OCDboy

I hope to knock this out Sat AM! Have the tool now, so I'm hoping it will be a quick job. I put a 3/8" wrench in the photo for perspective...$22. Looks like it will do the trick.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/76151/cam_repair_003.jpg">

mpw

I'll be very interested to hear how it goes. I have to do this myself sometime soon.

4Driver4

Tighten until it's snug, no more.

OCDboy

Seated it like you said and chain slacked up pretty easily...let it off as I hadn't put the grease pencil marks on the chain/sprockets yet.

Thanks for the help!

4Driver4

It can be tempting to crank it down to try for a little more slack in the chain.

Fairfax 4.0T

Please take pictures of the job in progress. I'm sure we'll all need to do this.

OCDboy

Hey...did you pull the trigger on the Stoptechs?

Fairfax 4.0T

I also got the exact same package of stuff you got. Your advice and info is much appreciated. I'll post more after I get them, and get them installed.

Jim

gonutz

ok, my local indie mechanic is in the process of replacing my timing belt (1999 A6 Avant 2.8Q w/88k):

$340 parts + $420 labor including:
- tensioner, tensioner idler
- water pump (metal)
- front lower crank seal
- 2 cam seals

shortly into the work above, i received a call from him (my mech) about a significant leak from camshaft adjuster (aka, camshaft adjusting solenoid). he quoted me an additional ~ $300 labor to replace both gaskets for cam adjusters, does this sound right?

i hope this is reasonable, as i'm sort of in a bind considering he has my engine all apart right now.

he went on to tell me that the cam adjusters do just that, they adjust the camshafts on the fly during engine operation (ok). and that the failure is typically due high oil pressures at engine startup (he said the solenoid relies on oil pressure for operation). i don't know this as fact, this is what my mech told me. anyone care to comment on whether this sounds right? i trust my mechanic but also want to do some due dilligence.

furthermore, once both seals are replaced, my mech suggests that i go with 5w30 oil, which will reduce the oil pressure at initial engine startup (so i'm told). he only recommends this until things warm up around here (pittsburgh area), when i will be switching back to 10w30.

i appreciate any insights any of you have to offer.

thanks in advance...

OCDboy

The TB job sounds very reasonable. I would ask him to justify the additional hours of labor for adjuster seal. If the cam cover is already off, he should be able to do the cam seals for about 1 hr each.

On the oil side...I'd search the archives as that has been discussed plenty. I have a 2.7T and the oil requirements are different.

Good luck