Dutge

My car has 73K and i started to hear a little engine noise at appx 1000RPM. I took it to the shop and they told me that the cam adjusters need to be replaced.
THey also recommended me to change the timing belt. THey estimated like 35 hrs to do that at 90us$/hr is equal to 3150 US$....is this reasonable??? This price do not include parts...
can anyone tell me if they have been through to the same problem?

6ULDV8

10 hours is more like it. Its not unheard of that tensioners go, but I'd get a second opinion as they are pricey.

Dutge

Thank you for your input. I felt that they want me to screw me. The said that the cam adjusters need to be replace it since you can hear like the cam chain are a little loose. If i replace the timing belt and cam adj, is the water pump attached to the belt? (if positive do you think i should replace it also?)
thank you again for your feed back.
Diego

Muhammad

I don't think there's any part on an A6 that takes 35 hours to replace.

Dutge

Thank you for your feedback. Although i do not anything about cars, i also found it unreasonable. I know that these cars are high maintenance but for 3K i would consider to get another car.
thanks again,
diego

saakey

you need to dump that 1 armed mechanic of yours for one with 2 arms - he's to slow ;-)

wwaudi

The noise you describe happened on mine at 43K. This from a 04/2004 dealer service invoice to have this done on my 2.8, in hours. Timing belt was (unfortunately) not replaced but there should not be much more labor to do that as most everything is already apart.

R&I 2 camshafts - 6.2
R&I 2 adjuster seals 0.2
R&I 2 camshaft adjusters 0.2
Loosen and fasten lock carrier 1.6

Total Labor 8.4 hours

While they were in there:
R&I Water Pump 2.2

MP4.2+6.0

Audi service interval on this is 90K miles, and due to 4.2 gearing the engine revs per mile are lower than any other Audi w/ the same interval, suggesting less wear rather than more.

Long before I spent that kind of $$ I would try a simple oil change, or an oil change with an engine cleaning solvent--often it's more the old sticky lifter or a slightly clogged oil return valve in the intake manifold area. That will cost you all of about $5 extra at any decent auto parts store to put in the solvent just before you arrive at an oil change place (or they may have it there).

I understand going price on this job is more like $800-1K give or take and the parts cost is $3-500 depending on how many of the pulleys you choose to replace and where you have the job done, and assuming you replace the water pump and all.

Dutge

Thank you for the info. It is much appreciated.
Diego

6ULDV8

If its original I would replace it with the belt along with the belt roller and the tensioner. Technically the belt is not due for replacement until 105K miles, but with the belt having to come half way off to do the other work your really only looking at a couple more hours labor and the extra parts. Its 10 hours to pull the cams and do both tensioners. 2 more hours to do the belt, roller, tensioner and water pump is very fair.