Any 3.0l timing belt horror stories before 100k interval?

[nimski62]

I have 78k and I need to know if I should wait until 100k? When I start the car in the morning, i hear a squeaking sound, and when i spray WD-40 on the belt in the front it goes away. Thats not the water pump or anything right?? im not sure what im spraying, but it deff goes away.

[monkey323i]

the belt in the front is Accessory Belt that you see, which is recommanded to be replaced within 75k mile by Audi.

not actually the Timing-Belt.

Timing-Belt is at further inside the Accessory Belt. For AVK-3.0 engine, you can't see it unless you take the cover out.



There're some cases that AVK-3.0's belt snaps before 75k and Audi already announced new interval replacement for TB to 60-75k.
Most often it is the plastic made water-pump/ tensioner/roller that got seized up and cause the snap of belt.



it is up to you when to do the TB, some ppl get beyond 90k-100k and still running with first belt/water-pump.
some ppl already got their belt snap at early 60k etc...


I just got mine done at 74k for under $800.
replaced (Accessory belt, Timing Belt, valve cover gasket, 3 tensioners/rollers, cam oil seal/ water pump)


you're going to do it in future anyway,
Better to do it now b4 the belt snaps.

[zz2h33]

^x2, i'll be doing mine soon. i have 73k on the clock. i also have a squeak, not sure where its coming from tho.

[nimski62]

Can I call audi and find out if it has been replaced before? I just bought the car, and its clean as hell and the owner took it to nothing but Audi..

[road_tripper]

I have about 93,000 miles on my 2003 3.0, and just had the timing belt done last week.

My idler pulley for the front serpentine belt was noisy, so they fixed that under the CPO. I complained about oil leaks from the cam seals, noisy water pump, and other noises in case when they went after the timing belt, something could be found and have AudiAssured pay for the disassembly/reassembly.

No such luck. My CPO runs out at 94,000 miles, so I waited until the warranty was almost up to get mine done.

Checking the idler pulley is pretty easy. Pull off the "V6" plastic cover in the front. Take a 19mm open-end wrench and push down on the idler arm. this will loosen the serpentine belt. While the belt is loose, try to spin the pulley on the idler arm. Mine was hard to spin. I'm guessing they should spin freely.

Also, you should be able to go to the dealer and have them print out all the "services" that have been done on your car since it was first sold. Most of them will need a bit of imagination, "removed AC compressor, installed AC compressor" indicates that AC compressor was shot and replaced.

One dealer was only able to print out the service codes, not the descriptions. Find someone who knows how to run a proper report.

I would doubt the timing belt service has been done on the OP's car. I was contemplating selling my car before the CPO ran out; I wouldn't have done the timing belt before unloading it ($2000+ for absolutely no benefit to me).

[nimski62]

I have about 93,000 miles on my 2003 3.0, and just had the timing belt done last week.

My idler pulley for the front serpentine belt was noisy, so they fixed that under the CPO. I complained about oil leaks from the cam seals, noisy water pump, and other noises in case when they went after the timing belt, something could be found and have AudiAssured pay for the disassembly/reassembly.

No such luck. My CPO runs out at 94,000 miles, so I waited until the warranty was almost up to get mine done.

Checking the idler pulley is pretty easy. Pull off the "V6" plastic cover in the front. Take a 19mm open-end wrench and push down on the idler arm. this will loosen the serpentine belt. While the belt is loose, try to spin the pulley on the idler arm. Mine was hard to spin. I'm guessing they should spin freely.

Also, you should be able to go to the dealer and have them print out all the "services" that have been done on your car since it was first sold. Most of them will need a bit of imagination, "removed AC compressor, installed AC compressor" indicates that AC compressor was shot and replaced.

One dealer was only able to print out the service codes, not the descriptions. Find someone who knows how to run a proper report.

I would doubt the timing belt service has been done on the OP's car. I was contemplating selling my car before the CPO ran out; I wouldn't have done the timing belt before unloading it ($2000+ for absolutely no benefit to me).

You paid $2000??? crazy. anyways maybe ill get lucky since they changed the timing belt service interval from 100 to like 70 or something.

[road_tripper]

You paid $2000??? crazy. anyways maybe ill get lucky since they changed the timing belt service interval from 100 to like 70 or something.

Lucky your belt breaks in a few thousand miles? What kind of luck are you looking for?

The only way to have Audi pay for the timing belt change is to have it fail before the recommended service interval, and that's only if you have a CPO or are within the original 4yr/50K warranty period.

If you can find a dealer that will do TB/rollers/waterpump/camseals/valvecovergaskets all for under $2k, congrats! I realize there are indy shops on the east coast that will do it for much less; locally I could only find $1700 at trustworthy indy shops.

[nimski62]

Lucky your belt breaks in a few thousand miles? What kind of luck are you looking for?

The only way to have Audi pay for the timing belt change is to have it fail before the recommended service interval, and that's only if you have a CPO or are within the original 4yr/50K warranty period.

If you can find a dealer that will do TB/rollers/waterpump/camseals/valvecovergaskets all for under $2k, congrats! I realize there are indy shops on the east coast that will do it for much less; locally I could only find $1700 at trustworthy indy shops.

No i meant lucky as in ill call the dealer and they'll tell me its been done but no such luck.. its been regularly serviced there, and thier interval is still 105k. I did my valve cover gaskets myself..

I was just quoted $800 for timing belt and water pump!

[LampyB]

I realize there are indy shops on the east coast that will do it for much less; locally I could only find $1700 at trustworthy indy shops.

dude go to the Regional Forums section on AZ and ask around for a good audi shop. $1,700 for a full t-belt job is absurd!

[Roy munson]

dude go to the Regional Forums section on AZ and ask around for a good audi shop. $1,700 for a full t-belt job is absurd!

I agree.
Back to original post, i have seen them fail at 45koddly enough. That was without oiling problems.

[ninoszag]

02 3.0 at 76k my belt snapped and tore my engine the fupp up. it was a pretty ugly situation