Timing Belt Interval
10-07-2007, 06:45 AM
#1
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Timing Belt Interval
One of the most discussed and debated topics on these forums!!
I'm to the point now that I don't even respond to those posts anymore. Some people say change it early, others say wait until what Audi recommends. In the end, regardless of what advice is followed, the owner of the car is the one that has to live with the decision. We don't!
Personally, I've always said to change it. I recommend changing them around 60k miles. I suggest this because the weak point is the waterpump.....not the timing belt. I've owned 12 Audi's over the last 13 years and I've seen enough with those car to understand the weak points.
This brings me to the point of this post. I bought my ar two years ago with 90k miles. Not knowing the past I immediately serviced the timing belt. Changed the rollers, thermo, WP, etc. Great, I'm ready to go!!
Fast forward to a few months ago. The ar started having a bearing go up front. You know, the marble sound coming from the front accessories somewhere. Tried tracking it down to a specific accessory but I couldn't seem to source the noise. I had two guesses: 1) Power steering pump OR 2) Fan clutch assembly. I was leaning towards the power steering pump.
I figured I would drive the car until I could get a specific diagnosis. As expected, it slowly got worse and looked/sounded more and more like the power steering pump.
Monday after work I went out to check my rear sway bar link. Looking up front I see a bunch of coolant draining out of the car. Hmmmm?? Fire the car up and the bearing is just screaming...at what sounds like the power steering pump still. But I do know that the waterpump sits DIRECTLY below the power steering pump. Looks like it must have been the waterpump all along...I never expected that since I just replaced it 2 years ago (less than 40k miles).
Here's what I found:
This is the waterpump pulley. If you look you can see that the belt was rubbing against the fan clutch assembly. If you look really close you can see that the timing belt is starting to fray some.
<img src="http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos4251/5/73/48/3/60/3/360034873503_0_BG.jpg">
This is the cover on the opposite side of the fan clutch. You can see that the belt was starting to rub against the cover.
<img src="http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos4251/5/73/48/3/50/9/950034873503_0_BG.jpg">
This is the driver's side cam sprocket. You can see that the belt was slowly working it's way off the sprocket.
<img src="http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos4251/5/73/48/3/50/5/550034873503_0_BG.jpg">
There is no doubt in my mind that if the waterpump didn't start leaking it would have toasted my belt (and engine) within the month. At no point had I suspected that my waterpump was going already.
I've lost a few waterpumps around 60k miles but this is the earliest failure I've personally had. This pump was also long gone....I've never seen the bearings as shot as they were in this waterpump. The pulley moves a good 1/2" up and down plus it has axial play!!! YIKES!!
Anyway, this is my experinence with waterpumps and timing belts. While this is an earlier failure than usual this isn't an abnormal problem on any Audi I've owned. This is based on my own experience.
For one last time; replace your timing belt and waterpump between 60k-75k miles (depending on driving style).
) Not because of your timing belt but rather your waterpump.<ul><li><a href="http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=70nx343.9kk7ec9r&x=0&y=-qcnicd">Link to pics</a></li></ul>
I'm to the point now that I don't even respond to those posts anymore. Some people say change it early, others say wait until what Audi recommends. In the end, regardless of what advice is followed, the owner of the car is the one that has to live with the decision. We don't!
Personally, I've always said to change it. I recommend changing them around 60k miles. I suggest this because the weak point is the waterpump.....not the timing belt. I've owned 12 Audi's over the last 13 years and I've seen enough with those car to understand the weak points.
This brings me to the point of this post. I bought my ar two years ago with 90k miles. Not knowing the past I immediately serviced the timing belt. Changed the rollers, thermo, WP, etc. Great, I'm ready to go!!
Fast forward to a few months ago. The ar started having a bearing go up front. You know, the marble sound coming from the front accessories somewhere. Tried tracking it down to a specific accessory but I couldn't seem to source the noise. I had two guesses: 1) Power steering pump OR 2) Fan clutch assembly. I was leaning towards the power steering pump.
I figured I would drive the car until I could get a specific diagnosis. As expected, it slowly got worse and looked/sounded more and more like the power steering pump.
