Likely cost of a timing belt change?

[expat2000]

Hi all

My 1998 1.9 TDi (AFN) A4 is coming up for a timing belt change (3rd time). I could do it myself but it will probably be due midwinter when working outside is a no-no (here in Norway, -30degC and deep snow).

Now the cost* here will be prohibitive so planning a trip over the border to Sweden (about 150 miles each way) to get it done but was wondering what a typical cost in the UK would be as could combine it with a mini-break and some xmas shopping.

Would be for a timing belt, tensioners, water pump etc, drive in, drive out basis (I'd need to bring my own anti-freeze as the stuff you get in the UK just won't cut it here).

Any info would be good.

Thanks

Stuart

*(You wouldn't believe the costs here, parts can vary from double to ten times as much which is why most of mine are bought mail order from the EU as even with import duty and post office admin charges and getting the wrong stuff half the time it's still cheaper than buying local. Labour charge is £100 ph minimum for a back street garage)

[NickPicks]

Timing belt change on a 1.9tdi with a water pump should cost around £300 over here. Might be a bit more to include the tensioner damper

[zollaf]

afn water pump is not driven off the timing belt so no need to touch it. the belt kit consists of a belt and tensioner. about the easiest ever audi to do, hardest part is getting the front into service position. about an hour to get the front off and back on, another 1.5 or so to do the belt.

[green A8]

I have to agree with the above comment by 'Zollaf'

The AFN is a doddle to work on regarding the TB change. As a rule I usually check the Alternator freewheel and the state of the aux belt tensioner whilst doing a TB change. Any excessive corrosion on the tensioner will lead to a headache later on. Best to sort all the niggles at the same time. You might as well add new belts to your shopping list as, again this will save time and trouble later on. I enjoy working on the great little AFN engines. Have fun :D

[zollaf]

the 1z in my 80 is basically the same as the afn but you don't need to pull the front to do the belts. its about an hour for me, you just remove the fans to create space.

[green A8]

Quick question for you Zollaf, hope you don't mind. I've got to play with an 1974/5 Audi 80 Avant at some point in the near future, Timing belt, water pump and stat ect. I'm pretty sure I know how to do the job but it's been a very long time since I opened the bonnet on an 80! It's a V6 beast. I take it that the front end can be removed in a similar fashion to the A4 B5? This car is being returned to the road after ten years storage. It's in need of a fair bit of TLC. Then after that I have a lovely old 1981 90 5 cylinder 2.0 (I think) to do the same to. Such fun playing with REAL Audis:biglaugh:

[zollaf]

presuming you mean 94/95, then yes, the bumper comes off and the front goes into service position. you will need the locking plate that goes between the cams to do it properly, and the crank locking pin.really nice engines to do , same as my s4.

[green A8]

Oops:Blush2: Yes I did mean a 1994/5 not 74/75 My bad. Sorry 'bout that, Ive been renewing the petrol pipes on a 1974 100 GL that's what caused the confusion. That and the petrol fumes;)
Thanks for taking the time to reply Zollaf. Sorry to the oP for taking the thread off course a little!

[expat2000]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the info, tempted to do it myself now. I had the front into service position a couple of weeks back as had to replace the aux belt and tensioner so not too daunted by that, was actually pleasantly surprised as to how easy it was to do, especially as no idea how long its been since it was apart. Getting the fan pulley off was the main difficulty in order to remove the aux belt tensioner. The alternator freewheel seemed in good condition as well.

I will price up what it will be in Sweden as well as its only a couple of hours drive and prices are much lower there as well. I got a quote from the Audi dealer here as well and was pleasantly surprised at £750 without water pump, perhaps pleasantly surprised is not correct but surprised it wasn't over the £1000.

Cheers

Stuart

[zollaf]

for 750 quid i would be tempted to fly to you and do it :)

[expat2000]

I'll tell you, if I was a mobile mechanic in the uk I would spend the whole summer driving round Norway living in a caravan doing work on peoples cars for stupid rates of pay!

[JMR1]

While you are that deep into it for the timing belt, just as well to change the water pump as well. Better to be on the safe side.....

[Doctle Odd]

There's many "how to's" for the AFN belt on the interweb and even they Haynes book of hitting things with hammers is very accurate on this job. So to answer your question the cost is the price of the belt and tensioner and your time. You don't need the special tools either, last one I did I couldn't be bothered looking for the locking tools I just used a vernier, a flat file and a deep socket

[Noony]

Oops:Blush2: Yes I did mean a 1994/5 not 74/75 My bad. Sorry 'bout that, Ive been renewing the petrol pipes on a 1974 100 GL that's what caused the confusion. That and the petrol fumes;)
Thanks for taking the time to reply Zollaf. Sorry to the oP for taking the thread off course a little!

Think we need a pic of the GL. I used to own a very original 72 100 GL 2 door saloon that now sits at Audi HQ Museum in London!!!

I do have a brand new stainless steel down pipe that I had made for mine if ever you need one.

Noony

[defever]

Good morning expat2000 and everyone,

I had my cambelt done in January along with full service and other stuff while the bumper was off. It was just about £1000 and one full day in garage for:



Full Service
Glow plugs
Timing belt + tensioner
2x Auxilary belts + tensioner
Water pump


So, if you roughly substract the cost of timing belt and full service fomr £1000, you'll have a rought estimate for the timing belt + water pump work.

As Zollaf said, AFN engine's water pump is independent of the timing belt (I knew and the mechanic double checked with me) but I had it done anyways while the front of the engine was coming off.

One advice, if the thermostat hasn't been replaced for long time (or maybe you have done this very recently?), then may I recommend doing it while you have an easy access to it? I didn't know much about thermostat common problem and, by sod's law, the thermostat went bonkers not long after I had the timing belt done (Question Coolant temperature gauge dips after 10min drive and returns to normal (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php/165540-Coolant-temperature-gauge-dips-after-10min-drive-and-returns-to-normal)). If I paid more attention, I could have asked it to be done, but on a positive note I managed to do it myself (with difficulty) so more experience gained for me.

I hope this helps, and as Doctle Odd mentioned, there is a very good YouTube clip on the timing belt and there are lots of information on "how to guide" or "tips" on various forums. Although I don't have the tools, skills, place and time to do it myself, they really helped me understand what are required to do for timing belt change.

The video is here, just for your reference (it's not AFN engine, I'm not sure what it is):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtBCmic2bWY

I hope this helps, and good luck!