Cambelt nightmare

[Risky]

I've got a 2001 allroad (2.7T manual) which I got in Oct 2006 at about 68k miles. I though at that age I'd be best getting it services locally rather than at the main dealer. It's had one service so far, the next is due at 90k and he did the cambelt at about 78k. Oh and the clutch the other week.

Now I drove down to Cornwall at the weekend and thought there might be something funny with the car, a bit of vibration or something and while it was down there my wife noticed the noise from the engine. I left it there and the RAC were called up who diagnosed it as probably something dodgy with the belts somewhere and hence it was on a flatbed off the the local dealer.

Now they're opended it up and said the cambelt is worn, and some of the tensioners aren't right. The problem is that they want to know if it's "Genuine Audi parts" and after a lot of searching, the local chap finds his suppliers invoices and what we seem to have is OEM parts "same stuff not in an Audi box" but with a guarantee. Of course now it's not Audi's fault so I'll have to pay for an entire new cambelt job and try and reclaim the cost against that guarantee but it going to be a bit of a messy process.

Really does make me think that I won't move off the main dealer again in case something does go wrong when the car isn't close to home like this.

[Crunch]

I work for a main dealer and it is best to go to a local main dealer IMO for big/speciality jobs. Alot of times we get non-franchise companies phone up and ask us for advise and stuff anyway...The only downside is the hefty labour rate.

[Risky]

I think I'll have to go that way. He is a VAG specialist so it's not any random cowboy, but in any case after the move to cornwall I won't know anywhere to go to. The shame is that I didn't know to specify that he had to use branded Audi parts rather than OEM. It I'd done that, and the fault was parts rather than the work done I might have been in a better position.

I guess Audi's quote last year of over a grand for the service and cambelt rather put me off given the value of the car.

[Pug]

Could be worse, I guess... it might have snapped.
Shame you have no comeback though. It ought to last more than 20,000 miles. <_<

[fivecheebs]

Like Pug says, it could have snapped, or the tensioners given way. That happened to my old Micra in Feb, and it was bye bye car for me :(

Bad luck mate, but count your lucky stars in some respects. Good job you had the presence of mind to get the RAC out to look at it rather than risk it.

[Risky]

More like good job someone else pursuaded me.

I'm doing this 210 miled rive now Fridays and monday morning and you can go nuts if you think there is something up with the car but you really don't know enough to make sense of it.

On the other hand driving her car is a rather more subline experience....

[jaguarking11]

Itsusualy best practice to use oem parts on cars. The sometimes cost more but will outlast anything aftermarket. My toy engine is an alfa 3.0L v6 lump. And everyone on the alfa forums advises the use of oem alfa gaskets and belts. This is one fussy engine so im taking my time rebuilding it, however the stock gaskets I got with it I will reuse as they are alfa brand....

As for cam belts, I have always hated the idea of having them. My current car has a chain driven valve train. Some say it can last up to 500k miles. Same with my fathers car.

I know waht you mean about driving a nice audi around. Those things give you a whole new meaning to driving. The downside around here is that service cost a bundle and thats the reason you can pick up a used audi for about 1/3 the price of it new or less while being only a 5year old car.

Good luck with it. Enjoy the ride.

[Risky]

Well The bill came to £905 (including about £150 or £200 for fitting ISOFIX points to the rear seats). I'll have to wait to see the bill for exact deatails of the problem but it may point to an error my the guy who did the job rather than the parts.

He came well recommended and was a VAG specialist so I really would like to get to the bottom of this. Somehow I don't think I should be wearing all the cost.

Meantime one more 210 mile run in the S5 on Friday before I get reuntied with the big fellow.

[jaguarking11]

IM curious, what happened to the allroad? What was the outcome? I know this is an old thread, but im curious.

Reason for asking is that I am itching for awd, and not of the SUV persuasion, more of the RS4 which is 420hp or direct injected chain driven DOHC v8 with a red-line like a motorcycle, but god awfully expensive to service. Did I mention it sounded like a banshee at full tilt? Scary too. :lol:

[Risky]

The allroad is still running. 105k miles now, Seems to cost about a GBP 1k per year to service due to something or other failing. I'll take it up to the next cambelt job or other disaster and then get something else. Ideally stilll and S6 of some persuasion.

We traded it the wife's V8 S5 last year for a V6T S4 Avant S-tronic. The engine 3.0 supercharged is perfectly capable, but doesn't have to sound of the V8 (mechanical rather than exhaust noise). The S-tronic is good fun though.