Timing Belt and Tensioner Inspection?

[Randy31]

I have a 2009 A4 B8 2.0 6MT with 150K miles. Question on inspecting the timing belt. I typically do most the maintenance myself, oil, plugs, filters, etc. But this one is a little out of my league I think. The dealership adjusted the belt at 75K, but I don't think it has ever been replaced or inspected since. Figure I should have it inspected. My question is this, do I need to have a dealership do this or can most decent independent shops know how to do this? Is it fairly involved? I have searched this site and seen some good posts on how to replace and to be honest looks like a significant undertaking, but cant tell how involved inspection is. Also if I have the dealership do the inspection what can I expect the cost to be? And of course if they come back and tell me it should be replaced, what is the cost? Basically looking to try and save some money on the inspection here, so prefer not to go to a dealership if I don't have too. Most dealerships I have gone too in the past just seem like they want to rack up a bunch of work that is not really needed (been riding on shocks they wanted to replace for the past 50k miles with no issues). But if I need to go I will.

Overall the A4 has served me well. No major issues that the dealer has not covered and most were pre 75K. Did have stage 2 done for oil burn at 75K which seems to be very late in life relative to others. No issues since. It does throw a P0299 code relatively frequently (have a Vagcom), but have no performance issues so have not been too worried about it. Usually clears itself in time and with kinder driving. Frequency has been about 4 times per 1000 miles.

I also have a 2013 Q5 2.0 with 100k on it and don't think the timing belt has ever been inspected either, but not sure if dealer looked at it during annual inspections and has just not mentioned anything.

Thanks for the input!

[AudiTLC]

Very similar story with my 09
The inspection port is on the lower timing cover at the front of the motor-i've been reading this thread learning about it, and shows where it is. Plastic plug you pry out to see the tensioner.
I'm going to do this myself soon
I can't reach from the top, but looks fairly easy to reach from the bottom, once you pull off the skidplate.
https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...aptation/page5

same engine, different car but shows the location and how to see the tensioner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL_pLK7oGkg&t=219s

[audrobotic]

Timing chain.

Since you have vagcom check the cam phase adaptation.
https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...aptation/page5

The inspection port also as mentioned.

My local Audi/VW specialist does the timing chain for about $1500 but thats on the lower end. Some shops could easily charge twice that.

[Theiceman]

okay so lets go back a few steps ... as the guys above point out some great things .
1.
neither of your car has a timing belt, they have timing chains, and they can not be " adjusted" so right off the bat you are dealing with bad information.
2.
Oil consumption level 2 was done. did they replace the absolutely horrible engine killing timing chain tensioner at that time ? I almost think they had too as your engine would never have made it this far.. but one never knows.
3.
Visual inspection is a must. You can do it yourself , easily , and post a pic here of what you see. you can use your phone to take a picture. You need to know which tensioner you have and what detent it is on. ( humble mechanic on youtube has a great vid on how to do this. )
4.
Phase adaption , that is even easier, if you have VCDS. report here what your intake cam phase adaption is after your car is fully warmed up and at idle ( usually after a drive ) . This will tell you how worn your chain actually is.

the combination of phase adaption and which tensioner you are on will provide an idea of how imminent destruction is for your engine ;)


Others have commented on costs but an Indy could definitely do this at the fraction of a cost of a dealer. In fact there seems to be a lot of Audis in PA as we get a lot of people posting from there. Id be surprised if someone didn't offer to help do it in your driveway in the summer.

[Randy31]

Thanks all for the input. Very helpful.

I did go back and review my info from when my stage 2 was done. The dealership did replace the tensioner with the latest version, 6K-109-467. His write up was not very clear, but I can clearly see the new part that was installed.

Here are the results from the VCDS. Looks like I am ok for now at -4.48, but need to keep an eye on it. Assuming I don't need to do the visual since I have the info from the VCDS and can rely on that? From what I have read on the forum, start thinking about replacing around -6?

Thx!

[Theiceman]

yup . your assessment is bang on..no Imminent danger but start thinking about it.
you have verified new tensioner also .
I was at 8.5 with new tensioner and engine was fine . although I would not recommend that .
I would guess you are on notch 7 or 8 of the tensioner with those numbers .

I have no evidence but I think we see that the chain usually lasts about 100,000 mi give or take

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