fxmandmmm

Last week, my timing belt jumped on my 1998 A4 1.8T. The car has 60,000 miles and out of warranty. The engine has to be replaced --$5K. AoA said they will pick up 40% of the cost. I said that's not good enough - I want them to pick up 100%. I believe they are totally accountable especially when the manual says 90,000 miles. They said it's their "goodwill gesture". I say it's a defective part. By reading this thread, I've learned Audi has changed the tensioner and, of course, I had the old tensioner. Has anyone had any success with AoA?

PeteH

The exact same thing happened to Jason on his '97 1.8T. He worked out some sort of deal with AoA to have the enginer repaired, with the new tensioners.

Jason ended up selling the car shortly after that.

I'm not sure if he still visits the board, so I'll email him a link to your post. Also, try doing a searh on "tensioner" or "Jason" or "Palmer" or something like that.... I know Jason made a few posts when it was all happening.

Hope that helps.

PeteH

Dr. Mike

I have heard it is a good idea to put the old manual tensioner for the 1.8 motor in place of that contraption they have in there now. It is the new tensioner that is giving more problems than the old, some of them (I know one case in particular) where the new tensioner went at 15k.

Based on what I have seen with small displacement motors you are better off doing the timing belt at 60k than the 90k suggested by Honda, Nissan, Toyota, VW, Audi, etc.

Audi should pay 100%. This 40% bullcrap they are giving you is the markup on their labor and parts. They break even and you are out 3k!

Good luck!

Michael

JayP

I brought up every point you did. Failed part, 90k replacement, the whole thing.

At 52k miles, my tensioner failed.

New head, etc...

I ended up paying something around 25% which is what I was told to be the 'standard' for goodwill service. Total, I paid about $1000 (labor and tensioner), with Audi paying for parts.

zain

So the question is the debate on if your mods caused the failure.

Kawika

Chances are the dealer doesn't know for sure and is just guesstimating.

I just went through this experience and I highly reccomend that you get a second opinion through a different/private mechanic who specializes in working on Audis. Alot of private mechanics will tell you straight up what the hell is wrong with your engine. And some would even do it for no charge at all. They know that they'll make it up in the repairs anyway if you decide to use their services.

You may have only bent all or most of the valves. That's all mine did. Mine went out at 60K too. The dealer thought I threw a rod, or seized the engine, or broke a piston, or whatever. They didn't fricken know. Dumbasses. Sorry had to say it, I was extremely pissed at the time. I knew it was my valves and they didn't want to listen to me. They were quoting me astronomical estimates about the forcasted amount in repairs. They said I was looking at anywhere from $3500 to over $5000! Which was probably accurate if I had the repairs done there. I said I can buy a fricken used engine for less than that! I took it to a mechanic that I knew that works on Audis. He took the head off and then we explored my options. Pretty much all my valves were bent. The valves are like $30 bucks each for the intake (eight total I believe) and $80 bucks each for the exhaust valves (twelve total)...or vice versa I can't remember exactly but I think that's correct. That's $1200 just for valves! I thought that it would be cheaper to buy a good used engine head. I managed to find one here in Florida that parted out crashed vehicles. I paid $500 bucks for my replacement head and it came off of a totalled Passat with 25K miles on it. Cheaper than just the valves! So I would definitely try and be patient and explore other things as well. If you do go this route, make sure that the valves on the potential engine head aren't bent as well. Maybe AOA can cut you a check for the forcasted amount and you can end up making some bucks or saving instead!!!! On the other hand if it really is seized, than you may be out a pocket a bit more. I think that it still would be a bit cheaper to buy a used engine and do a swap.

I feel your pain man. Best of luck to ya.

David Medvec

Andy Hedin

I've never heard that.....the old tensioner is a poor design.

Andy Hedin

Highly doubtful......that old-style tensioner is a weak-link and prone to fail.

ReyHey

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/966/tb_new_vs_old_2.jpg"></center><p>the new version just looks stronger, it is the little Ball-joint on top of the old ones that is weak???? just a vague memory on what happened to Rich L. (thanks for the pic Rich 8-)

xr4tic

You're welcome