jayd2s8

My dad wants to take my A8 from Dallas to Michigan belt hasn't been serviced good idea or bad idea?

dvs_dave

As you're clearly a gambling man I say go for it. It'll probably be just fine...

jayd2s8

Lol I'm just trying to put it on paper its a bad idea he doesn't believe me ha

2001 S8

Most likely you'll have something else fail before the timing belt fails. I had a complete timing belt service done do to a seized thermostat. My machanic kept all the old parts from my timing belt service and walked through the condition of each piece with me. Very interesting.

https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a8-...thing-2851557/

Good luck.

Pothole5000

Highway cruising is lower stress then start stop city driving. However that is a long way from home if something goes wrong...

TSHong

It's usually the pulleys that go bad. Like everyone has posted, it will be a small gamble but I would not think twice about it.

Jack88

The timing belt I did at 114,000 upon purchase of an A8 needed it badly, the water pump was oozing and the belt was showing cracks. It's a gamble I wouldn't take, that's a lot of miles on a bunch of parts well past their expected service life.

Panelhead

After this road trip is the vehicle going to be used much? If the is to keep it on the road, the 1500 - 2000 dollar timing belt and all other parts is good insurance. This will cover it to 200K miles.
If the belt, rollers, tensioner, water pump, or thermostat fails on the trip you have a parts car on the side of the road somewhere. Almost zero value. Plus your family hitch hiking the rest of the way.

03_AR_CO

It is the right time of year for hitch hiking though, shouldn't be too bad :-)

I would not take the risk, get the belt and pulleys serviced.

jayd2s8

Ha thanks guys maybe now my dad will listen to me ha-ha