S4 2001 engine failure advice required
Discussion
a good friend has had an S4 from new, full Audi SH, 60k miles and the cambelt tensioner broke causing the obvious to happen...
I have never heard of this happening to an S4 but I am no expert, is this a weakness that has been seen before?
do you think he has comeback to Audi?
having talked to him I think an engine rebuild could be more trouble than it is worth so can one buy a new engine and if so how much?
any pearls greatly received
thanks
I have never heard of this happening to an S4 but I am no expert, is this a weakness that has been seen before?
do you think he has comeback to Audi?
having talked to him I think an engine rebuild could be more trouble than it is worth so can one buy a new engine and if so how much?
any pearls greatly received
thanks
Just so you know, Cambelts arean't just limited by how many miles they have covered but also age.
Ideally belts should be changed every 3-5 years depending on what the Manufacturer's service intervals and requirements state.
When I picked up my S2 the cambelt hadn't been changed in a long time and had 5000 miles left in it apparently. Like with all cars I buy, the cambelt is the first thing to be changed and it's lucky I did that as the belt looked in a terrible state and is currently hung on a garage wall in Iver to show people who cambelts go (he also tells me that it's the worst belt he has ever seen without snapping).
Since then I've had a further 2 cambelts fitted to the car.
Ideally belts should be changed every 3-5 years depending on what the Manufacturer's service intervals and requirements state.
When I picked up my S2 the cambelt hadn't been changed in a long time and had 5000 miles left in it apparently. Like with all cars I buy, the cambelt is the first thing to be changed and it's lucky I did that as the belt looked in a terrible state and is currently hung on a garage wall in Iver to show people who cambelts go (he also tells me that it's the worst belt he has ever seen without snapping).
Since then I've had a further 2 cambelts fitted to the car.
Robatr0n said:
Just so you know, Cambelts arean't just limited by how many miles they have covered but also age.
Ideally belts should be changed every 3-5 years depending on what the Manufacturer's service intervals and requirements state.
When I picked up my S2 the cambelt hadn't been changed in a long time and had 5000 miles left in it apparently. Like with all cars I buy, the cambelt is the first thing to be changed and it's lucky I did that as the belt looked in a terrible state and is currently hung on a garage wall in Iver to show people who cambelts go (he also tells me that it's the worst belt he has ever seen without snapping).
Since then I've had a further 2 cambelts fitted to the car.
to be honest not 100% sure at present whether it has had a changeIdeally belts should be changed every 3-5 years depending on what the Manufacturer's service intervals and requirements state.
When I picked up my S2 the cambelt hadn't been changed in a long time and had 5000 miles left in it apparently. Like with all cars I buy, the cambelt is the first thing to be changed and it's lucky I did that as the belt looked in a terrible state and is currently hung on a garage wall in Iver to show people who cambelts go (he also tells me that it's the worst belt he has ever seen without snapping).
Since then I've had a further 2 cambelts fitted to the car.
many thanks, yes aware age is a factor, seeing as the car has always been serviced with Audi and cambelt and the fact that the cambelt would be part of the schedule, if it was not changed would Audi/dealer be liable. If it has been changed again would Audi not be liable for this...?
Well it is their duty to change the cambelt along with the pre-tensioners and possibly the waterpump when carrying out a cambelt change/service. If it can be proved that this failure was a result of them cutting corners then I would say that your friend has an arguement.
Does the car have any extended warranty?
Does the car have any extended warranty?
Robatr0n said:
Well it is their duty to change the cambelt along with the pre-tensioners and possibly the waterpump when carrying out a cambelt change/service. If it can be proved that this failure was a result of them cutting corners then I would say that your friend has an arguement.
Does the car have any extended warranty?
many thanks for confirming my thinking that it is worth making the effort and persuing AudiDoes the car have any extended warranty?
afaik it does not have extended warranty but on the plus side it has never been out of Audi network with regards to servicing
chippy17 said:
just in case anyone is interested; have found out cambelt change on this car is 80k miles and interestingly no time limit is stated just miles!
