The dealership wants to... advice needed

[LadyHawk]

So, my oil sludge problem is being fixed under the extended warranty. The dealer called today to inform us that we need the following repairs:

Cam Adjuster Gaskets $648.18
Battery $269.16
Timing Belt $1500.00

Ok, what the hell are cam adjuster gaskets? Should I really fix them? And can I do it myself? Obviously we will change out the battery ourselves. Do I really need to pay $1500 for my timing belt (car has 88k) or should I bring it to a non-dealership mechanic? Any idea how much diffference it would be?

Thanks guys

GO SOX!!!!

[Condo]

I wouldn't have any work that isn't covered under warranty done at the dealership. I paid a local shop $300 + parts for my timing belt last year. $1500 is way too much.

[dougyfresh]

Did I miss something?

Are they fixing your existing engine or replacing it? Why are they asking for $$ ontop of the engine replacement?

Sounds like they are asking for $$ because they are going to fix your engine instead of replace it. But those estimates talk nothing about a oil pump or what-not... I'm confused.




To answer your cost estimates:
If they are doing the warranty sludge engine work... The timing belt should not cost $1500. It should be whatever the parts are (<$300) and maybe an extra hour of labor. The whole front end will be off the car to do the sludge warranty work so the extra labor (4-5hrs?) they normally charge for a TB job is not needed.

Buy a battery somewhere else for <$100 and bring it to them or install it yourself.

Cam gear seal should be much cheaper since the valve cover should be off for the engine sludge work. Unless they are replacing the camshaft tensioner itself. That part is around $300+.

Sounds like they are trying to sneak in the cost of the sludge work with other 'maintenance' items.

[Monster Stealth]

I am with these guys. What exactly are they doing to "fix" your sludge problem?

[gdawg'05a4]

If they're replacing the engine, no reason they should be asking you if you want to do the TB. Sounds like they're just fixing the engine...

If that's the case, I can give you a good independent mechanic's shop (outside of Boston) info who knows VW/Audis and is a preferred shop on here and AW. Cost you about $550 for the TB job, parts and labor.

[LadyHawk]

They are indeed fixing the engine (cleaning it and putting it back together?). I am not getting a new one. Apparently it wasn't to the point where I needed one. I guess it's a good thing we pulled over right away and had the car towed. Or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. Either way, as long as the car drives I'm happy. I thought this car was done for so anything is better than that. Gdawg...if you could send me the name of that shop it would be much appreciated. Once we get her back up and running and all is well, I'll post some pics before we start the summer mods :).

[OneBadAudi]

They are indeed fixing the engine (cleaning it and putting it back together?). I am not getting a new one. Apparently it wasn't to the point where I needed one. I guess it's a good thing we pulled over right away and had the car towed. Or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. Either way, as long as the car drives I'm happy. I thought this car was done for so anything is better than that. Gdawg...if you could send me the name of that shop it would be much appreciated. Once we get her back up and running and all is well, I'll post some pics before we start the summer mods :).

I wouldnt trust a dealership pullng my motor apart and cleaning it. Wouldnt be suprised if you had more problems down the road because they pulled it apart.

[gdawg'05a4]

As long as they giving her some sort of warranty on the work done...

LadyHawk, you've got PM!

[dirtybrd]

Get a list of what they are repairing/replacing/cleaning and lets see if any of it overlaps. Like if the take the cams out to clean inside the head, then there should be no extra labor for T-Belt and cam adjuster gaskets. Be without the car for another day so I can tell what is what. I'm a tech, so I can really help you out.

[heateris]

i had my TB done at a indy VW/Audi shop(in NJ) for about $750.

[LadyHawk]

Thanks for the headsup dirtybrd. I'm going to call her now and see if I can get a list of everything they are doing and also I'll ask what kind of warranty I'm getting on the work. I'm in NO rush to get the car back by any means. I want it to be fixed correctly.

[wolfdog]

timing belt for $1500 is the cost of taking a perfectly working engine in and having them spend ~7 hours taking it all apart and putting it back together again for only that purpose. If they're doing warranty work associated with engine sludge you CERTAINLY shouldn't be paying that much. Parts for $350 at most, maybe a couple hours labor @ x$/hr. you might want to ask what their hourly rate is, too.

Battery is a joke.

The cam gaskets should be much cheaper since they should have the valve cover off already for the oil sludge work. Definitely shouldn't be that much, though I don't have a guess for you.

The people in this thread gave you some great advice and guidance.

[cmlteg]

when doing the oil sludge procedure they remove the oil pan replace the pick up tube, replace crankcase hoses, oil turbo lines, they drain the oil n use a special detergent to wash the engine by means of running the engine for 15 to 30 mins drain, fill with new oil run again, drain n fill again with new oil. They engine never comes out or the front end comes off.

[Maverick]

buy the Optima Red top 75/35 instead of factory. Get the ultimate timing belt kit from ECS tuning. only let the dealer do you engine.
the other stuff do it at another garage.
I see you are in Boston, which dealer are you going to ? Clair audi? or Audi on RT9?

[djs]

I paid just shy of $700 for my Timing belt, water pump maintenance. That price included parts and labor. This was about a year+ ago and the dealership was quoting about $1200.

[GTMRS4]

I got my timing belt replaced at for about 700 w/parts.