Toothed belt replace doubts

[emalvido]

Hello:
Just boght a second hand A3 2002 Automatic Ambition model, went to Audi dealer to see the price of the services, and also the date to make the next one since my car came without service manual.
The dealer told me "31,068miles your toothed belt replacement service is near that must be done when exaclty your car reaches 45,000 miles and the cost of that is aprox $1,665USD WHAT? so, in case you dont change your toothed belt, and "breaks" due to wear you will end with ruined valves, and other parts, the repair if that is in the range of $7,850 WHOA!
He showed me the users manual and yes it says there " recomend to change the toothed belt in the at 45,000 mile range
Someone had this kind of expereince? comments?
I had a Golf from 1993 thru 2003 and the dealer never ever had a proboem with it and never ever the VW dealer asked me to change that!
Thanks!
Ed

[Semky]

Hi There,

The toothed belt is indeed the cam belt or timing belt and it is ESSENTIAL to get these changed as and when stated, and not with any cheap aftermarket spares either!
Failure of a belt whilst driving can result in catastrophic contact between piston crowns and valves.......result.....BIG Bills!

[Badger61]

9 times out of 10 the failure is down to tensioner or water pump wear, you haven't mentioned what engine you have but it's worth asking for the water pump to be replaced at the same time.

[emalvido]

Hello:
Belt replaced, along with the tensioning damper and belt roller, no damage to my engine! great! water pump still in good shape, no need to change that!
My car? A3 2002 1.8T
Audi dealers didnt had the parts together;
so the parts were purchased at a VW dealer, just said that my car was a Golf GTI 2002 1.8T
Ed