Opinions on this cam belt condition please?
Discussion
I've recently bought a B6 Audi A4 3.0 V6.
I was told the cambelt had been replaced in a major service (no dates given).
The car has done 85k miles (verified).
So I'm guessing the cam belt should (with emphasis on the should) most likely have been done about 25k miles ago.
I removed one of the covers to inspect the belt and take some pics (below).
Can I please have some experienced comment on the condition (I know it's not easy to tell like this - but an experienced eye would surely know if this is original or not!).
TIA.
On to the pics:
Outer belt:
Possible damage here?
"side" view (as best I could get).
Another view:
Water pump:
Another shot of pump:
I was told the cambelt had been replaced in a major service (no dates given).
The car has done 85k miles (verified).
So I'm guessing the cam belt should (with emphasis on the should) most likely have been done about 25k miles ago.
I removed one of the covers to inspect the belt and take some pics (below).
Can I please have some experienced comment on the condition (I know it's not easy to tell like this - but an experienced eye would surely know if this is original or not!).
TIA.
On to the pics:
Outer belt:
Possible damage here?
"side" view (as best I could get).
Another view:
Water pump:
Another shot of pump:
Edited by TonyRPH on Sunday 28th August 20:29
I can't imagine any sensible person would have replaced the belt (particularly if, as said, it's a bugger to get to on that engine) and left the water pump like that, and I can't imagine it corroded that much in the last 25k. Plus you appear to have a tooth missing, which on its own is enough to say the dealer should change it, IMO!
McSam said:
I can't imagine any sensible person would have replaced the belt (particularly if, as said, it's a bugger to get to on that engine) and left the water pump like that, and I can't imagine it corroded that much in the last 25k. Plus you appear to have a tooth missing, which on its own is enough to say the dealer should change it, IMO!
Agree, picture 2 would worry me enough to get it changed pronto.Toyowner said:
The questions is....do you feel lucky ?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this..... but i think if your feeling the need to ask the PH massive then you ve answered your own question, and if the garage are offering to replace it then id get it done because im almost 100% sure if it snaps then they ll not want anything to do with it, Having once witnessed somebody stamping a service history book with a stamp stolen from a doctors surgery, my view is very simple . . . . If there isn't a copy of an invoice stating what was changed and when, then it didn’t happen and no amount of reassurance from a vendor will change my mind 
AndrewW-G said:
Having once witnessed somebody stamping a service history book with a stamp stolen from a doctors surgery, my view is very simple . . . . If there isn't a copy of an invoice stating what was changed and when, then it didn’t happen and no amount of reassurance from a vendor will change my mind
You can get cambelts on the NHS now? 
Get someone to flick the key and see if there's any text on the belt. After 25k a belt should still have text on it, althoughbeit slightly faded.
I would say if that tooth is gone though, and looking at the wear on the belt, I would consider replacing it, and checking all the pulleys. And when you're doing that much work there, you might aswell do the waterpump, you'll have to remove the radiator anyway, so that'll mean new antifreeze. Anothing thing to do is see how tensioned it is. If you can get it to the longest part, and rotate the belt by more than 90 degrees, then it probably needs replacing.
I would say if that tooth is gone though, and looking at the wear on the belt, I would consider replacing it, and checking all the pulleys. And when you're doing that much work there, you might aswell do the waterpump, you'll have to remove the radiator anyway, so that'll mean new antifreeze. Anothing thing to do is see how tensioned it is. If you can get it to the longest part, and rotate the belt by more than 90 degrees, then it probably needs replacing.
Looking at that picture of the worn tooth on the belt it needs changing asap. How long ago did you buy it from the dealer? (they could argue it was damaged after it left them). Did they do any checks before selling?
It's totally irrelevant when the last belt change was done, the belt is damaged and needs changing, they should have changed if it was in that condition in their possession.
It's totally irrelevant when the last belt change was done, the belt is damaged and needs changing, they should have changed if it was in that condition in their possession.
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