Timing belt replacemnet- not going so smoothly

[skizsam]

I ordered the parts from ECS, my indy mechanic installed them, puts the car back together and I get a call that the Timing Belt Tensioner Roller bearing don't sounds right. I go over and it sounds like the bearings are bad! So now he has to take the part apart AGAIN, and replace the tensioner.

So now I'm screwed since I supplied the parts. He says who's gonna pay for the labor!

I didn't get into a pissing match but all I told him is that I need my car back and get it fixed....I'm sure in a sticky and costly situation.

At the least ECS should give me a refund on this part.

Any suggestions or comments? I guess I learned my lesson for supplying parts (for at least a timing belt job) *vent*

[dougyfresh]

The roller bearing should have been included with the gas tensioner. I'd push ECS for a full refund on the parts (roller bearing at a minimum).

I think you're footing the bill for the additional labor to put a new tensioner and roller bearing in. Sorry.

[skizsam]

The roller bearing should have been included with the gas tensioner. I'd push ECS for a full refund on the parts (roller bearing at a minimum).

I think you're footing the bill for the additional labor to put a new tensioner and roller bearing in. Sorry.

I agree with everything you mentioned above

ECS said I would have to pay for the new one and once they determine it was bad they would give me a full refund with shipping. I can say that's fair and all I can really ask for.

As for the labor, I supplied the parts so in this case I shot my self in the foot and I acknowledge I will have to pay. I can only hope the 2nd time he takes it apart will be slightly faster.

[pondside36]

ouch that hurts... good luck

[akaEsCo01]

Damn, I was wondering how this worked out for you. I thought you were going to Clint?

[Papachristou]

you probably still come out ahead...

[skizsam]

Damn, I was wondering how this worked out for you. I thought you were going to Clint?

He said he was going back to school and our schedules didn't work out

[AudiA4_20T]

yea sorry man, I would have done it the second time for free... O well these things happen, we have Audis and we pay for it sometimes

[n7plus1]

so wait, you got the kit from ECS...and one of the parts that ECS sent you in the kit was DOA?

[skizsam]

so wait, you got the kit from ECS...and one of the parts that ECS sent you in the kit was DOA?

Yes, The tensioner roller seems to have a bad bearing.

[AudiA4_20T]

damn these fake tensioner bearings. I cracked one on another car, they make these fake ones in Japan or something, OEM parts FTW

[skizsam]

Update: my headache is over and now in my wallet.

Everything is replaced and working. The tensioner was bad. The mechanic said it'll be over $1k...not his fault.

ECS was very good about the exchange.

Also I want to add, when I brought it to the stealership for inspection, they said the belt was rotting and drying out. The belt has NO sign of rotting or drying. The answer should have been "your belt looks ok, but Audi suggests to replace it at 60k".

I'll be sure to take the belt to the stealership and give them a hard time.

[n7plus1]

ok, thanks for the clarification. Glad they replaced the part for you.

[gq9]

So I can go ahead and order my kit from ECS ? I just shit myself when I was reading this, was everything sorted out with no problems?

[04QuattroTurbo]

You're nice, I don't think I would have been so accommodating and forgiving with ECS. The very reason we would order parts from a third party and supply it ourselves is to not only trust that we are proving quality parts for replacement, but also that we are saving ourselves some money. The very business of ECS supplying maintenance parts for the timing belt change is based off of that concept.

I understand that these parts may be offered for the DIY, so I guess I understand the labor part of the deal, but then again, excellent customer service etiquette would dictate, that even if ECS were to lose some money, they IMHO, should: 1. replaced the item right away, in order to get you moving without you spending another dime. 2. Offer to either pay for the all of the labor to R&R the old tensioner or at least part of the labor incurred due to the supplying of bad parts.

At the very least I say "1. replaced the item right away, in order to get you moving without you spending another dime." with the 2. as a true Above and Beyond for the customer attitude. I understand that it is not your fault nor is it ECS's fault for the bearings to go out, however, they supplied the part and sold it to you with the confidence that the parts are of good quality.

This is more of an issue with ECS and their supplier, however, with the retail customer is concerned, the course of action would have to at least covered the replacement part + shipping so that you may have another part for your car ASAP. And send you a return box for the defective part for them to get back. It would at the very least have given then 1 gold star, had they paid for part of the extra labor this would have earned them 2 gold stars and if they offered to pay for all the extra labor, this would get 5 stars and a customer for life that will sing their praises.

I understand this can be of a net loss to ECS, but it is also a right-off in exchange for an excellent reputation which many businesses regardless of size would pay a king's ransom for if it was for sale.

