3.0 Timing Belt, easier then we think?

[BSIXER]

My roommate is a certified Audi/Bentley Tech. I told him that my car hit 70K and that I will be doing my timing belt soon (probably around 80K). I also told him that it was a $1000-$1500(on the cheap side) job depending on where I take it. He laughed at me. He said that he can do a 3.0 V6 timing belt in under 2 hours, with no air tools. He told me that to pass certification, he had to do 3 timing belts on several different Audi motors while in the car, and he said that it is a piece of cake. Audi loves when someone comes in for a timing belt change on a 3.0 or a 1.8T, It books at 6 hours but only takes one hour some times. He said the only bitch timing belt is the FWD 3.2 TT. I trust him because he has done all the other work on my car with no problems. Just thought I would give everyone a heads up on how Audi screws us on this job.

[ch229151]

Yea man, my timing/serpentine/acessory belt (whatever its called) went around 70k, and audi said it was gonna take about 6 hours...I laughed in their face. My mechanic did it in a fraction of the time. BUT, from what I understand it does involve taking the engine out or the bay, and usually replacing the tensioner arm as well. Let us know how it goes!

[T0M3K]

I want him to write howto, maybe he knows some tricks we're not aware of

[BSIXER]

I will see about writing it up when we replace it.

[Ebbsnflows]

I thought the 3.0 Timing belt was good until 100k? I could've sworn I read that in the owners manual?

I just hit 66k miles...so if it's only good til 70k...I need to act quick.

[ch229151]

Yea man, check it out. I thought that too and then *snap*....out went my steering and tensioner arm.

[ThreePointOhh]

Yea man, check it out. I thought that too and then *snap*....out went my steering and tensioner arm.

your accessory belt is different from the timing belt. if your timing belt went you would've been screwed. accessory belt just runs the alternator, power steering and a/c condensor. that's probably what broke for you.

[skeeball]

For 02 and 03 it's 105k. Then suddenly in 04 they change that to 75k, but they are still using the same parts. You can draw your own conclusions.

[AudiA4_20T]

it probably is if he leaves the stuff in there, I saw a tech at VW do a 1.8T TB job in 45 minutes

[Laconvail]

3.2 VR6 TT uses a timing chain, not a belt and they are quattro only. In case you dont know techs get paid that regardless of how long it takes them. Dont give us crap because we can beat book time. If it takes me two days I still get book time and if I have nothing to do, I get paid nothing. If you dont wanna pay do it yourself.

[BSIXER]

Not giving you crap, giving Audi crap because they set the book hours. Believe me, you guys work your asses off. Audi is giving you guys 6 hours to do this job, why not 3-4? The everyday joe who takes his car in is getting ripped off, plain and simple.

Do you like getting ripped off? Maybe I should charge you 3% in points on your mortgage, and if I can hide it and get away with it. You didn't know about it, so no harm done right?

[converted2audi]

3.2 VR6 TT uses a timing chain, not a belt and they are quattro only. In case you dont know techs get paid that regardless of how long it takes them. Dont give us crap because we can beat book time. If it takes me two days I still get book time and if I have nothing to do, I get paid nothing. If you dont wanna pay do it yourself.

k, i will

[ladedruck]

I don't know think a couple hours is going to do a 3.0 timing belt the right way. Both valve covers come off to set the cam timing up right. Add that to the rest of the belt job and I don't think 2 hours is going to get it done.

[Maverick]

3.0 timing belt is no easy job!!! I helped my mechanic at the shop to do the work, I was mad tired do shit here and there.
just buy the parts from either ECS or MJM and have some nice shop to do it. 600 for parts IIRC and 660 for labor thats I what I paid.

[Laconvail]

Agreed. Just pulling the valve covers can suck sometimes. And I personally take my time and get it done right. Not everyone is out to rip you off.

[converted2audi]

Agreed. Just pulling the valve covers can suck sometimes. And I personally take my time and get it done right. Not everyone is out to rip you off.

yea, thats the toughest part of the decision whether or not to do it myself.....its not that i dont feel like i can do it, its just that its definitely something you dont want to screw up.....my mechanic is a really good guy, but $550 just for the labor for a timing belt is hard to swallow on a student budget!

