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Audi TT Timing Belt Problems

49 messages,  Last post on Nov 19, 2012 at 1:52 PM

You are in the Audi TT / TTS / TT-RS Forum.

What is this discussion about? Audi TT, Coupe, Convertible

Messages Page 4 of 5

#30 of 49 Re: 2003 tt roadster [joconnor4] by suzas

May 28, 2009 (8:59 am)

Replying to: joconnor4 (Apr 30, 2009 1:07 pm)
Having the timing belt changed next week 73K miles. (2001 TT Quattro) I received notification of the class action, can't remember when, but at that point in time the belt, which was checked for free, part of the "suit" was fine. When I went in for the 60K service they said it was starting to crack and recomended it be changed as soon as possible but by at least 75K miles....yes now I get to pay the $1400. for a new one. I guess I should have had them install a new one then...that is if they would have done it being that it was ok then....somehow I doubt they would have.

#31 of 49 Audi TT Timing belt How can it have such a crap timing belt. by dominics

Sep 10, 2009 (7:43 am)

I don't know much about cars but the timing belt went on my TT 1 week after I bought it 02 model with 60k miles. How can Audi sell a car with such a poor quality timing belt. I'm waiting to hear from the garage to see how bad the damage is but I'm sick as a dog. Will Audi accept any responsibility for the damage? On a normal cheap car you would expect the timing belt to last at least 100K?

#33 of 49 Re:Charlie I have a question [quattrortt] by coco15

Dec 05, 2009 (11:09 am)

Replying to: quattrortt (Oct 21, 2005 4:09 pm)
I have been following the timing belt problem for awhile. A friend had his timing belt go& the repair cost was 10,000.00 (which included the pistons).
 
I have a 2005 TT and am on the dealership to get accurate condition reports on it. They have told me that it is not the milage but the age of the belt that matters. They have recommended replacing it at the 6 year mark.
 
I think there was a class action suit in the States regarding the use of milage as an indicator of when the timing belt was to be replaced.

#34 of 49 Re: Audi TT timing...Poor college student needs advice on timing!!! [provosc] by ramonc

Mar 14, 2010 (4:01 pm)

Replying to: provosc (Oct 01, 2007 4:58 pm)
To those worried about the timing belt. I replaced mine after 9 years and 55,000 miles and it was absolutely fine. It was a waste of money. My mechanic informed, after changing it, that the primary reason for timing problems is lack of changing the oil at least 3 times a year. Forget the once a year Audi recommended interval. This has proven faulty. Use semi synthetic or full synthetic for best performance. Look into the oil filler cap with a flash light and if the engine is clean, you have no worries until 100K miles. the Audi dealerships are not know for the best place to take care of your car. Find a competent independent mechanic. No only are the cheaper but have more interest in keeping your business than Audi employed mechanics. Good luck.

#35 of 49 Timing Belt class action? by dchilds123

Mar 17, 2010 (6:41 am)

My timing belt on my 2001 roadster went out last night. I have 89K miles on it.
$950 to repair if there's no other damage.
I read about a class action lawsuit but don't recall getting a notice. What are the chances Audi would honor my claim.

#36 of 49 Re: Timing Belt class action? [dchilds123] by dlkoch1

Mar 27, 2010 (6:22 am)

Replying to: dchilds123 (Mar 17, 2010 6:41 am)
I didn't get the notice about the suit/claim,and yesterday my timing belt went out at 90,000 miles. Apparently the valves are bent and basically I need a whole new top end on my engine, $5,500. Has anyone had any success through their dealer getting this covered? Or have you had to go to Audi USA?

#37 of 49 Re: Timing Belt class action? Audi TT Timing belt by matlock339

Apr 01, 2010 (5:29 am)

Replying to: dlkoch1 (Mar 27, 2010 6:22 am)
I've got a 2001 Audi TT 225hp quatro roadster with 92,000 miles. Bought it used, black on black with black convertable top. Hard to find, took forever but love the car, awesome. No problems with mine, runs great.
 
Got to admit after reading everything online I had gotten paranoid about even driving the car without having the timing belt checked. Though I had no problems I went ahead and bit it yesterday (3/31/10) and put a new timing belt on mine. Belt was the original and was fine. Could have gone another 10,000 miles easily. Looked like a 10 year old belt but had no signs of possible failure. Cost me $1,050 which included the water pump and all parts. Pump was also fine, plastic impeller was good too, no missing parts. Plastic was used apparently to save weight in the engine.
 
My Audi guy said it has nothing to do with oil or anything. Said it had alot to do with how the car is driven and how well its been maintained. He said if someone had driven the car hard, it will almost always shorten the belt (and everything else) life. Course, could have been a batch of bad belts manufactured too. He said he has never seen a TT motor sling a belt in 12 years but he has seen the tensioner fail and allow the belt to come off and then cause the problems with timing. My tensioner had just started to show a very small amount of leakage of hydrolic fluid but nothing major. Not bad after 10 years.
 
He told me too that the primary symptom was a rattle noise or clicking in the passenger side of the engine, near the cooling resevior which is the tensioner beging to relax and fail which will eventually allow the timing belt to flop, dismount and be torn in half. If you hear a rattling/clicking noise on the passener side of the engine, CUT IT OFF and TOW IT to the mechanic and have the belt and tensioner checked.
 
Also remember that the timing belt is a dry system, oil has no contact with the belt so changing the oil won't make any difference. One more thing, he said belt failure could be caused by someone cheaping out on the gas. If they are filling the fuel tank with 87 octane, you can get back pressure in the chambers and valves that puts ALOT more stress on the belt and especially the tensioner. This will wear the tensioner arm out early and cause preamture failure. Use the 93 octane to extend the belt life, the engine is so small and so tight in there, early compbustion can really stress these little engines.
 
Bottom line is that its how it was treated and driven. Good gas, driving normal, your belt should go 100,000 but when in doubt, check it, $1g is better than $5-10g's. He also said to be sure and change your fuel filter once a year or every 3 to 4 oil changes, the fuel line is so small and your fuel pump is so small that the filter can clog easily. I change mine on all my vehicles about every 25k to 30k which should be sufficient even on a tt, cost is about $75 to $100 if you let someone do it. My Audi guy worked for a dealship for 10 years so I trust him, take it or leave it...
 
By the way, read the lawsuit yesterday, and all claims, inspections, etc. dealing the the class action had to have been filed and done by August of 2008. I would still try though, get you an aftermarket warranty if you are worried, that would catch most of the damage if you did have a failure.
 
Matt, Birmingham, Alabama

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