Timing belt stripped,tensioner broke, Cam question, Please Help

**tchrgrl** · 02-07-2007,01:25 AM

Hi,
Thank you for reading my post. I have a question about my 1999 audi a4 quattro 1.8T.

I was driving along the other day, when suddenly the car quit. I pulled off to the side of the road, but the car wouldn't start. My brother in-law, who was a mechanic, found that the tensioner was broke, and thought that was the problem. He looked further and found that the timing belt was stripped of 10-15 teeth. Now he thinks that this is an indication of a larger problem, but what? Does anyone have any ideas?

Next question: He thinks that the cam seems unusually difficult to turn, even a small amount and is wondering if that is normal.

Last question:
We bought this car last year and love the way it drives. My husband absolutely wants this car to work out and we are considering getting it fixed even if it is a semi-expensive fix. Does anyone think this is a bad idea? I mean, maybe this model is a lemon. What do you think? I would love to buy a brand new audi eventually, but on a teacher's salary, I must wait for my husband to get a few promotions. A reliable different used car will cost more than fixing this audi, right?

**adamss24** · 02-07-2007,11:10 AM

I think your car's engine is buggered = bent valves, damaged pistons, it will definatelly need at least a new cylinder head or even a new engine, depending on the damage ! I suggest, you let a good garage diagnose the problem as your brother wont be able to tackle a job like that !?! Find a new engine on ebay/breakers yard and have it fitted for 300-500 pounds. You looking for at least 1000 pounds in costs + make shure ALL the belts+ tensioners will be replaced, so the story wont repeat !!!

**Dozz** · 02-07-2007,11:43 AM

The motor will defiantly be a bit poorly I'm afraid. Your mechanic is right to be concerned of the cam being tight most cambelts break or the tensioner fails but when you start tearing the teeth off this points to a seizure some where. I'd start by taking the camcover off and seeing if theres any obvious damage some times the piston slaps the valve so hard that not only does it bend it pushes the valve back with such force it hits the cam and breaks the cam caps. If your happy with the car and plan to keep it I'd at this point lift the cylinder head and inspect the pistons, minor marks are not to much of a bother but big gouges and god forbid holes are very bad I'd also make sure the valves all be it being bent are all still there if any have snapped and you can't find the bits then the chances are the bits have gone out through the exhaust port and may have ended up damaging the turbo/cat on the break for freedom. If you found just the valves are bent I would repair the head rather the throw an unknown second hand engine however if the damages are bad i would you may be better off starting a search for another engine. It all comes down to cost as I do all my own spannering I don't have to worry about labor costs so to rebuild an engine to me will cost a lot less. If you decide to go down the rebuild route I'd be interested to know what damage they find

**tchrgrl** · 03-07-2007,01:51 PM

Thank you so much for your help. It was nice to talk to someone during such a stressful time. I will let you know what happens.

**Dozz** · 03-07-2007,02:00 PM

Ya welcome let us know how you get on

**tchrgrl** · 12-07-2007,02:54 PM

Wow! You guys are good!

Bad News and REALLY GREAT NEWS:

Bad News:The mechanic I took the car to said that the timing belt tensioner broke, and the valves on the engine are bent. None have snapped.

Really GREAT News:
I found a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) on the government's website: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/tsb/
that said Audi issued an extended warranty for this problem to 105,000miles. My car has 95,000. The TSB number is 0521 (NHTSA Item Number: 10016506) dated OCT 13, 2005

The dealership just called and said the repairs have been authorized by corporate and that it will be paid for- my mechanic quoted me $2,800, but I had bought the timing belt kit and other supplies for $500 before I learned the engine was damaged. I have no idea what the dealership would have charged me.

I took a while searching the internet about car problems and reading about TSB's (Technical Service Bulletins). As an elementary teacher, I knew nothing about cars, so it really helped that I had a week to read up about all of this. I called Audi corporate with the TSB and they were very helpful, even calling the dealership for me.

However, I did get the impression from all involved that if I had not had the TSB number things would have been more difficult.

Now I am looking up TSB's for my truck, and my sisters' cars.

Also, I will never again do a used car search using the terms "used car reviews." The reviews did not discuss very many problems and they were too general. I will search using a specific cars name and "problems" as well as look up all the TSB's and recalls.

Thank you so much for responding to my initial post. You were very helpful and this site has been very valuable. I hope that my post will help others.

Read more about secret warranties and TSB's here:
http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?did=721&scid=112

**nickynibbles** · 12-07-2007,03:25 PM

Good news to hear your on your way to being sorted. Unfortunately this dosent apply to us UK based owners, unless they're called something different over here? Anyone know of something similar in the UK?

**Dozz** · 12-07-2007,05:29 PM

The goverment do list all recalls on the dvla site but you can bet your life you would never get audi to honor something like that in the uk

**Jabez** · 12-07-2007,08:08 PM

Hi
I've heard the term 'TSB'.... but only within Ford dealerships, they are reports about common faults that Ford have found with some of their models... and a recommened way to fix the said fault..
Cheers
mcc