[Laconvail]

You also need the tools. There are clamps that hold the cams in time and a tool to tension the adjusters (3.0 V6). If in doubt, take it somewhere.

[vdubstreets]

3.2 VR6 TT uses a timing chain, not a belt and they are quattro only. In case you dont know techs get paid that regardless of how long it takes them. Dont give us crap because we can beat book time. If it takes me two days I still get book time and if I have nothing to do, I get paid nothing. If you dont wanna pay do it yourself.

well that all depends...

it works this way, a tech will get paid for the amount of hours the book says. if he/she finishes the job faster they get paid still for that amount of time and can then move on to another job. I belive thats called flat rate?

[Laconvail]

Yeah, flat rate. Thats how I get paid.

[rms-s4]

I don't know think a couple hours is going to do a 3.0 timing belt the right way. Both valve covers come off to set the cam timing up right. Add that to the rest of the belt job and I don't think 2 hours is going to get it done.

the guy in the first bay here at my job is doing one now. and there is no way it takes 2 hours. maybe a v6 passat where the nose doesnt ahve to come off but the 3.0 is like the v8s, a fn bi*ch

[ngng]

just because he can do it in two hours doesn't mean he will charge two hours.

[BSIXER]

Maybe my roommate is just fast. I know he use to work circles around all of the other techs, but I have talked to other people at the shop and they are telling me the same thing. I will let everyone know how long it takes him when he does it.

[BSIXER]

the guy in the first bay here at my job is doing one now. and there is no way it takes 2 hours. maybe a v6 passat where the nose doesnt ahve to come off but the 3.0 is like the v8s, a fn bi*ch

Is the guy in the first bay where you work a certified Audi Tech? My roommate told me that if you know how everything comes apart, it is a piece of cake. Most people who have never done one get overwhealmed, but he had to change 9 timing belts out of 3 different motors when he was in school (one being the 3.0), and he told me that in order to pass certification, they had to be done without the assistance of air tools, and yes the front had to come off.

[gotquattro]

No reason why it couldn't be done in two hours.

Just not the first time.

Most owners who take this on themselves, myself included, will likely never do the job more than once.

It's the staring at stuff, getting organized & reading manuals, looking for tools, crap like that that makes the difference from a two hour seasoned pro to a full day private owner affair....


-

[BSIXER]

That is a great point gotquattro. My mind tends to go blank in that staring at stuff part.

I guess my whole point in this thread is the importance of making freinds with an Audi Tech who can do the work for you on the side or let you know when you are going to get bent over by the stealership.

[Laconvail]

Is the guy in the first bay where you work a certified Audi Tech? My roommate told me that if you know how everything comes apart, it is a piece of cake. Most people who have never done one get overwhealmed, but he had to change 9 timing belts out of 3 different motors when he was in school (one being the 3.0), and he told me that in order to pass certification, they had to be done without the assistance of air tools, and yes the front had to come off.

I went through the same training. You work in groups. It is a piece of cake with other people helping and when service writers arent coming up to you and stopping you with other tickets or asking you to come to the lane and look at a car. You do the job in and out of the car at school. The most important thing I remember from school is that it is nothing like working in a shop.

[kwan]

I love these posts...."I heard from person X it only takes this much amount of time...F that! I'm gonna do it myself." Several hours later it's towed in the shop and you're paying double. Not doubting your roommate...., ok I am actually. Two hours is not realistic for getting the job done. And doing circles around other Techs. Either the shop is under trained/experienced, or he's a hack. Take your pick.

[quattro16]

3.0 Timing Belt In 2 Hours Hahahahahahah. I Would Like To Meet That Guy. Tell Him He Is A Fuckin Lier And A Cheat. I Can Guarantee It Takes Longer Then 3 Hrs To Do A 3.0 T-belt For Even The Best. Its Not Hard To Do At All It Just Takes Time To Do It Right. And Yeah Maybe In School When All The Bolts Have Been Out 6 Million Times And Havent Been Sitting In There For 70-90k. Maybe One Day I Could Compare Hours With Your Friend And Show Him Whats Up!

