3250xi

Is the timing (toothed) belt removal really necesssary in order to replace the thermostat on the 4.2 AWN engine?

JimR

Thermostat, removing and installing

Removing

The thermostat is located at the right front of the engine below the intake manifold.

- Drain coolant Page 19-9

- Remove toothed belt from camshafts Page 13-20 .

- Remove thermostat housing -arrows-.

I love how nonchalant they are. "Remove toothed belt from camshafts", as if that's no big deal.

3250xi

Thanks a lot for looking it up on the Bentley CD. I must admit that I did see this procedure on my copy, but was in a state if denial. I hope that the thermostat last at least as long as the water pump so that they all can be replaced at the same time. My interest at this point is purely academic since I have only 28K miles on my '01 4.2.

Thanks again for confirming the service unfriendly design by Audi.

Eric 2.7

without removing the timing belt. He had to loosen the belt dampener and slide the belt about 1/2" to get to it but apparently it was a huge PITA.

Much better if you end up doing it as the same time as the timing belt replacement. It just adds about another 1/2 hour that way.

s4master1

I can't imagine somebody replacing it without removing the belt