A long story about timing belts and other issues, please this girl needs your help!
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A long story about timing belts and other issues, please this girl needs your help!
I have 94 80 V6 2.6 Auto transmission
The hydrolic lifters went so I took the car to a new found but trusted mechanic. In addition to the lifters he also found the timing belt was worn. He showed me cracks where the wire had started to come out on the ribbed side, on the flat side it was shiny and kind of raised at the back of each rib, he also mentioned that on the flat side of a new belt there is a section that usually has a white background with writing and numbers, the ID of the part or something, though this had totally worn off on mine.
My first question: are these things he showed me good indicators of a worn timing belt??
If yes then my second question is: is it at all possible that the timing belt could have worn in 10,000km? Since thats when it was supposedly replaced, with the 100,000km major service. This new mechanic says theres no way it was replaced, also he says its likely they didnt flush the oil system, when he did it was the worst he had seen. Of course if the oil wasnt done then that was probably the cause of the lifters needing to be done, is this right?
Thanks for reading this, I'd appreciate any advice.
The hydrolic lifters went so I took the car to a new found but trusted mechanic. In addition to the lifters he also found the timing belt was worn. He showed me cracks where the wire had started to come out on the ribbed side, on the flat side it was shiny and kind of raised at the back of each rib, he also mentioned that on the flat side of a new belt there is a section that usually has a white background with writing and numbers, the ID of the part or something, though this had totally worn off on mine.
My first question: are these things he showed me good indicators of a worn timing belt??
If yes then my second question is: is it at all possible that the timing belt could have worn in 10,000km? Since thats when it was supposedly replaced, with the 100,000km major service. This new mechanic says theres no way it was replaced, also he says its likely they didnt flush the oil system, when he did it was the worst he had seen. Of course if the oil wasnt done then that was probably the cause of the lifters needing to be done, is this right?
Thanks for reading this, I'd appreciate any advice.
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Re: A long story about timing belts and other issues, please this girl needs your help!
1.I assume you are in Canada or Europe and the km notations are correct? (We use miles in the US).
2. Flushing the engine oil is not a "usual" service and not usally needed unless the oil has not been changed at regular intevervals.
3. I can't speak about the timing belt condition. When the job was done where the water pump, timing belt tensioner and anything else changed too?
If you trust the current mechanic, trust him and take his advice. Sounds like he may be expensive. Some mechanics are fanatics and very good about finding work that needs to be done, e.g. a friend of mine used to get his oil changed at a shop for twenty US dollars that always found several hundred dollars of work that "needed" doing. In the long term it wasn't worth the extra money since he sold the car with 130,000 miles on it.
2. Flushing the engine oil is not a "usual" service and not usally needed unless the oil has not been changed at regular intevervals.
3. I can't speak about the timing belt condition. When the job was done where the water pump, timing belt tensioner and anything else changed too?
If you trust the current mechanic, trust him and take his advice. Sounds like he may be expensive. Some mechanics are fanatics and very good about finding work that needs to be done, e.g. a friend of mine used to get his oil changed at a shop for twenty US dollars that always found several hundred dollars of work that "needed" doing. In the long term it wasn't worth the extra money since he sold the car with 130,000 miles on it.
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Re: A long story about timing belts and other issues, please this girl needs your help!
Im in australia actually. As for the flushing the oil not being usual, ok thats fine, but in this case it was supposedly done, as stated on the invoice of the major 100,000km(62,139miles) service. I dont change my oil, because it gets done at a regular service around every 8,000km(4970miles). At this 100,000km service many other things were changed or supposedly changed, water pump, all filters, all belts, all fluids and the list goes on. AUD$2500(In US$ about half) Known to be expensive, but have a good reputation, so I chose to trust them.
The new mechanic wasnt expensive he charges nearly half what the previous charges.
So Im here trying to find out wether I have a valid argument with the previous mechanic.
The new mechanic wasnt expensive he charges nearly half what the previous charges.
So Im here trying to find out wether I have a valid argument with the previous mechanic.
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There are some "un-professional" mechanics out there!
We had a rash of it here in the US with Sears a few years ago. Charging people for work that was never done. Women and elderly seem to be their victim of choice.
Personally I have caught several dealerships trying to rip me off the same way. An Audi dealership is the last place you would expect that type of crime.
It happens, and probably will continue to happen
since its very difficult to trace back. Unless you put a hidden camera under your hood as 60 minutes once did!
Sorry about your misfortune but it looks like you were taken by previous mechanic.
Recourse: Try a lawyer.
Personally I have caught several dealerships trying to rip me off the same way. An Audi dealership is the last place you would expect that type of crime.
It happens, and probably will continue to happen
since its very difficult to trace back. Unless you put a hidden camera under your hood as 60 minutes once did!
Sorry about your misfortune but it looks like you were taken by previous mechanic.
Recourse: Try a lawyer.
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There was no odd noise, overtightening seems less likely. As for inferior parts...
it's possible, but i paid for a genuine Audi timing belt.
It seems the mechanic will be hearly from me shortly.
Thanks for your thoughts!
It seems the mechanic will be hearly from me shortly.
Thanks for your thoughts!
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One of the reasons I decided to learn my car inside and out.
It's just not worth it to me to take it to someone else to get work done that I'm perfectly capable of doing. Saves money in labor and parts markup, too! That, and the last person I took it to said, "what is that, a Mazda?". Needless to say, I all but ran screaming. I hope you find a mechanic that you trust, though, and when you do, stick with him! BTW, Sears is still doing that around here(northeren VA). I have a couple of friends that work for them, and it's part of their training.
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