GBW

So, according to Bentley the belt changes on a 2001 A6 2.7t are as follows:
80,000 Miles replace:
- "Ribbed Belt - Replace"

105,000 Miles replace:
- "Timing Belt - Replace"

The local authorized Audi dealership service department confirms these intervals.

A call to Audi customer service resulted in, confirmation that I do own a CPO car, and that Audi would cover parts and labor if the service/maintenance intervals were followed up to 100,000 miles (or prior to 5/31/07 when the limited warranty ends, whichever comes first). So, if I change the belts prior to 100,000 I'm covered. They will not confirm this in writing, but did give me the Audi reference number for the call.

However, I find this little sticker on the passenger side under the hood:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/81787/100_0982.jpg">
I told both the dealer and Audi about the sticker and they have absoulty no explination, other than I'm good via the CPO warranty.

I'm at 70,000 miles and the sweat beads are forming....! I was planning to replace the timing belt(and everything else) at 90,000....What does AudiWorld think?

SouthboroAudiGuy

...(translation: I'm NOT speaking from experience).

A lot of the cost of a replacing timing belt is the labor of getting in there. As such, it makes sense to replace the tensioner and pulleys (there are parts suppliers who sell kits that include the whole shebang) at the same time you're replacing the belt. I think most people here will see 90k as the outside of when you'd want to consider doing this given the implications of a failed belt.

My $02. Do a search and you'll find LOTS of reading/opinions that say you should do the work sooner than later.

Chipped2.7Tip

driven many cars past 100K without replacing the timing belts and when i did bring it into the dealer to replace i always asked the mechanics to save my parts and every time the belts have all looked very good and even the mechanics mentioned that there were many more miles to go.....i'm not saying don't change your timing belt but when people go in at 60 or even 70k miles when the most v6 engines recommended replacement is at 80k it just cracks me up....preventitive...whatever i've driven way too many expensive car's past 100k without replacing the belts...who wants to argue this with me...bring it on

bac2h

your mind at ease...Craig Tracey, Service Manager. A very nice guy. He will set your mind at ease, as he did mine during our pre Audi purchase anxiety attack. I cannot imagine he would object to your bringing the car in for the toothed belt change at 75k instead of 80. It's covered so get it done.

Bill Bachhuber
New Hartford, CT

GBW

think and if they have the same sticker. By the way, our friendly Hoffman dealership (I've been going there since 1987, Craig is one of several SMs they've had, and one year they had 3 SMs) want's $2,500 to do it..our dime, not theirs. Also it's my understanding that the "toothed belt" IS the timing belt, not to be confused with the "ribbed" belt.

A6sport

That's my boy...luckylarry givin' em' hell and trying to start a fight! LOL

SouthboroAudiGuy

Includes:

- Timing belt
- Idler roller
- Tensioner Roller
- Water Pump
- Thermostat
- Accessory drive belt

As I said... the labor is what kills you.

saabSean

If the cost of a rebuilt engine was a lot lower it wouldn't be an issue. I change them around the 60k - 70k range.

Didn't we just go through something like this with another poster whose t'belt let go "early" and it caused all kinds of damage?

4Driver4

But usually the waterpump.

So how long do you plan to have the car? If you are going to keep it to 100k, maybe it's worth chancing, but if you are going to keep the car 120k or 130k without doing the belt, you are almost assured disaster.

So if you plan to keep the car to 120-150k, it doesn't really matter when you change the belt: you are still going to have to change it once. What does it matter whether you do it at 75k or 105k? May as well buy the measure of safety.

SouthboroAudiGuy

<i>When replacing the timing belt it is highly recommended that you replace the belt tensioner, roller and water pump. More often than not, it is not the timing belt that fails, but one of the bearing driven accessories that seize causing the belt to fail. ECS recommends servicing the timing system on a performance tuned vehicle every 60k miles.</i>