[BSIXER]

3.0 Timing Belt In 2 Hours Hahahahahahah. I Would Like To Meet That Guy. Tell Him He Is A Fuckin Lier And A Cheat. I Can Guarantee It Takes Longer Then 3 Hrs To Do A 3.0 T-belt For Even The Best. Its Not Hard To Do At All It Just Takes Time To Do It Right. And Yeah Maybe In School When All The Bolts Have Been Out 6 Million Times And Havent Been Sitting In There For 70-90k. Maybe One Day I Could Compare Hours With Your Friend And Show Him Whats Up!

I trust my friend over anyone on the internet because I have actually seen him/helped him work on everything from my A4 to a Bentley Flying Spur. Like I have said before, I will let everyone know how long it takes us when we decide to do it. Thanks for the responses.

[BSIXER]

I love these posts...."I heard from person X it only takes this much amount of time...F that! I'm gonna do it myself." Several hours later it's towed in the shop and you're paying double. Not doubting your roommate...., ok I am actually. Two hours is not realistic for getting the job done. And doing circles around other Techs. Either the shop is under trained/experienced, or he's a hack. Take your pick.

So what if it takes 4 hours for him to do it. He isn't charging me 1/2 as much as the dealership is. I didn't think that his claims were too realistic either, but he has proven me wrong many times.

[BSIXER]

I went through the same training. You work in groups. It is a piece of cake with other people helping and when service writers arent coming up to you and stopping you with other tickets or asking you to come to the lane and look at a car. You do the job in and out of the car at school. The most important thing I remember from school is that it is nothing like working in a shop.

So are you doubting that it can be done right in 2 hours in the car? We won't have any service writers coming to bug us.

[ladedruck]

The only way I see it getting done in 2 hours is if he hacks it and marks the pulleys and belts and doesn't actually r & r v/cs and set the valve timing as it is supposed to be done. Then are you going to replace the h20 pump, tensioner and rollers? Just refilling the coolant warming the car up and test driving after the job is going to take 15-20 minutes. Now you are down to 1:40- 45 to pull both v/c,install the timing tools the front of the car forward, r&r the timing belt, rollers, h20 pump and tensioner, seals, time the timing belt and cams, torque it all down, reinstall the timing belt covers, reinstall both v/cs and reinstall the front bumper( I am leaving some stuff out here but just the highlights). The idea of your roomy helping you out is great. To say that he can do the job correctly in two hours and that shops are charging way too much isn't realistic.

[BSIXER]

The only way I see it getting done in 2 hours is if he hacks it and marks the pulleys and belts and doesn't actually r & r v/cs and set the valve timing as it is supposed to be done. Then are you going to replace the h20 pump, tensioner and rollers? Just refilling the coolant warming the car up and test driving after the job is going to take 15-20 minutes. Now you are down to 1:40- 45 to pull both v/c,install the timing tools the front of the car forward, r&r the timing belt, rollers, h20 pump and tensioner, seals, time the timing belt and cams, torque it all down, reinstall the timing belt covers, reinstall both v/cs and reinstall the front bumper( I am leaving some stuff out here but just the highlights). The idea of your roomy helping you out is great. To say that he can do the job correctly in two hours and that shops are charging way too much isn't realistic.

I like the way you broke this down for us Evan. I understand what you mean, and I now think that maybe my roomy was exaggerating a bit. I also take back what I said about the shops charging way too much. Thanks,

[Laconvail]

And in the class you dont replace everything. Two hours is just pushing it.

[JohnnyG]

I met a tech while @ training who swore he could do the 3.0 belt in 2 hrs, but as he explained his process I just walked away. There will always be hacks but a good tech knows what corners can be cut if any. The 3.0 timing belt like evan stated has an important sequence that should be followed to ensure the timing is properly set. I'd love to see your friend bust it out thou. While he is flying have him change your water pump. Besides leaks I've seen a few 3.0's come in on a hook with collapsed wp housings.

[monkey323i]

just a question.

when you guys do the 3.0 timing belt replacement.

do you guys replace the thermostat too?

[JohnnyG]

thermostat replacement is unrelated to the timing belt on the 3.0 , you can do it while your car is in for a timing belt but the savings would be far less than a 2.8.
the thermostat housing is just behind your p/s pump and kinda under the intake manifold.