SGP

As others have said, Audi changed the recommended timing belt interval from 75,000 to 110,000 miles. I know many posters recommend keeping the original 75,000 mile interval.
Is there a recommended interval for the serpentine belt?
What are the visible signs the serp belt needs to be changed?
Am I correct that if serp belt breaks, the engine runs (for a while) w/o power steering and alternator, and no serious engine damage (valves)?

Thanks,

Seth
'08 A4qm
'02 TTqm
and many previous Audis

chapstick

Change it and preferably the tensioner at the same time as tbelt.

John535is

You can buy a little plastic guage to check the belt wear, I think mine is a continental Brand, same as the large supplier of the belts. If you are worried about it, then change it, you will not forgive yourself if it breaks as its real inconvenient and usually results in extensive damage. I know of one car that had no damage, the owner was stationary at the time with the engine at idle, usually they break under load, that is high revs, once the belt breaks the timing of the cams and therefore valves are no longer in sinc with the crank and Pistons, valves and Pistons collide, tears and empty wallets follow, so if you are nervous about the belt, change it.

As for the mileage, I always thought it was just a typo when those German translators changed from kilometres to miles because 120,000 km equated to roughly 75,000 miles. The early BMW service intervals were always playing with similar conversion issues, but that is just my thoughts.

B7Night

Originally the interval was 75,000 miles in the manuals. It was changed to 115,000 miles in service literature later. It seems to be that 115,000 miles was written somewhere, and someone else thought that number was km and not miles, in other words a typo, and converted it into the miles equivalent of 75,000 miles making for a mistake in the early manuals. It's now 110,000 miles. 115,000 km is pretty much 75,000 miles.

Airbag

Okay a reset is in order. The timing intervals of which you speak are for the timing belt. This is what will pretty well right off your engine if it breaks. Better 10k early than 1 mile late

The serp belt is not nearly as much as a worry But it can be inspected by looking at the rib side and looking for cracking across the ribs. There may even be chunks missing.

If you lose the serp belt it can jamb up and thats bad news. You will instantly lose alternator. Power steering. Air conditioning. I'd still pull over and have it towed. Or better yet change every 5 years or so or on a major service.