timing belt replacement or not?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Oct 14, 2010 | 02:23 PM

oohay32408

Thread Starter

Audiworld Junior Member

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 33

Likes: 0

timing belt replacement or not?

i just bought a 2001 tt 225 today. it has 97k miles on it. is there anyway to tell if it has had the timing belt replaced yet?

Oct 14, 2010 | 04:07 PM

TTQ2k2

AudiWorld Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 779

Likes: 1

Quote:

Originally Posted by oohay32408

i just bought a 2001 tt 225 today. it has 97k miles on it. is there anyway to tell if it has had the timing belt replaced yet?

You can look for wear, but safest is to replace every 5/60, so if you don't know whether it's been replaced or not, then plan on doing it soon for peace of mind. As a 2001, it's approaching 10 yrs and has averaged about 10k miles per year, so even if it was done back in 2006/7, it's about due.

If the belt breaks, you've got about 2 nano-seconds to recognize the problem and shut it down before the valves and piston heads slap together. then your talking $4-6k in repairs versus about $800-1200 now.

Or, you can order a kit and do your own for under $300 if you got the skills. Here's an example of one kit but there are others out there too with everything you need. Just shop around for the best deal.

http://www.dieselgeek.com/servlet/Detail?no=476

good luck.

cheers.

Last edited by TTQ2k2; Oct 14, 2010 at 04:11 PM.

Oct 14, 2010 | 07:27 PM

Peter Badore

AudiWorld Member

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 501

Likes: 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by oohay32408

i just bought a 2001 tt 225 today. it has 97k miles on it. is there anyway to tell if it has had the timing belt replaced yet?

If you do not know the service history you should change the belt, water pump, tensioners, hydraulic damper now asap. I prefer the OEM belt made by Gates as it stretches a little more easily to help the installation. Search this form
for the best cam belt DIY posting I have ever seen. Camshaft belt system failures in the 90,000 mile range are very common. The belt can fail, the idler roller can fail, the damper can fail, the water pump plastic impeller can fail I have examples of all of them. VW and Audi durability testing missed on this design--and not for the first time either.

Oct 15, 2010 | 12:57 PM

225ttroadster

Audiworld Junior Member

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 14

Likes: 0

WHAT VVV SAID....

If you are in the chicago area I am running a great special on timing services. For peace of mind it is not a bad idea.

Oct 28, 2010 | 07:39 PM

magneTTic

AudiWorld Newcomer

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 2

Likes: 0

From: Fresno, CA

Do it, ASAP. I purchased my TT a couple of years ago with 90,000 miles on it, and did not do it right away (as I should have).

Long story short, belt strips, head toast, pistons dented, general carnage. I am out of pocket just over $2500 plus down time of course (got lucky on the parts)

I bought the kit from ECS, and just finished it myself after getting a rebuilt head and turbo as well (something went through the turbo and took out some vains.

Car is back on the road for a couple of days now, took me two weekends to do it on my own and a few hours after work during the week.

PITA!!!!

Oct 29, 2010 | 12:35 PM

Pete@ECSTuning

Audiworld Basic Sponsor

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 3,623

Likes: 0

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Spending 200-300 now versus several thousand later makes the choice pretty easy. If you can't get your hands on any service records, it would be worth it to just replace it. Our ECS Timing Belt Kits start at just over $100 for just a belt, tensioner, and roller to about $400 - with every little thing you could imagine, including a lightweight underdrive pulley. Click here to check them out.

__________________
:: www.ECStuning.com :: Now with EXTENDED Customer Service hours!! | FIND US ON FACEBOOK!!

Phone: 1.800.924.5172 - Sales: 8:30am to MIDNIGHT EST | Customer Service 8:30am - 8pm EST
Questions? PM us for a quick response! | Email: Pete@ecstuning.com

Nov 22, 2010 | 04:17 PM

oohay32408

Thread Starter

Audiworld Junior Member

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 33

Likes: 0

i heard someone say you can tell if it has been changed by looking at the bolts somewhere? something about vw bolts look different from the new bolts they will put in after changing a timing belt? anybody know anything about this? thanks