It's that time - Timing Belt Replacement
09-10-2007, 09:33 AM
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It's that time - Timing Belt Replacement
Okay guys. So, I know i've posted before on here about getting my timing belt done, but now, I think it's become time to do so.
My car just hit 182,000, and I'm very vary of the belt breaking and having my car be all effed up.
I'm at school now up in Erie, PA, so I don't have a mechanic, and in doing a bit of research, I've found 3 people who can do the job for me:
The Local Audi Dealer
A Foriegn Car Specialist
My friend's Uncle who is a mechanic and owns his own shop locally.
The dealer is asking $1400.
The foriegn car specialist is asking $1000.
and my friend's uncle can do it for about $800.
All with parts and labor.
In doing so, I'm going to be replacing the timing belt, accessory belt, water pump, as well as thermostat, all found in the kit from blauparts. (http://blauparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=GH21111%2DC&cat=1723)
I have a few questions. First, the option of DIY is out - I'm at school, and even if I did have the knowledge to do this job myself, I have neither the time, tools, or energy to do so since I'm at school.
Since I can't DIM, does it matter where I go to get the work done? My friend's uncle does have the least expensive labor rates (he estimated the total job to be 9 hours at $67 an hour, giving me roughly 600 dollars for labor, plus the 200 for parts on blauparts). I'm not familiar though, how much he has worked on audi's.
Would it be better just to take it to the dealer? They said it'd be about $1000 with their labor and my parts to do everything, $1400 if I used their parts and labor.
Also, if I were to buy the parts from Blau and have them be installed, there would be no warranty by the shop either if something were to happen after the installation.
Also, in addition to getting the timing belt done, are there any other components that should be serviced while this job is being performed?
Thanks.<ul><li><a href="http://blauparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=GH21111%2DC&cat=1723">(lin k)</a></li></ul>
My car just hit 182,000, and I'm very vary of the belt breaking and having my car be all effed up.
I'm at school now up in Erie, PA, so I don't have a mechanic, and in doing a bit of research, I've found 3 people who can do the job for me:
The Local Audi Dealer
A Foriegn Car Specialist
My friend's Uncle who is a mechanic and owns his own shop locally.
The dealer is asking $1400.
The foriegn car specialist is asking $1000.
and my friend's uncle can do it for about $800.
All with parts and labor.
In doing so, I'm going to be replacing the timing belt, accessory belt, water pump, as well as thermostat, all found in the kit from blauparts. (http://blauparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=GH21111%2DC&cat=1723)
I have a few questions. First, the option of DIY is out - I'm at school, and even if I did have the knowledge to do this job myself, I have neither the time, tools, or energy to do so since I'm at school.
Since I can't DIM, does it matter where I go to get the work done? My friend's uncle does have the least expensive labor rates (he estimated the total job to be 9 hours at $67 an hour, giving me roughly 600 dollars for labor, plus the 200 for parts on blauparts). I'm not familiar though, how much he has worked on audi's.
Would it be better just to take it to the dealer? They said it'd be about $1000 with their labor and my parts to do everything, $1400 if I used their parts and labor.
Also, if I were to buy the parts from Blau and have them be installed, there would be no warranty by the shop either if something were to happen after the installation.
Also, in addition to getting the timing belt done, are there any other components that should be serviced while this job is being performed?
Thanks.<ul><li><a href="http://blauparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=GH21111%2DC&cat=1723">(lin k)</a></li></ul>
09-10-2007, 10:31 AM
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My local Audi indy quoted me $700 for parts and labor. It only takes a good mechanic
5 or 6 hours (if that) if he's familiar with the engine.
If it were me I'd get on the local AW forum and find a few indy shops with good recommendations.
Another idea is to hook up with another Audiworlder and do the job together in HIS garage some Saturday or Sunday.
Parts for the TB job alone are about $200 from AutohausAZ.
Do yourself a favor and replace the accessory/serp belt AND TENSIONER at the same time. More than a few 12Vs have been trashed when the serp tensioner dies and the serp belt wraps itself around the timing belt.
If it were me I'd get on the local AW forum and find a few indy shops with good recommendations.
Another idea is to hook up with another Audiworlder and do the job together in HIS garage some Saturday or Sunday.
Parts for the TB job alone are about $200 from AutohausAZ.
Do yourself a favor and replace the accessory/serp belt AND TENSIONER at the same time. More than a few 12Vs have been trashed when the serp tensioner dies and the serp belt wraps itself around the timing belt.
09-10-2007, 11:21 AM
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Re: My local Audi indy quoted me $700 for parts and labor. It only takes a good mechanic
Well Dave if you were here labour and parts supplied by the dealer with water pump and everything Serp belt with bearings and timingbelt with all the goodies would set you back some $450 max (done by dealer of the year 2007 South Africa)This shop is in a neighbouring town. and we moan about this price!!! Hehe we are stingy hey haha
09-10-2007, 05:24 PM
#4
My 2 cents
First things first.
This is not a 9hr job and your friend's Uncle is trying to hose you.
Our body style does not require ANY tear down of the car's front end, or radiator or anything else...period.
A "good" mechanic would take 2hrs at the most to do this job the first time, including replacing the water pump.
A "good" mechanic who's done this job once before could do it in an hour.
