I just replaced my timing belt on my 2002 AMU 225hp last weekend with the help of the VW Vortex diy thread and the Audi facotyr repair manual... And some friends with lots of experience doing this sort of thing. Back on topic: My vehicle has 81,000 miles on the original timing assembly. When I pulled the tensioner, it rattled, which is a sure sign that it would have failed very soon. I was lucky enough to have my alternator die, prompting a maintenance mood... Which is the only reason I bothered to check the timing assembly.

This is a sore subject for me! I took my 2003 TT with 33,680 miles on it in for a regular oil change at the dealer in October 2008. Chick behind the counter (I'm a chick, so I get to say that) tells me, “There is a recall order to do an inspection of the timing belt." I kinda knew something about this from junky-looking mail I'd gotten, but there was way bigger stuff going on in my life at the time: Bad divorce from evil abusive guy who stole my inheritance and my dignity, and my eldest son (with nice-guy first husband) had recently been killed in action in Afghanistan.

After awhile Chick comes to waiting area and announces my name. I stand up, thinking I'm outta there. Nope. Not apologetically or sympathetically or even worried about my reaction, she just blurts out, "The timing belt was inspected and it needs to be replaced. That'll be $1200." No lie, she says this to me as if it should be no problem. Like I would say, "Oh, OK, well fix it please!" And maybe she thought I would hug her and thank her for catching this big bad thing on my car.

I could not control my reaction. I had gone there for a dumb old $57 oil change. I started sobbing that I couldn't afford $1200. I asked Chick how many TT customers they get who need the timing belt replaced. She had to think way too hard about that, so I presume she just made up "every 8th or 10th customer." Betcha it was every one. But I'm pretty sure they were sorry when they chose me to try to get $1200 out of. Because, man, I made a scene.

I said, "You can HAVE the car! How much will you give me for it! I'll walk home!" (approx. 23 miles.) Chick got witchy and walked away while mumbling "I don't know. You'll have to take that up with the Sales Department." I dragged myself crying over there (guys should really try this method sometime -- it freaks people out and they just want to get you out of there), and there were 4 salesmen and the owner in there just shooting the breeze. The salesman I bought the car from in 2003 was there and sort of felt obligated to comfort me. The owner stuck around too. But the other three guys made like the Red Sea and split.

Way too long, sorry. So they checked the Service Department to make sure the belt was indeed shot. Told me they'd give me a loaner while mine was getting fixed for like 3 days. Told me they would give me a good deal on a trade for a cheaper car I can make monthly payments on. “I WANT MY TT, AND IT'S PAID FOR!  I can't afford any more monthly payments.” There’s a pretty good chance I may have collapsed on the floor at about this moment.  As I was still bawling (my dad liked that word – it’s OK in writing but not out loud), the owner announced, "How about this? I'll split the cost with you! I'll pay half of it out of my own pocket!"  OOOOOOOH, do you think you can spare it, Brad Tracy of Tracy Audi/VW in Hyannis, Massachusetts?  So I got the timing belt replaced for $600 and I'm supposed to feel wicked grateful.  On the bottom of my 3-page printed invoice, it says, “Note: Brad Tracy to pay for half of timing belt repair.” It’s highlighted in yellow so I will be reminded forever of good old Brad Tracy coming to my rescue. I did bring the parts home, and everyone I've shown the belt to can't see anything wrong with it.

I was gonna pursue getting my $600 back legally, but decided not to choose that battle to fight. Sometimes you just gotta move on. I am pretty sure they put me on their "Problem Customer List" because when I went back to get my TT, I got the cold shoulder from everyone, and a worse freezing one from The Chick.  If you have read this far, thanks for listening. I feel better already.  Except now I have to search the site some more to see if I can change my own brake light (I've got the bulb) and if anyone else has lost or replaced one of the Ts in their TT emblem on the back. 

I just replaced the timing belt, waterpump, belt tensioner and tensioner piston ($280 @ecs tuning).  It was a time consuming job but the directions off this site worked great.  I had 72000 miles and Audi did their free check of the belt and it was bad.  But somehow between the time they inspected the belt and I removed the belt someone snuck in and replaced it because the belt was in good condition.  You just can't trust dealers and that sucks.  It took me 8 hours to change everything out but I could do it in 3-4 hours now.  I would probably help someone in the northern indiana area with the job.

Previously Kevin Kemble wrote:

I just replaced the timing belt, waterpump, belt tensioner and tensioner piston ($280 @ecs tuning).  It was a time consuming job but the directions off this site worked great.  I had 72000 miles and Audi did their free check of the belt and it was bad.  But somehow between the time they inspected the belt and I removed the belt someone snuck in and replaced it because the belt was in good condition.  You just can't trust dealers and that sucks.  It took me 8 hours to change everything out but I could do it in 3-4 hours now.  I would probably help someone in the northern indiana area with the job.

I have been reading alot of different forums regarding the timing belt.  I have read that there was a class action suit in the US but info is sketchy.  I have a 2005 TT  3.2 L engine & received from Audi a supplement  to the manual in 2008.  The supplement calls for checking the timing belt & belt tension system at 75,000 miles  (115,000 KM) but I have also read to check/ replace at 4 years or 60,000 KM.  Any thoughts?