This issue has been debated on many VAG forums. Handbook often states 80k miles especially for older vehicles but the recommendation now is to change at 60k miles. We found this out by accident when the wife's A4 clocked 60k. I took the cambelt cover off just out of interest and was horified to see cracks in the belt. A new one plus water pump and tensioners was fitted the next day.Good luck to your mate but unless he's got some warranty then he's probably got a fight on his hand.
Robatr0n said:
Well it is their duty to change the cambelt along with the pre-tensioners and possibly the waterpump when carrying out a cambelt change/service. If it can be proved that this failure was a result of them cutting corners then I would say that your friend has an arguement.
Does the car have any extended warranty?
I'm not sure dealers see the tensioner and water pump as part of the standard service, only people like who us who actually care about the cars.Does the car have any extended warranty?
I've only just spotted this post.. I had a b5 S4 with full audi service history & the cambelt snapped while on full gas. In short, the car was recovered to my (now different) local audi dealer for investigation - the belt had only been changed 2.5 years/12k miles (or something in that ball park) before the incident.
The upshot was that the bill to fix it was ~15k (thus writing off the car) & an extra bolt! We then went through a long & drawn out series of 3rd party investigations & legal threats etc. When the tensioners were done, the guy doing it must have dropped a bolt & couldn't find it assuming it dropped out the bottom he fitted a non vag suitably sized bolt. That worked fine until said lost bolt found it's way back into the assembly taking it all out.
If your car has full audi service & you've done everything by the book then push them on it.
The kicker for me was Audi UK's 'customer service' response lol. a) if it's over 5 years "we don't want to know" - dealer network only support.. despite the dealer in question being in the wrong. b) after a lot of hastle I got to speak to a more useful manager who gave me a courtesy car. Sadly she left a week later & the replacement called me up & said they wanted the car back today or they report it stolen to the police.
All in all after a long time running B5 S4's & RS4's I quit the brand. They paid up in the end, it took about 8 months in total. I did it all myself rather than employing a solicitor & possibly fighting an expensive battle. They never did admit liability though. At the start of it all I did offer them the chance to appologise & give me a suitable discount (ie book trade in for my car if it was working) against a new RS4 avant.. I bet they wish they'd taken it.
If anyone needs details, PM me.
The upshot was that the bill to fix it was ~15k (thus writing off the car) & an extra bolt! We then went through a long & drawn out series of 3rd party investigations & legal threats etc. When the tensioners were done, the guy doing it must have dropped a bolt & couldn't find it assuming it dropped out the bottom he fitted a non vag suitably sized bolt. That worked fine until said lost bolt found it's way back into the assembly taking it all out.
If your car has full audi service & you've done everything by the book then push them on it.
The kicker for me was Audi UK's 'customer service' response lol. a) if it's over 5 years "we don't want to know" - dealer network only support.. despite the dealer in question being in the wrong. b) after a lot of hastle I got to speak to a more useful manager who gave me a courtesy car. Sadly she left a week later & the replacement called me up & said they wanted the car back today or they report it stolen to the police.
All in all after a long time running B5 S4's & RS4's I quit the brand. They paid up in the end, it took about 8 months in total. I did it all myself rather than employing a solicitor & possibly fighting an expensive battle. They never did admit liability though. At the start of it all I did offer them the chance to appologise & give me a suitable discount (ie book trade in for my car if it was working) against a new RS4 avant.. I bet they wish they'd taken it.
If anyone needs details, PM me.
Yertis said:
Robatr0n said:
Well it is their duty to change the cambelt along with the pre-tensioners and possibly the waterpump when carrying out a cambelt change/service. If it can be proved that this failure was a result of them cutting corners then I would say that your friend has an arguement.
Does the car have any extended warranty?
