2010A4AvantAudi

I recently brought my 2010 A4 Avant 2.0T in for an oil change at my Audi dealership (where it gets all its service). While it was there, they said it needs a new timing chain; the one on it is stretched out and will break. The car has 145k miles on it (I drove a lot for work). At 100k miles, the car was service for a new rear main seal that had gone bad. When I asked them if the timing chain needed to be replace then, they said the timing chain would last the life of the vehicle. Obviously that is quite contradicting.

Lastly, the quote from Audi to replace the timing chain was $1600.00. I have called around to a few local (Rhode Island) European shops and haven't found much cheaper.

Any advice?

A4Driver

Wow, sorry to hear that. But I'm afraid I don't have any advice for you except that you should try contacting Audi of America. The problem with dealerships (and I guess everywhere else) is that you don't know who to trust. One person will tell you one thing, and the guy who's sitting at the desk next week will tell you something else. That's why if you don't have something in writing, you don't have much to stand on.

Not to change the subject, but problems like yours are one more reason why my next car is going to be a lease.
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Diogenes

Maybe I'm missing something, but if they OK's the chain at 100,000 miles, but advised replacement 45,000 miles later that may not be that unusual. What is the expected life of a timing chain? "Live of the car" is pretty vague, Besides, do they define "life of the car" as "life of the timing chain"?
MY Audi dealer quoted 1,800 to replace a 2008 A4 timing belt with all the usual extras.

Diogenes

You won't get to 145,000 miles on any lease.

A4Driver

i could if I decide to buy my car after the lease is up. But I put less than 10,000 miles a year on my car, so I'm all set.

2010A4AvantAudi

Did you end up paying the $1,800? I guess at this point I know I need to do it, and I know getting work done on these cars is a lot of $$$. But $1,600 seems crazy, the car is only worth $9k with the miles that are on it.

jfo

How did the dealer diagnose that the chain is stretched? Do you have other symptoms that indicate the timing is off due to the stretch? You may want a 2nd opinion.

2010A4AvantAudi

I brought the car in for a scheduled oil chain. They said the tech noticed right away a "clanking" noise and was able to diagnose it as the timing chain relatively quickly. I have an appointment with a independent European/Audi specialist garage next week for a second opinion. Unfortunately, its $110 just for them to take a look at it; I doubt they are going to tell me it doesn't need one; hopefully its just a better price. The car is currently making a "clanking" noise that is fair noticeable at slow speeds when the weight of the car shifts around. For example, if I am moving around slowly in a parking lot, making turns, backing up, etc, I can hear a clank. Again, it sounds like its coming from the rear of the car, so I imagine it is unrelated to the timing change or any engine component. I'm thinking something in the rear suspension has broke and is causing this noise.

jfo

If your chain was loose enough to make such a noise, I would think it would also affect your engine timing with other symptoms..rough idle, trouble codes, etc.
The $110 will be worth it to get another opinion IMHO. If they do have to change the chain, be prepared for a little more to change the tensioner and a chain guide or two...probably another $150 or so.

Diogenes

I only have 75,00 miles on my 2008 B7 so I might not need the timing belt right away, and I have no symptoms. I won't be going to the dealer for the work, not only because of that estimate but also because of some past service charges that I thought were excessive.

I'll be bringing the A4 to an independent I used for several years on other cars. I took my A4 to the dealer for service because of the CPO warranty. Now it will be costing me real money and I'll be back to an independent.

Update 7/10 - I took the A4 to the independent. He thought I could wait for the belt replacement and guesstimated that he could replace it and the other customary parts...water pump, tensioner, etc., for $1,000-$1,100.