Timing Belt Failed on Audi A4 1.9 TDI SE

Razor

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My timing belt has snapped on my Audi A4 1.9 TDI SE December 2001 model (100,000 miles). I have been recently looking to trade the car in as I have owned it now for over 3 years and fancied a change to something newer and different. Unfortunately the car has decided to pay me back by snapping the timing belt, which was changed at 60000 miles.

I have been quoted a minimum of £1900 as the best case scenario and allot more if there is allot of damage to the engine (still waiting for the inspection). The car was valued over the phone in A1 condition for a trade in by both Audi and BMW as £4650. My car wasn't in A1 condition as I live and work in London and has one or two scratches.

I am now thinking its not worth spending any money on this car and just selling it as a non runner. I was wondering if anyone can give me any advice on if this is the right way to go and what sort of price would I expect to get for it. In Auto trader this car is listed at around £6000 for 100,000 as it is full spec'd up with leather interior. I was told by the AA man that mechanics would buy a car like this and do the work for fairly cheap as its mainly labour intensive and not part costly and sell it on.

Advice would be appreciated. :)
 
Break it for spares you'll get a lot of money
 
Break it for spares you'll get a lot of money

Thanks for the reply kebabhead. What sort of cash do you think I would get and were would be the best place to sell?



Lostfanboy - I am cutting my losses mate, I just want to know what sort of money I could get for it.
 
£1900, what for? I take its the standard 1.9 engine found in all VW,audi,seats etc. If the belts gone worse case its bent a few valves depending on how fast you were travelling at the time. Get the head off and check the damage, it most prob just needs some new values and a belt put back on it, on the cheap from a local garage it should be around £500-600 tops. Worse case just go to your local scrappy and get the head off another car and swap them over, this should be cheaper and easier then above.
 
Forgot to ask who done the belt before? i'd be asking them why has it snapped at 40k, did they change the tensioner pully? My mates audi A4 1996 has now done 240k on the same bottom end. The belt snapped on that so we swapped the head for one of a car which had done 80k.
 
I think it is the standard 1.9 Diesel engine found in most Seats, VW, etc cars. I was doing about 40mph as I was joining the M25 at the time. I am a bit clueless when it comes to cars so I really dont know what is a reasonable price. I have been thinking lately that the garage I use isn't the best for value for money and i have lost a bit of confidence in them.

When I bought the car it had full Audi service history and the belt was changed before I bought it at around 60000 at least thats what I was told. If I could get he repairs done for £600-£1000 I would get the works done so I could at least trade it in for my next car. I really just want shot of it now.
 
If you bought it at or just over 60K miles, I actually think the belt might not have been done as they said, a lot of these cars are sold after doing 20K for 3 years but they still want maximum profit so I think a lot of people lie about it.

You could strip it for spares and sell parts on Ebay like you could get £300 for the seats no bother etc etc but do you have the time, tools and patience to strip it plus deal with weirdos on Ebay?

Not sure what I would do, maybe just Ebay the full car, aslong as it has MOT and TAX isn't a toatl loss because I wonder why people sell cars like that on Ebay, no tax or mot plus it needs work, practically scrap value is all I would pay definatley not £500+.

Liam
 
downer :( Drive the same car, the belt on mine (according to the service history) was done just before 60k, I've recently had it done again at 123k so yours failing at 100k suggests that the belt was never changed originally, or it wasn't changed with all the parts needed ie, tensioners, water pump etc. As above, I'd take it to an audi specialist, I don't know where you are but can recommend a good one in Middlesbrough. If you part it out be aware that it takes time and you'll need a garage really to strip it, to be honest, it's got to be worth fixing (It's a B6 right?). If you sell it now you'll get back a lot less than the cost of having it repaired
 
I'd consider ringing round the independent Audi specialists for advice, perhaps with a view to a part exchange with the present car going in "as is" against something they have in stock. One of these will be able to do the work easily and save you the hassle

And as for hassle, don't bother trying to sell it for parts. More to life than that!
 
Thanks for all the posts guys. I dont think the belt was changed at all now. I think the sales guy just told me what i wanted to hear. I am also unhappy with my garage for not bringing it to my attention. They should of told me the belt needed to be changed. I havent looked at my service book yet as its at my office. If it doesn't have a note that the belt was changed then its the last time I will use them for any of my cars.

I am undecided if I should spend any money for the investigation or if I should either ebay it or hand the car into a scrap yard for them to deal with. The car has 9 months MOT and Tax still let on it. I really am gutted about how this car has turned out as it was a really good runner for 3+ years.

I would love to trade it into a dealer but I have decided to go for a 3 year old 530D M Sport as a replacement. I did the pepsi challenge with an Audi A6 and preferred the BMW. I hate BMW dealers with a passion as they are so stuck up but I like their cars. I wont be using a BMW dealer for the purchase as they are way over the top on prices. I have found a few cars at normal dealers which have low miles and a god spec.
 
