Early Timing Belt Failure

A

Adrenaline

Member
Went to my local VAG specialist IVS Huddersfield to have my A2 TDI
serviced and he had a look at the timing belt he said it needs to be replaced urgently he showed me and it looked very worn out..some bits it had like cracks in the outer part

thing is i had the timing belt changed 23K miles ago..The guy at IVS reckoned that the local garage had not changed the belt at all... i bought the belt and tensioner from Audi Hudds

does the belt get worn out this quick? or has the garage i supposed got timing belt replaced from never replaced it...im not a happy chap
i paid 200 just for labour and all they did was park my car at garage for a few hours
 
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By the letter of the law, you don't really have a leg to stand on with regards to getting something back from the Hudds Audi. Whenever a part is changed or replaced, its always good to ask for the old items back - which you're perfectly entitled to do as they're your property.
If you didn't ask for the old belt and tensioner when it was apparently changed 23k miles ago, it'll be your word against theirs.

Well thats the wifes view anyway - and she deals in consumer law.

I would suggest trying to get an independant specialist to check out the belt which has been replaced recently - hopefully you've still got this one.....
They might be able to determine age, production numbers or something else to assist you. This might cost you though.
 
well i didn't have the work done by Audi...it was done by a local garage

I spoke to Audi the guy was helpful he said if you can find the receipt
we'll take a look and if its worn out they'll issue a new belt

but thats not the issue...can a timing belt wear out within 23k miles?
and also i paid 200 for labour and it looks like the guy didn't even change my belt
 
Paying for something and then finding that it's not been done - you aren't the first and unfortunately, won't be the last to be defrauded like this.

23k miles to wear a belt? Doubtful. If that mileage was done over say, 8 years or so, then fine, but I think in this case, you've just been duped.


Cheers,

Mike
 
never mind 2-3 years its been 1 year and 9 months since i had the belt changed

looks like the local garage didn't change it...at the time he's like pick the car up after 7pm because its taking abit long to change...and now im finding out that it is highly likely that it was never changed
 
Hi Adrenaline
It's strange how different ways of wasting money can bug you - go out for an evening with friends and spend £200 on a cr*p meal and its a shrug of the shoulders and 'we'll never go there again. Misplace a tenner and the whole house is turned upside down and no one sleeps for days, think you get ripped off by a garage and its even worse.
I'd guess there is a 30% chance the garage did not change the belt. It sounds like the small idler and water pump were not replaced at the same time and any wear on these components could cause the belt to run out of true and shred the edges. Its not clear where the cracks are but its more usual for the tooth profile to crack at the root which eventually leads to some teeth breaking off and jamming the belt - which causes it to snap.
It's easy to say but you can't change history and since you have no proof then its a case of just moving on and learning from the event.

Cheers Spike
 
your right about the water pump it was not changed
not sure about the other part you mentioned i only bought the belt kit
was told that the water pump does not need to be changed...but yea chances are he may have changed it
 
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