CAMBELT NIGHTMARE....What do you think?

[myrichdad]

Hi all,

Yesterday was pottering around in the S3. posted some bits, jumped back in the car, went to start it, wizz wizz no response...weird was only running seconds ago (in fact can't actually rememeber if i turned it off). try again wizz wizz no action.....mmmm

few minutes swearing and blindly looking under bonnet and rang the rac...

about 1 min after arrival rac guy says your cambelts gone....can here it moving and injectors firing. pretty certain....

got towed to knight vw/audi up the road who have looked after her for a while....and they advised me to contact the people who fitted the cambelt.

It was fitted at 83k when i bought the vehicle. think it was the first one. done a further 50k miles since then. I understand for my model 80k is recommended, 60k for newer models mine 1999....

Mackenzies - said mmmm yes we did the work....but long time ago....close to 60k (51k???) been over a year....we'd have to have a look...see what we can do...we maybe able to help but not sure...

they are 25 miles away from the car to so i'd have to get it to them.

As it was off or idling when it went - what is the likely internal damage? do they have much clearance internally? HELP

 

[golf]

If the car was idling and the belt snapped, the damage shouldn't be too severe. The belt should be changed every 60,000 miles to avoid things like this happening.

 

[simch]

i dont think it will make a lot of difference what rpm it was doing, if it was turning over on the starter, it suggests the valves and pistons were not hitting! fingers crossed!!
or it could just be they are all bent out of the way.!!

 

[myrichdad]

The belt should be changed every 60,000 miles to avoid things like this happening.

changed 50,000 miles ago....definately within tightest recomendation and 30k inside service schedule

do you think I have any comeback on the garage? will they just worm out of it?

 

[davidhodgkinson]

changed 50,000 miles ago....definately within tightest recomendation and 30k inside service schedule

do you think I have any comeback on the garage? will they just worm out of it?

They will try & worm out of it!!!!

When mine went it cost audi approx £3500 to repair...

 

[Aky]

I think your car is fecked mate. I hope not but I think it could be quite expensive. So how do you earn extra cash?

 

[HTC]

You can damage valves even by cranking the engine. Basically if the engine has been turned anything more than by hand with a broken belt, then it will be a head off job.

Sorry about that, and I hope you get it sorted without too much hassle.

 

[jesters3]

Not good for sure. Mine went as I was travelling down the M4, as a result the pistons went through the head and then did all sorts of disco dancing inside to make me have a new engine. Hopefully they will on need to replace the top.

 

[fingermouse]

gutted for you but things to consider.

were all the tensioners changed when the belt was done ????
was the water pump also changed ????
after 50k I doubt the garage will be bothered as its unlikley to be their fault more like the belt man fault, which leads me to what make of belt was fitted ????

 

[steebo888]

yer sorry to hear but it sounds bad.

 

[Prawn]

sadly, i think after 50k your on your own.

cambelts do what they please, there are recommended intervals for change, but the fact remains that they COULD give up at ANY point. it's rare for them go go inside the suggested lifespan, but it can happen, through no fault of a particular person, its just ****** bad luck.

I'd let them take a look at it, and see if they are willing to offer any good will gesture in light of them doing the original swap.

I think rpm is rather irrelavent, as if you think about idle speed, its around 1000rpm, that means each piston is moving up and down one THOUSAND times every minute, thats 16 times every second, so even at the speed, if the engines takes 2 seconds to stop turning after the snap, thats still 32 movements from each piston during which valve contact could take place

doesnt sound good

was it a genuine belt fitted?

really hope its not as bad as i managed to make out for you mate!

good luck

 

[myrichdad]

£305 so far...new belt fitted but alas no compression. total cost is going to be £2200....****.

In answer to various questions....
All was done at 83k. when i bought car. new belt, pulleys, water pump, i understand all genuine audi, but who knows. had metal impeller pump fitted. tis was then replaced about 10k ish later 'cos it was leaking.
left work which was convenient for Mackenzies so found local specialist who have done recent services and have been ace and cheaper.

thanks fior your help guys.
one of the worm out of has been....well you have an oil leak and the engine bay is covered.....i knew i had a small leak 'cos wife had spotted a couple of drips on the drive...when i had a quick look my oil dipstick pipe had cracked...so i taped it up 'cos it was going to be serviced the following week.....oh and its for sale!!!!

Timing belt - bad timing gets you belted....

Kev.

 

[bpascua]

sorry to hear that, £2200 is a lot of cash. All you can hope for is it's perfect when you get it back. Cant see there are any lessons to be learnt. I expect Audi might have been more sympathetic if you had the work done with them and returned it to them but who knows - but then an cambelt change from them probably costs £2200 in any case........