clean at the same time. This has led me to contemplate doing the job myself - that plus the fact that I have never found a garage that I have been 100% happy with.
My shopping list would include all belts, tensioners, idlers, dampers, etc plus water pump and thermostat. I would also be investing in the proper cam, crank and pump locking kit and probably a few special tools (for loosening cam sprockets, etc). Problem is, that lot comes to almost as much as putting my cleaning plan to one side and paying to have the work done. That just leaves the question of the oil leak and a thorough inspection of everything else in that area - can I trust a garage to do that or will I just get fobbed off with "couldn't find any faults" like I did last time?
In view of the fact that oil seals do shrink and dry out with age, should I just instruct the garage to change every oil seal in that area? Am I correct to presume that there is a seal where the dipstick tube meets the engine? Are there any other parts in there that ought to be replaced? There appears to be a small coil spring/damper assembly buried in there that doesn't feature on the extended 'what to change' list.
Car is at 165000 and I plan to keep it for a long time yet - they really are very good cars.
Thanks for reading my 1st post. I hope I haven't missed a protocol by diving straight in like this!