It literally takes about 15min to get the belt off. From there the time spent depends on what all you do. If you're simply throwing a belt at it, then in another 20min you'll be done. If you're hanging a water pump on it, maybe 45min. including gasket scraping and burping coolant.
Do yourself a favor.....pop the timing belt covers off and inspect the belt, and then make an educated decision. This will take you 5min and require nothing more than a slotted screwdriver and a 17mm socket or wrench.
You've got a big break in school coming up for Thanksgiving and then for Christmas. I think you'll find your timing belt is fine enough to make it until then.
This is not a 9hr job and your friend's Uncle is trying to hose you.
Our body style does not require ANY tear down of the car's front end, or radiator or anything else...period.
A "good" mechanic would take 2hrs at the most to do this job the first time, including replacing the water pump.
A "good" mechanic who's done this job once before could do it in an hour.
It literally takes about 15min to get the belt off. From there the time spent depends on what all you do. If you're simply throwing a belt at it, then in another 20min you'll be done. If you're hanging a water pump on it, maybe 45min. including gasket scraping and burping coolant.
Do yourself a favor.....pop the timing belt covers off and inspect the belt, and then make an educated decision. This will take you 5min and require nothing more than a slotted screwdriver and a 17mm socket or wrench.
You've got a big break in school coming up for Thanksgiving and then for Christmas. I think you'll find your timing belt is fine enough to make it until then.
09-10-2007, 07:10 PM
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$600 at a reputable indy shop right down the road.
From what I'd gathered, my friends uncle had probably never worked on an audi in his life. He didn't even know the engine size of my car.
I'm taking it down the street to someone that was highly recommended.
I already popped the covers off this afternoon to inspect just how worn the belt was.
It was pretty worn, and this confirms the sounds I have been hearing when I drive the car - the belt flapping loosely about.
For $600, I'm getting the timing belt, water pump, thermostat (dealer quoted 700 for the t-stat alone - RIPOFF), accessory belt, and tensioner.
He's also going to replacing the front crank seals.
The local audi dealer in Erie quoted me for 1300 to do that job.
She's scheduled for wednesday.
I'm taking it down the street to someone that was highly recommended.
I already popped the covers off this afternoon to inspect just how worn the belt was.
It was pretty worn, and this confirms the sounds I have been hearing when I drive the car - the belt flapping loosely about.
For $600, I'm getting the timing belt, water pump, thermostat (dealer quoted 700 for the t-stat alone - RIPOFF), accessory belt, and tensioner.
He's also going to replacing the front crank seals.
The local audi dealer in Erie quoted me for 1300 to do that job.
She's scheduled for wednesday.
09-10-2007, 07:24 PM
#6
That's a much more dialed in price when you consider the "cost" on those parts from autohausaz.com
Plus, you're doing it all at once, and as far as I'm concerned, that's money in the bank.
My only word of caution is that they install OE parts and not a bunch of low dollar crap that goes bad in 15k miles......and oops, it just out of warranty.
Take a peek at pelicanparts.com and autohausaz.com to get an idea of the OE brands you want to be installing.
My only word of caution is that they install OE parts and not a bunch of low dollar crap that goes bad in 15k miles......and oops, it just out of warranty.
Take a peek at pelicanparts.com and autohausaz.com to get an idea of the OE brands you want to be installing.
09-10-2007, 07:31 PM
#7
Agree 100% Have a look at it, if it's frayed or looking dicey change it but...
it shouldn't be that much. I had a great shop do it and with my own parts it was $300 or so for labor + $200 in parts.
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09-10-2007, 09:16 PM
#8
AudiWorld Super User
Agreed with your take. However, if the cooling system is flushed, then it could take several...
more hours for the drain, refill, heat-up, cool down, drain and refill again. When I did the TB maintenance the first time and replaced the old Pentosin blue coolant with Pentosin red, it took me the better part of a day, most of which was waiting for the cooldown phase to re-drain the system. If the coolant system is not flushed, then 2-3 hours is more than sufficient to do the complete TB service (the real PITA part was getting the old water pump gasket off the block, which took ~1 hour of scrapping). Heck, I can now get to the TB in 10-15 minutes dealing w/ my crank seal problem.
9 hours for a "pro" mechanic is too high. For reference, the Audi Parts List shows 2.5 hours to R&R the TB.
9 hours for a "pro" mechanic is too high. For reference, the Audi Parts List shows 2.5 hours to R&R the TB.
09-10-2007, 09:23 PM
#9
I don't wait for cool downs, I flush and go.
No need to wait for any cycling of temps...disco the upper and lower hoses, drain, apply a garden hose to power flush in reverse of normal flow (easier with t-stat out) and then put 'er together, add coolant, bleed up at the heater valve until you have heat inside the car, burp at 1,500-2,000rpm, wait for the fans to cycle, put the cap on and your done.
Then check the coolant level after a little while, open the cap, add as needed and that's it.
I hadn't looked up the "book time" but I'm not surprized it's that low. As you say, once you've done it more than once, it goes about as fast as you can move your hands.
Then check the coolant level after a little while, open the cap, add as needed and that's it.
I hadn't looked up the "book time" but I'm not surprized it's that low. As you say, once you've done it more than once, it goes about as fast as you can move your hands.