When to do the cambelt

[jonno1]

My car has 63K on the clock, its a 2000 B5 Avant and I do about 7,000 miles a year.

Question: Can I safely wait another year (i.e. 70,000 miles) before I get the cambelt and water pump done? By then I will also need new discs and pads all round (if not sooner) so am considering "staggering" the work needed to spread the cost.

[Dippy]

Jon,

The service schedule is 80K and your engine is not tuned (according to your sig) so you are not putting excess stress on it. Therefore 80K might/should be OK. If you're thinking about doing it at 70K then that'll be early anyway.

Unfortunately it appears that a weaker point in the system might be the water pump and/or the thermostat. It seems that these can 'let go' as early as 50K. Do a search and you'll see the reports. It's your choice, and it's not an easy decision.

FYI my car is being done today by AmD. I'm having everything replaced (2 belts, ancilliaries, waterpump & sensors). The standard Audi requirement is just the cambelt. My car has done 54K.

[jonno1]

It is tuned - has the Revo so I am thinking sooner rather than later.

[BlackShadow]

Sooner rather than later is a safe bet. I had my cambelt and waterpump done at about 75,000 miles. No problems prior to that. State of tune as in my monica. It is an important thing. If the cambelt goes, it is nasty. I know this because despite the above service, the cambelt tensioner still let go and oh dear. However, servicing garage repaired the not inconsiderable damage free of charge.

[mikeyquattro]

Cambelt was changed at 65k on mine. And there were marks on the covers where the belt had 'slapped' against it.

[UKS4APR1]

Did mine at 72k, water Pump had just started to leak [previoiusly unbeknown to me] and a tensioner was noisy. Without doubt change both belts and tensioners and Water Pump whilst you're in there. Also (it's cheap) change the thermostat whilst it's all stripped down.

[KayGee]

How much is the "all in cambelt/waterpump and tensioner" change? Mines done just over 60K and I figure it is time to get it done.

[Dippy]

I was quoted £680 by AmD, for FULL change (both belts, parts & waterpump).
If you ask a stealer, make sure they quote for the same - remember that the standard Audi service instructions for the job do not cover ALL parts.

[jonno1]

Was that including VAT? Seems like a very reasonable price.

[KayGee]

Doesn't sound too bad..hopefully inc the dreaded but probably not.

[springfield]

My engine is out to change manifold no2 so i will be fitting a waterpump also,changed belts at 60k when engine was out to do manifold no 1,do it as soon as possible for peace of mind,remember do not go by mileage alone as rubber has a shelf life.
A 10 year old very low mileage car will still snap a cambelt.
Jim.

[Dippy]

No it doesn't include the VAT!

AmD's current labour rate is £65/hour (plus VAT), which I believe is competitive compared to Audi dealers. I'll check the actual price of the parts from my invoice. I don't know how long the job takes, but I'm sure someone suggested that dealers quote at least 4 hours.

[SimonS4MTM]

My Audi dealer charged me £460, with tensioner and water pump for my old S4

[tartan_rob]

Sounds like engine out, timing belt, water pump + tensioners + belts etc and recon the turbo's may be a lot cheaper than getting caught with your pants down. My belt is due in 15/20k miles and I have a spare set of K03's in the garage, I figure it is easier to do the whole lot at the one time when the engine is out. Lifting it out can only be a half day job + 1day to change bits and 1/2 to re-assemble. 2 days labour = £1k?

[mikeyquattro]

the book quotes 4 hours 15mins. No engine out, just front end off