Timing Belt A6 2.5TDi

[lennymfo]

My timing belt was replace at 88K 4 years ago and I have done 153K and am about 15K from the next change. Will it be ok do you think? Ive heard that it is very rare for these belts to go.

[snapdragon]

There is no way to tell, but a visual inspection of the condition is required at every service, have they been carried out?

[dandam]

Personally I wouldn't leave a belt on for much more than 60k miles, especially if I was looking to keep the car long term. I know they are expensive to do but it's a lot more expensive to get an engine fixed after a belt snaps !

[paul b]

Really it's 4 years or 60k intervals. It is near, so I recommend the investment. Better to be safe than sorry.

Paul

[POLOACE]

If you don't have it doen at a dealer, make sure the garage have the correct alingment tools and will do the correct process of un locking the camshaft pulleys. As the belt is so long it stretchs when tensioned which if the camshaft pulleys were locked woudl but the engine out of time.

I just finished rebuilding an engine that had worn cams massive damage from a damage valve. A very expensive procedure and I did all the work my self.

For the £400 ish dealers charge ? its a bargain

[paul b]

If you don't have it doen at a dealer, make sure the garage have the correct alingment tools and will do the correct process of un locking the camshaft pulleys. As the belt is so long it stretchs when tensioned which if the camshaft pulleys were locked woudl but the engine out of time.

I just finished rebuilding an engine that had worn cams massive damage from a damage valve. A very expensive procedure and I did all the work my self.

For the £400 ish dealers charge ? its a bargain

Excellent advice, had to buy those tools from Audi myself...

Paul

[POLOACE]

MY old engien had tipex marks and fairley recent looking belt hardware, I think the engines terminal valve damage occured not due to the wornout cams but due to the timing being slightly out and and valve just making contact causing it to crack over time , then it broke the engine still run and sent debris thoughout killing the engine. It is possible that the worn cams caused debris to stick seize a valve but I can't really see that.

I videoed the campulleys rotation when I built up my new engine and there is about 2-3 degrees cam rotation. when the belt is fitted without the tools it can only be done nearest tooth which woudl be semi slack then the tension appied to the belts it could be getting close to 10degrees misalignment.

The tolerences are very tight in these engine so much so there a 3 thicknesses of head gasket depending on the tolerence stack of the engine!

Once I get organised and bought a better puller for the pulleys I will offer to hire the tools as it can be done DIY if you have enough time.