I understand your happy and glad for ECS you are pragmatic and is pleased. I don't think I would be as easily satisfied, though. But that's me.

[pogi]

Agreed with above poster.

My ECS TB kit just arrived from the mail today. If this were to happen to me, I would be absolutely livid. Is there any way of seeing if the part is kosher before I have it installed?

[04QuattroTurbo]

Agreed with above poster.

My ECS TB kit just arrived from the mail today. If this were to happen to me, I would be absolutely livid. Is there any way of seeing if the part is kosher before I have it installed?

You can run the "wheel" part of the tensioner and check if you get bearing noise, that maybe a test to see if the bearings are good.

[skizsam]

After this all happended I asked my mechanic if he spun the tensior if he would have know. he said without the tensioner under a full/real load, he knew would he known.

the only suggestion I can say (and my mechanic said) is to try to start the car ( without the coolant hooked up) and see how things go, before you package everyhtign up. Since you can only do this for a few seconds, it might not resolve it fully

[skizsam]

You're nice, I don't think I would have been so accommodating and forgiving with ECS. The very reason we would order parts from a third party and supply it ourselves is to not only trust that we are proving quality parts for replacement, but also that we are saving ourselves some money. The very business of ECS supplying maintenance parts for the timing belt change is based off of that concept.

I understand that these parts may be offered for the DIY, so I guess I understand the labor part of the deal, but then again, excellent customer service etiquette would dictate, that even if ECS were to lose some money, they IMHO, should: 1. replaced the item right away, in order to get you moving without you spending another dime. 2. Offer to either pay for the all of the labor to R&R the old tensioner or at least part of the labor incurred due to the supplying of bad parts.

At the very least I say "1. replaced the item right away, in order to get you moving without you spending another dime." with the 2. as a true Above and Beyond for the customer attitude. I understand that it is not your fault nor is it ECS's fault for the bearings to go out, however, they supplied the part and sold it to you with the confidence that the parts are of good quality.

This is more of an issue with ECS and their supplier, however, with the retail customer is concerned, the course of action would have to at least covered the replacement part + shipping so that you may have another part for your car ASAP. And send you a return box for the defective part for them to get back. It would at the very least have given then 1 gold star, had they paid for part of the extra labor this would have earned them 2 gold stars and if they offered to pay for all the extra labor, this would get 5 stars and a customer for life that will sing their praises.

I understand this can be of a net loss to ECS, but it is also a right-off in exchange for an excellent reputation which many businesses regardless of size would pay a king's ransom for if it was for sale.

I understand your happy and glad for ECS you are pragmatic and is pleased. I don't think I would be as easily satisfied, though. But that's me.

Of course I certainly agree with what your saying, but at the end of the day, it will cause a lot of aggravation and probably get no where.

I supplied the parts to a mechanic and this is a risk we all take on this forum. If the mechainc bought the parts, he would be in the same exact situation and he would have to suck up the labor. I gave him a defected part, he didn't give me one.

I guess there's only one way for me to look at it: I still saved money by not having the stealership replaceit!

I'm just happy the pit is out of my stomach from today

[FourRings80]

I'm not using those damn cheapo roller bearings anymore! made in china/ korea
At work we got some chinese/korean bearings because the german and japanese bearings are expensive, and guess what... now I'm changing failed bearings almost all day.

When Me and Clint did the timing belt, the roller bearing broke and grease was coming out . So now I got to buy a OEM roller bearing and do my timing belt AGAIN!

[IMG][/IMG]

[dougyfresh]

Martin,
Wanna do it when we do the clutch?



ps. that is why i do not use an allen key for that hole in the pulley. i've broken too many of them. i just take the tensioner out of the car and compress it in a bench vise (slowly)

[FourRings80]

Martin,
Wanna do it when we do the clutch?



ps. that is why i do not use an allen key for that hole in the pulley. i've broken too many of them. i just take the tensioner out of the car and compress it in a bench vise (slowly)

That would be great Doug . ^Great advise

[EBG 18T]

this is the reason you should just buy the parts from the shop doing the work. Sometimes it pays to support your local indy shop.

[johnouellette]

my shop gets parts from audi/vw dealership at 25% discount. He says almost every shop gets a discount from the factory dealerships. I try to buy everything I need thru him.

[brewmastr]

that allen key is not provided for compressing the tensioner, you will break it right off like pictured, it is for tensioning the belt only. just thought i would add that lol, and yes if your having a shop do the work have them provide the parts it might cost more but it gives you insurance that if something fucks up from there work your not footing the bill to fix it because they say it was caused by your failed part.