Audi A4 Cam belt

N

nikonuser

Suspended / Banned
Messages
2,537
Name
Dave
Edit My Images
Yes
My Audi A4 is 6 years old and has done 38,000 miles apparently Audi recommend changing the cam belt after 5 years or 75,000 miles......it use to be 125,000 miles but for some reason they have reduced this quite drastically.
They want £420 for this work. Has anyone had this work done and what do you think about this price.
I have also ready where some people recommend the cam belt kit notmsurenwhat extra parts this entails and some even suggest changing the water pump at the same time.......presumably this is in an inaccessible spot and easier to do while the engine side is open.
I'm going to get a few prices from smaller garages and see what they come up with.
 
I think thats a fair price if its from the Audi dealer, but you could consider a reputable independent too. Got mine done as part of the deal when I bought the car from them (2nd hand). I think the cost of the water pump is quite small so its best to get it done at the same time to avoid the cost of labour again.
 
aye, sounds quite fair given the labour time and parts.

Waterpump is driven by the cam belt, if its packs up or starts leaking before next replacement belt schedule, you are paying for the same job all over again, plus the pump, so any signs if issues and its definitely worth doing, but even if no signs of problems, can be worth doing as a matter of course anyway as a preventative measure if the parts aren't too silly price wise.
 
Yv said:
Waterpump is driven by the cam belt, if its packs up or starts leaking before next replacement belt schedule, you are paying for the same job all over again, plus the pump, so any signs if issues and its definitely worth doing, but even if no signs of problems, can be worth doing as a matter of course anyway as a preventative measure if the parts aren't too silly price wise.
Click to expand...

This ^^^ -I've got a A3, and the waterpump is pretty damned inaccessible without basically doing the whole cam-belt dismantling job (iirc, it may well be almost a "remove the whole front of the car job") - my mate, who's a Audi trained tech, that now works at an independent VAG specialist basically says - if either job needs doing, you pretty much may as well do the other as well - it's maybe 15-30 minutes labour max. more to do both...

edit: just had a look at my bill for the job

Timing belt 22.00
Tension Roller 42.00
Tensioning Damper 64.00
Water Pump 26.00
Coolant 4.95
Labout 4 hours 160.00

Total 260.95 + vat + 4 years worth of price-hikes... done at a independent VAG specialist rather than Audi main-stealer.

so, £420 from Audi's probably about on the mark...
 
I just paid £300 for my A3 cam-belt yesterday. Audi suggested doing the water pump too but the independent said just to do the belt. Mine was also 5 years or 75,000 miles so I got it done based on 5 years as it's only done 30k.
 
If the water pump fails, in will probably leak coolant onto the belt and contaminate it, reducing it's life expectancy. It would then need replacing again. Best to replace the pump at the same time, saves money and time off the road if you intend keeping the car for longer.
 
Thanks, everyone, those are all really helpful comments.
At least it gives me piece of mind that Audi are not totally rip off merchants so will probably go with them since it will also be on my cars history when I come to trade it in.
Thanks again all
Dave
 
just beware they don't "force" you into other unnecessary repairs, or the ones that have been recently done elsewhere. Sometimes they quote purely from their repair log on screen
 
nikonuser said:
My Audi A4 is 6 years old and has done 38,000 miles apparently Audi recommend changing the cam belt after 5 years or 75,000 miles......it use to be 125,000 miles but for some reason they have reduced this quite drastically.
They want £420 for this work. Has anyone had this work done and what do you think about this price.
I have also ready where some people recommend the cam belt kit notmsurenwhat extra parts this entails and some even suggest changing the water pump at the same time.......presumably this is in an inaccessible spot and easier to do while the engine side is open.
I'm going to get a few prices from smaller garages and see what they come up with.
Click to expand...

Hi

It seems a reasonable price from a main dealer. A couple of things I'd do (which I did) - first is to phone / look at other Audi main dealers and see what price they're quoting, they maybe running a special offer ? If you do find it cheaper, get your local one to price match - again I did and they did price match.
Second thing I would do is to change the water pump, no it doesn't need it, but got the sake of £25-30 its a no brainer really and get them to fit it for free - no additional labour charge, again I did and the garage did without any issue at all - it's a couple of bolts in the end.

I would certainly recommend you have it changed and have no regrets having mine done - it also helped when I sold the car...
 
the new belt and tensioner can add to the pressure on the old water pump and cause it to start leaking
if your keeping the car then just change it at the same time job done
 
terryuk said:
the new belt and tensioner can add to the pressure on the old water pump and cause it to start leaking
if your keeping the car then just change it at the same time job done
Click to expand...

Wish this thread had happened a couple of days earlier and i'd have asked for water pump to be done too.
 
terryuk said:
the new belt and tensioner can add to the pressure on the old water pump and cause it to start leaking
if your keeping the car then just change it at the same time job done
Click to expand...

Really :thinking:.... as they wont surpass the pressure the pumps bearing is designed for...and if the bearing is going, it will have leaked with or without the new belt and tensioners right?

Just pondering. ;)
 
I've never heard that as a reason, sounds unrealistic to me. The standard water VAG pumps usually have a plastic internal impeller (a few had brass) the bit that actually moves the water along. They can start to fatigue and break up over time, first becoming less efficient and eventually failing with potential overheating and therefore catastrophic damage if it really cooks the engine. As said, the belt that drives the pump is off, so for the sake of £25 or so parts cost and a few extra minutes to remove and replace it, changing the pump is an absolute no brainer for peace of mind.
 
Julie1979 said:
Wish this thread had happened a couple of days earlier and i'd have asked for water pump to be done too.
Click to expand...

Surprised they never asked you, standard practise to do the water pump at the same time on some VAG cars.

I know a very good local mechanic and think mine cost around £300 all in
 
Last edited:
antihero said:
Surprised they never asked you, standard practise to do the water pump at the same time on some VAG cars.

I know a very good local mechanic and think mine cost around £300 all in
Click to expand...

Audi said do it at the same time due to labour cost, no other reason was given. The independent garage said due to the low mileage there was no reason to do it and just quoted me for the cam belt. I might consider getting it done separately because I'm hoping to keep my A3 for as long as I need to use prams and then buying something without having to need a giant boot.
 
I wouldn't worry too much, get it done with the next cambelt.
Just keep an eye on the water level, both pumps I've had go in the past have started with cars losing coolant over a period of time.
Also had cambelts done without changing the pump and no problems, it's something I always do when I buy a car even if service history shows it's been done
 
I had cambelt and waterpump replaced a couple of weeks ago on my A3 by an independent for £356. Audi main dealer quoted £649 :eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top