Monday after work I went out to check my rear sway bar link. Looking up front I see a bunch of coolant draining out of the car. Hmmmm?? Fire the car up and the bearing is just screaming...at what sounds like the power steering pump still. But I do know that the waterpump sits DIRECTLY below the power steering pump. Looks like it must have been the waterpump all along...I never expected that since I just replaced it 2 years ago (less than 40k miles).
Here's what I found:
This is the waterpump pulley. If you look you can see that the belt was rubbing against the fan clutch assembly. If you look really close you can see that the timing belt is starting to fray some.
<img src="http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos4251/5/73/48/3/60/3/360034873503_0_BG.jpg">
This is the cover on the opposite side of the fan clutch. You can see that the belt was starting to rub against the cover.
<img src="http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos4251/5/73/48/3/50/9/950034873503_0_BG.jpg">
This is the driver's side cam sprocket. You can see that the belt was slowly working it's way off the sprocket.
<img src="http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos4251/5/73/48/3/50/5/550034873503_0_BG.jpg">
There is no doubt in my mind that if the waterpump didn't start leaking it would have toasted my belt (and engine) within the month. At no point had I suspected that my waterpump was going already.
I've lost a few waterpumps around 60k miles but this is the earliest failure I've personally had. This pump was also long gone....I've never seen the bearings as shot as they were in this waterpump. The pulley moves a good 1/2" up and down plus it has axial play!!! YIKES!!
Anyway, this is my experinence with waterpumps and timing belts. While this is an earlier failure than usual this isn't an abnormal problem on any Audi I've owned. This is based on my own experience.
For one last time; replace your timing belt and waterpump between 60k-75k miles (depending on driving style).
) Not because of your timing belt but rather your waterpump.<ul><li><a href="http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=70nx343.9kk7ec9r&x=0&y=-qcnicd">Link to pics</a></li></ul>
10-07-2007, 07:34 AM
#3
My exerience also. I just wait for the leak then change the belt. You
have plenty of warning.. Couple of questions, does the allroad loose any coolant, and did you do a proper coolant flush since you replaced the timing belt?
10-07-2007, 09:55 AM
#6
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
They don't always leak first....
..sometimes the bearing siezes and the pulley falls out prior to leaking. I got REALLY lucky on this one....I'm surprised it didn't sieze first.
It didn't leak any coolant until the day the bearing went out. Then it all leaked out in about 30 minutes....in my driveway.
I haven't changed this failed one out yet. The car is prepped awaiting arrival of the new parts. I will need to flush when the new parts arrive...as the coolant is a little dirty now.
It didn't leak any coolant until the day the bearing went out. Then it all leaked out in about 30 minutes....in my driveway.
I haven't changed this failed one out yet. The car is prepped awaiting arrival of the new parts. I will need to flush when the new parts arrive...as the coolant is a little dirty now.
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10-07-2007, 10:52 AM
#8
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I feel now that I am sitting on a time bomb as even if they did do the waterpump
when I had the TB done at about 68k, I'm now at almost 94k....and if they didn't do the waterpump I'm really in trouble. Are there more symptoms to watch out for then for the coolant to leak? That isn't very subtle so hard to miss but what about others to watch for?
10-07-2007, 11:14 AM
#10
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
A coolant leak and/or a loud bearing will be your...
....clues.
This one got loud and then started leaking...badly!! Like you said, this one wasn't very subtle.
I've had one go before that only leaked coolant (no noise) and another that only made noise (never leaked).
The bad thing about the silent ones is that usually when they start to leak it's so slow that it burns off when running down the front of the engine.....so you see nothing under the car. They also tend to not leak when off due to vacuum lock. So if you have to top up the coolant and can't find a reason...be warned.
Those two clues in any combination is what to look/listen for.
This one got loud and then started leaking...badly!! Like you said, this one wasn't very subtle.
I've had one go before that only leaked coolant (no noise) and another that only made noise (never leaked).
The bad thing about the silent ones is that usually when they start to leak it's so slow that it burns off when running down the front of the engine.....so you see nothing under the car. They also tend to not leak when off due to vacuum lock. So if you have to top up the coolant and can't find a reason...be warned.
Those two clues in any combination is what to look/listen for.