I'm not sure dealers see the tensioner and water pump as part of the standard service, only people like who us who actually care about the cars.Does the car have any extended warranty?
fade2grey said:
I've only just spotted this post.. I had a b5 S4 with full audi service history & the cambelt snapped while on full gas. In short, the car was recovered to my (now different) local audi dealer for investigation - the belt had only been changed 2.5 years/12k miles (or something in that ball park) before the incident.
The upshot was that the bill to fix it was ~15k (thus writing off the car) & an extra bolt! We then went through a long & drawn out series of 3rd party investigations & legal threats etc. When the tensioners were done, the guy doing it must have dropped a bolt & couldn't find it assuming it dropped out the bottom he fitted a non vag suitably sized bolt. That worked fine until said lost bolt found it's way back into the assembly taking it all out.
If your car has full audi service & you've done everything by the book then push them on it.
The kicker for me was Audi UK's 'customer service' response lol. a) if it's over 5 years "we don't want to know" - dealer network only support.. despite the dealer in question being in the wrong. b) after a lot of hastle I got to speak to a more useful manager who gave me a courtesy car. Sadly she left a week later & the replacement called me up & said they wanted the car back today or they report it stolen to the police.
All in all after a long time running B5 S4's & RS4's I quit the brand. They paid up in the end, it took about 8 months in total. I did it all myself rather than employing a solicitor & possibly fighting an expensive battle. They never did admit liability though. At the start of it all I did offer them the chance to appologise & give me a suitable discount (ie book trade in for my car if it was working) against a new RS4 avant.. I bet they wish they'd taken it.
If anyone needs details, PM me.
many thanks for the info very useful, my friend is now trying the route of buying a new car as you tried above as (Sods Law) he was about to buy a new car anyway! I have told him to keep going and not take the first 'no' as the end of it.The upshot was that the bill to fix it was ~15k (thus writing off the car) & an extra bolt! We then went through a long & drawn out series of 3rd party investigations & legal threats etc. When the tensioners were done, the guy doing it must have dropped a bolt & couldn't find it assuming it dropped out the bottom he fitted a non vag suitably sized bolt. That worked fine until said lost bolt found it's way back into the assembly taking it all out.
If your car has full audi service & you've done everything by the book then push them on it.
The kicker for me was Audi UK's 'customer service' response lol. a) if it's over 5 years "we don't want to know" - dealer network only support.. despite the dealer in question being in the wrong. b) after a lot of hastle I got to speak to a more useful manager who gave me a courtesy car. Sadly she left a week later & the replacement called me up & said they wanted the car back today or they report it stolen to the police.
All in all after a long time running B5 S4's & RS4's I quit the brand. They paid up in the end, it took about 8 months in total. I did it all myself rather than employing a solicitor & possibly fighting an expensive battle. They never did admit liability though. At the start of it all I did offer them the chance to appologise & give me a suitable discount (ie book trade in for my car if it was working) against a new RS4 avant.. I bet they wish they'd taken it.
If anyone needs details, PM me.
Call MRC Tuning - they're on www.mrctuning.com and ask their advice.
They've dealt with a number of failed-cambelt S4s - S4s are a large part of their business. They'll be able to tell you the options, costs and what's involved. They'll be much lower than Audi. No affiliation but I travel 100 miles to go to them for services such is their knowledge and service.
They've dealt with a number of failed-cambelt S4s - S4s are a large part of their business. They'll be able to tell you the options, costs and what's involved. They'll be much lower than Audi. No affiliation but I travel 100 miles to go to them for services such is their knowledge and service.
SunDiver said:
Call MRC Tuning - they're on www.mrctuning.com and ask their advice.
They've dealt with a number of failed-cambelt S4s - S4s are a large part of their business. They'll be able to tell you the options, costs and what's involved. They'll be much lower than Audi. No affiliation but I travel 100 miles to go to them for services such is their knowledge and service.
very useful thank you i will pass on to friendThey've dealt with a number of failed-cambelt S4s - S4s are a large part of their business. They'll be able to tell you the options, costs and what's involved. They'll be much lower than Audi. No affiliation but I travel 100 miles to go to them for services such is their knowledge and service.
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