Big bill on way!!

[aldi]

Took my 02 plate A3 1.8T to my local dealer this morning for a new toothed belt expecting around the £400 mark until i got a call saying that there was a fault code showing Timing chain tensioner fault. It has done 145k so it was probably only a matter of time until i had some drama. Now been told to expect a bill close to £1100, great. Apparantly the timing tensioner parts are £200 and then theres 4 hrs labour! Really looking forward to picking up the tab for this one , not. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif

 

[Khufu]

145K in 4 years! Have they started the work? I'd tell them you couldnt afford it at the moment and take it to an independant that has a lower labour charge.

 

[rickquattro]

Go directly to the Independant dealer, get another quote, save a heap of cash.. Belt/pulley/tensioner/waterpump must come in circa £400 all up outside of Audi....Check out the FAQ section about servicing...

 

[AndyMac]

Definately find a good independent specialist. With that sort of mileage you really are throwing good money after bad using Audi dealers at £90+ per hour labour and overly inflated parts pricing. Before I saw the light I had just the cam belt done at a dealer on my 2.8Q and they charged me £800. Subsequently found they didn't replace the water pump so had to have the whole lot done agian the following year. Luckily found a really good VAG specialist in that time and they did the whole job properly for £425.
Audi dealers are really only interested in warranty work and company cars.

 

[pwnorman]

Had this done under warranty thank god but the bill would have been around that price they also said they have to change a belt which i cant remember what it was but its saved me paying for it on my next service so will be interesting when they say its due and i tell them it aint, whilst im on when does the water pump need changing.

 

[simch]

I got a belt, tensioner, rollers and waterpump from GSF, all oem parts for £110! Fitted it myself, one engine mount bolt is a pain, but you can do it, took me, a none mechanic less than 2 hours for the the drive in drive out job.

So parts cost and 4 hours is a load or crap I reckon!

There are two tensioners one the proper cam belt tensioner with a hydraulic auto tensioner, there is another tensioner they sometimes change on the drive belt for the air con and alternator.That's a massive spring loadedthing and is only £60 from VAG,so it cannot be that. Oh, it takes 10 mis to fit too!
At 145k miles, get your parts from German and Sweedish and get a competant local mech to fit it all!

 

[AndyC]

i have 2 spare low milage chain tensioners in stock at work.

not a really bad job to change.

not £1100 though!

Andy
GDI
www.greydevilindustries.com