Previously josephine kwok wrote:

so i brought my audi tt convertible in for the "free" timing belt inspection.  the dealership advised me to change the timing belt b/c they "can see tooth ribs outside belt surface".  i can't believe this b/c the car only has 27,000 miles.  (5.5 years of driving).  audi won't pay for the replacement but i believe the timing belt was defective in the first place.  i haven't heard anyone needing a change at 27,000 miles.  any thoughts?  do i have a case against audi?  do i really need to change the timing belt now?  etc.  thanks guys!

I'm no expert but isn't part of the TB change 'calculation' due to time in service? This is not a chain TB and so the material it is made of must, over time, deteriorate irrespective of mileage. However, there can be no doubt that Audi are being totally stupid in the way they are choosing to "resolve" this issue...and only after a class action lawsuit - shame on AoA!

Leon

Well, Josephine, if you don't change it and it breaks you're in for a mighty expensive non-warranty repair. 

And since Audi has it on their computers that you were told it needed changing, should you sell the car private party w/o replacing the belt you're quite naturally obliged to disclose it.  Any way you look at it your TT has either depreciated by the amount it costs to repair it or just cost you that much more for the pleasure of owning it.

In my opinion the timing belt system should be under warranty up to the recommended replacement mileage which though i do not recall, cannot possibly be a mere 27K miles.  Sure, add in some time factor, but come on, how fast does this belt rot when the car is sitting in the garage 5 months out of each year for the winters?!!

Oh yea, and why is this rather rapid time-factored deterioration problem such an exclusive Audi phenomenon?  Are your Japanese cars having this problem as well? I think not.

So, yes, I fully agree with Leon's comment above, "there can be no doubt that Audi are being totally stupid in the way
they are choosing to "resolve" this issue...and only after a class
action lawsuit - shame on AoA!"

And shame on me if I ever buy another one!

mtndriver

yes, i know... i'm screwed either way.  looks like i just have to bite the bullet and pay the $1400 to fix it.  would you feel comfortable taking it to an independent shop?  i think there, i'd only have to pay max $900. 

i tried to argue my low mileage case with Audi, but they wouldn't help in any way.  from the internet, it seems like i'm the only one with such low miles needing a replacement.  most people don't change the timing belt or have it break on them until 60,000 miles plus.  so you think i'm safe for another 10,000 at least, despite the recommendation from Audi dealership?

I recall reading on this forum that Audi has on occasion covered
timing belts for low-mileage out of warranty cars. This was before this
website was redesigned so the posts may be gone, though it is possible
that the thread referenced earlier in this one by fadi999 will
contain some useful information for you.  Here's the link. You may need to copy/paste the entire link to get it to work:

http://www.audittcca.com/discussions/auditt/00006677/conversation_view?b_start:int=60&-C=

Will the belt last another 10,000 miles on your car?  It's a
gamble.  Maybe it will but will your nerves hold up driving it around
that many miles wondering if every little engine noise is the sound of
the belt beginning to break?

And yes, there are a lot of very reputable independent shops that
could do the work, especially in larger cities.  Identifying one in
your local area might need a fresh post eliciting recommendations.

Good luck!

mtndriver

Previously mtndriver wrote:

I recall reading on this forum that Audi has on occasion covered
timing belts for low-mileage out of warranty cars. This was before this
website was redesigned so the posts may be gone, though it is possible
that the thread referenced earlier in this one by fadi999 will
contain some useful information for you.  Here's the link. You may need to copy/paste the entire link to get it to work:

http://www.audittcca.com/discussions/auditt/00006677/conversation_view?b_start:int=60&-C=

Will the belt last another 10,000 miles on your car?  It's a
gamble.  Maybe it will but will your nerves hold up driving it around
that many miles wondering if every little engine noise is the sound of
the belt beginning to break?

And yes, there are a lot of very reputable independent shops that
could do the work, especially in larger cities.  Identifying one in
your local area might need a fresh post eliciting recommendations.

Good luck!

mtndriver

I can recommend an excellent specialist "shop" near Pasadena, CA - any good?

Leon