Cambelt Change on A4
Discussion
My father-in-laws 1998 2.4 A4 is due a cambelt change, so I contacted my local Audi dealer for a price. What annoys me is that said dealer quotes a typically inflated price and then tops it off my saying "we recommend changing the water pump at the same time as not doing so, means that if it fails, there is four hours of labour required to change it. The pump is £80 + VAT if being done with the cambelt". I asked if the water pump was a common failure and the service advisor didn't say yes or no, just that it would be worthwhile doing it at the same time. So you want me to replace a perfectly good functioning item just in case? Well you can swivel for our business then, I'm going to an independent who (hopefully) doesn't have such big group targets to meet. Why is it so many main stealers take the p!ss. I've had this from Audi, VW, Volvo, Porsche, Mitsubishi and even Ferrari.
We're not idiots you know!
Can anyone recommend a good Audi independent in East Anglia? Thanks.
We're not idiots you know!
Can anyone recommend a good Audi independent in East Anglia? Thanks.
It's standard pratice on many cars to change it with the cambelt.
You could argue that the dealer was doing you a favour by advising this, and by telling you up front, rather than calling in the middle of the job and putting pressure on you.
Having said that, no way I'd be taking an 11 year old car to a dealer, unless they were doing a special cambelt change offer. Perhaps, though, of all jobs, you do want someone of substance behind you after a cambelt chnage in case it goes wrong.
You could argue that the dealer was doing you a favour by advising this, and by telling you up front, rather than calling in the middle of the job and putting pressure on you.
Having said that, no way I'd be taking an 11 year old car to a dealer, unless they were doing a special cambelt change offer. Perhaps, though, of all jobs, you do want someone of substance behind you after a cambelt chnage in case it goes wrong.
Edited by Deva Link on Thursday 3rd September 11:48
Deva Link said:
It's standard pratice on many cars to change it with the cambelt.
You could argue that the dealer was doing you a favour by advising this, and by telling you up front, rather than calling in the middle of the job and putting pressure on you.
Having said that, no way I'd be taking an 11 year old car to a dealer, unless they were doing a special cambelt change offer. Perhaps, though, of all jobs, you do want someone of substance behind you after a cambelt chnage in case it goes wrong.
You could argue that the dealer was doing you a favour by advising this, and by telling you up front, rather than calling in the middle of the job and putting pressure on you.
Having said that, no way I'd be taking an 11 year old car to a dealer, unless they were doing a special cambelt change offer. Perhaps, though, of all jobs, you do want someone of substance behind you after a cambelt chnage in case it goes wrong.
Edited by Deva Link on Thursday 3rd September 11:48
replacing the water pump with the cambelt = £80 extra
Not changing the waterpump and then having the waterpump go 5 miles after replacing the cambelt requiring another cambelt + waterpump and being left at the side of the road = £priceless
In any case I had audi fit a metal impellor pump ( from Euro car parts) when my cambelt got changed, no charge to fit it (or at least no more than £20).
The original plastic impellor pumps can disintegrate and if its the original on the a4 then its a good idea to change it.
My wifes polo water pump plastic impellor came off the shaft, luckily it didnt jam the drive wheel and strip the cam belt - instead it just got very hot and had to be recovered to vw - who fitted a cambelt at the sametime as it had to be removed to get the waterpump out.
This was on a 5 year old car, with 40,000 miles on it!!
Get it done, you are not being given duff advice by Audi.
Not changing the waterpump and then having the waterpump go 5 miles after replacing the cambelt requiring another cambelt + waterpump and being left at the side of the road = £priceless
In any case I had audi fit a metal impellor pump ( from Euro car parts) when my cambelt got changed, no charge to fit it (or at least no more than £20).
The original plastic impellor pumps can disintegrate and if its the original on the a4 then its a good idea to change it.
My wifes polo water pump plastic impellor came off the shaft, luckily it didnt jam the drive wheel and strip the cam belt - instead it just got very hot and had to be recovered to vw - who fitted a cambelt at the sametime as it had to be removed to get the waterpump out.
This was on a 5 year old car, with 40,000 miles on it!!
Get it done, you are not being given duff advice by Audi.
[quote=Two Stallions
We're not idiots you know!
[/quote]
You might look like one, when in 6 months time, your paying them 4 hours labour to change the pump, it take 10 mins to change while the front ends apart.
Then of course the pumps somtimes sieze on the V6, striping the teeth off the belt and destroying the engine, and probably righting off the car. But you will be saving £80
We're not idiots you know!
[/quote]
You might look like one, when in 6 months time, your paying them 4 hours labour to change the pump, it take 10 mins to change while the front ends apart.
Then of course the pumps somtimes sieze on the V6, striping the teeth off the belt and destroying the engine, and probably righting off the car. But you will be saving £80
Tame Technician said:
You might look like one, when in 6 months time, your paying them 4 hours labour to change the pump, it take 10 mins to change while the front ends apart.
Then of course the pumps somtimes sieze on the V6, striping the teeth off the belt and destroying the engine, and probably righting off the car. But you will be saving £80
The belt has been replaced twice before without the water pump being changed and has been totally reliable. If Audi can't manufacture a water pump to last at least 100K miles.....Then of course the pumps somtimes sieze on the V6, striping the teeth off the belt and destroying the engine, and probably righting off the car. But you will be saving £80
The car has only covered 40K miles.
Edited by Two Stallions on Thursday 3rd September 18:37
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