Thanks for all the posts guys. I dont think the belt was changed at all now. I think the sales guy just told me what i wanted to hear. I am also unhappy with my garage for not bringing it to my attention. They should of told me the belt needed to be changed. I havent looked at my service book yet as its at my office. If it doesn't have a note that the belt was changed then its the last time I will use them for any of my cars.

I am undecided if I should spend any money for the investigation or if I should either ebay it or hand the car into a scrap yard for them to deal with. The car has 9 months MOT and Tax still let on it. I really am gutted about how this car has turned out as it was a really good runner for 3+ years.

I would love to trade it into a dealer but I have decided to go for a 3 year old 530D M Sport as a replacement. I did the pepsi challenge with an Audi A6 and preferred the BMW. I hate BMW dealers with a passion as they are so stuck up but I like their cars. I wont be using a BMW dealer for the purchase as they are way over the top on prices. I have found a few cars at normal dealers which have low miles and a god spec.

I think you're right about the original belt. A friend in the motor trade has always said you should never rely on talk about the belt being changed but that's a sad reflection, isn't it. The annoying thing is the actual belt usually costs nix

After 2 BMs I agree about the dealers, but I'd still try the independent BM dealers for a p/e on the Audi. Most of these guys have contacts that can place a car such as yours

As for spending money on an investigation I wouldn't bother. You'll only wind yourself up and it won't produce any return

Hope the new car works out and gives you joy:)
 
Razor
my Mk4 golf timing belt snapped when my friend was doing 70mph on it ( my mate (previous owner) had it repaired then gave it to me for free 6 months later) really screwed up the engine due to the speed he was going at. A lot of garages wouldn't touch the car said it was too much and recommended a complete engine transplant.Luckily a friend of mine worked in a garage and he sorted it all out for £1300, same friend now owns a garage in North Finchley so if you want to have a word with him for advice or a quote PM me and i'll send you his mobile number and will tell him to expect your call.
 
Razor
my Mk4 golf timing belt snapped when my friend was doing 70mph on it ( my mate (previous owner) had it repaired then gave it to me for free 6 months later) really screwed up the engine due to the speed he was going at. A lot of garages wouldn't touch the car said it was too much and recommended a complete engine transplant.Luckily a friend of mine worked in a garage and he sorted it all out for £1300, same friend now owns a garage in North Finchley so if you want to have a word with him for advice or a quote PM me and i'll send you his mobile number and will tell him to expect your call.

Your a diamond cheers mate, pm on the way. :smashin:
 
I have just looked through my service book and there is no mention of a timing belt being changed. I am now angry as my current garage never picked this up or told me it needed changing even though they had the service book everytime I put my car in for a service. My last service was 3,000 miles ago. :mad:
 
I have just looked through my service book and there is no mention of a timing belt being changed. I am now angry as my current garage never picked this up or told me it needed changing even though they had the service book everytime I put my car in for a service. My last service was 3,000 miles ago. :mad:

Sorry to hear about your problems. I have a A6 and bought the car with 61 000 miles on it. Luckily I know a bit about timing belts and cars as I had to help my dad change his on his pickup when I was younger all the time. Horrible job. That's why it's so expensive to do. I find that alot of people sell the Audi just before the timing belts needs to be changed at about 60 000. This why they don't have to pay the £600 it's going to cost to do the job and leave it up to the new owner to fork out the cash. What makes it worse is you have to request for it to be done. My A6 book says it needs to be replaced at 80 000 cuase it's a V6 but I will probably get it done at around 70 000. Good luck!
 
600quid for a cambelt is stealers prices though right? Mine was £266 all in for:
Timing Belt, tensioner, water pump, ribbed belt, ribbed belt and antifreeze - parts 126 and labour 100 (4 hours at 25 an hour). Good independents are worth their weight
 
Is there any checks you can do to tell if / when the timing belt needs changing? Im thinking of buying an A4 Tdi 01 or newer but sounds like i shouldnt trust the service book!
 
You can try and remove the cambelt cover and look at the belt, if a belt is really worn you will see cracking and the teeth of the belt will show through.

A cambelt change is only hard due to the space you have to work. It shouldnt be more then 3-4 hours labour plus parts, so 200-300 tops. The 1.9 audi engines are real easy to do as theres plenty of space and there single cam. A back street garage will only charge around £200 including parts.

On the other hand, try changing a cambelt on a 20v turbo fiat coupe, you'll be looking at around £600-700 because there a real pain and nobody wants to do them.
 
600quid for a cambelt is stealers prices though right? Mine was £266 all in for:
Timing Belt, tensioner, water pump, ribbed belt, ribbed belt and antifreeze - parts 126 and labour 100 (4 hours at 25 an hour). Good independents are worth their weight

Nope that's from an independant and that includes the waterpump and all tensioners. The A6 V6 is more expensive to do becuase it's such a pain in the ass to get to the belt. I was refering to what it would cost me to do mine. It would most likely be half that for the OP's 1.9Tdi.
 

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