I love how everyone comments on this guys work, yet have never changed a timing belt in thier lives! I did the one on my Audi and it wasnt that bad. I made my own timing cam tool out of a piece of metal and my car runs like new!
Hi Bill, hello people! I'm writing this 5 years after uploading the video. This guide helped me to replace thermostat in my A4 2.8 - thank you! It may be done much easier - disengagement the condenser and draining refrigerant is not necessary. Presure hoses are very flexible. You need detach the condenser from the cooler and set it aside. That's all. It may be helpful for somebody else. Best regards from Poland.
The service manual tells you to put the car in the "Service Position" which means the front just pulls forward, no need to evacuate the A/C or remove the front end. Obviously this method takes more time but makes things a lot easier to work on. Most shops will never do it this way though.
I think its very cool that the entire front end of the car comes off for maintenance sure its a lot of work but that V6 is a very tight fit in there probably the only way.
I do these timing belt jobs all the time, I have never once removed the front clip. All you need to do is use the long bolts that hold the front bumper on, place one on either side into the threads that bolt the bumper shocks to the frame. Then slide the whole clip forward. Then undo the clips that hold the A/C condensor and swing the condensor over to the pass side, I usually secure it with a bungee. Now you have plenty of room to reach in and change the pump and belt. Takes 3-4 hours.
This is useful because it helps appreciate the extent of work involved. So when a garage gives a quote, you can gauge if they're going to do a proper job, and giving you good advice - e.g. recommending changing the thermostat and water pump. The large proportion of cost is labour, removing the whole front of the vehicle before the timing belt and other components can be replaced.
Fantastic video! This is what you need to show every customer that complains about how big their bill is. Really good to see everything is being done correctly.
Having a Covered Garage and a second vehicle makes the difference, this can be done by anyone over the weekend with some knowledge and some elbow grease.
@foop1 We did not charge extra to remove the front end we can remove it just as fast as trying to swing it to the side and this puts no stress on the lines.
wow. such a lot of work , I hope the owner is appreciative. it is good to see a proper mechanic at work. Im a hobby mechanic so i like he way he cleaned off the old gasket.
@Joeasia1981 They do have timing chains also. The two cam pulleys you saw in the video are the driving cams (exhaust cams), then a chain in the back of the motor connects the driving cam to the driven cam (intake cams), so each side has two chains. One for each pair or cams in the heads.
What a insane amount of work I have seen timing belts on other cars take 15 mins to replace. This has to be one of the most difficult cars to swap the timing belt. Why do engineers built engines like this? I am sure with a little creativity they could have made this process alot easier.
hi there do i need to remove the bumper to replace my alternator? also when changing the timing belt how many marks do i need to be aware of ? the ones that you align with the camshafts so it doesnt mess up when starting the engine
@hero21ctw I am guessing you are referring to the ignition timing? If so no we did not have to check it. We do rotate the engine and ensure that the timing marks are lined up correctly.
This kid does a+ work. This is not a nightmare for someone who appreciates a well built car... sure it's a lotta work but that's the price you gotta pay for quality.
I have an 05 A6 Quattro 4.2. Alternator belt went bad. Looking at this vid almost inspired me to do the job myself. It's about a 4 hour job removing the nose of the car. Any who, Thanks for the video.
I'd still rather own an Audi. I'm a mobile mechanic and did my own A4 Avant in around 6-7 hours first to last bolt, on jacks and stands,......including a full service, cambelt, water pump, new tensioner and pulleys thermostat, etc,...etc,...., but still love my Audi!! BOLTED TOGETHER and SOLID! Love mine!!!!!
why was that cam brace installed after the timing belts had already been removed? correct me if im wrong but shouldn't the brace be installed before the old belt is removed?its what i was told by an Audi Tech
@gettinsmeegy wrong it doesnt havnt had a problem with heather core at all still goes up to 90 degrees in the winter and the ac still cools to 60 in the summer.
@rcflyer40t Why does everyone think it is hard to fill an A/C system it is easy and gets done while you are putting it back together takes maybe 30 seconds longer to hook up the hoses and punch some buttons.
great video and great job of this guy!!.... Questions!!........when I am suppose to do it this on my A6 2.7 2004 with 65.000m ?.....and how much around is going ti cost me?...... thank you!!
Damn, maybe for these guys this is easy, but for us who are not initiated in the "art of complex mechanics" this looks like a daunting task. Very nice video, I see why shops charge what they charge for these jobs.
I worked on cars for 50 years. I still don't know very much. If any young folks want a good career one would specialize in fixing these tvrds. Audi's problems will increase with time and a very good living can be made for technicians who know these vehicles. People who buy these cars will not work on them themselves. If you do the same car everyday you get pretty good after a year or two. When you are young look for a career, not a job.
Thank you for putting this up. How long did it take? You have to be impressed how they design the things so well for manufacture, ie to be built from the inside out. But not to be serviced, or may be designed to keep the less than complete work shop owner from tampering / fixing it themselves.
i need your help i have change water pomp thermostat cooing sensors and i flush the radiator ,and still over heating but i have no hot air at the inside heater , what you thing that is the problem my car is 2000 audi a6 quatro 2.8
@CooperLakeAutomotive Could you be more specific about the light, like maybe a part number or where you bought it? Looked on the internet and Central's website and couldnt find it. Thanks for your time, nice video.
This video is scarry in a sense (thanks for taking the time to make it btw) because it makes me wonder if most mechanics will actually bother going through this ordeal to change a timing belt (by the way is cambelt and timing belt the same?) On all my cars when the cambelt was due to be replaced it showed absolutely no signs of wearing apart or craking, so how would I know for sure the job has been done...
@pimpb0tt Service position is for replacing the accessory belt and minor work. Not replacing the timing belt and water pump. Audi's timing belt/water pump replacement video proves that. They remove the front end to have maximum access to the front of the motor. Also they mentioned NOT disconnecting the AC lines, since they simply can be swung around the right fender and hung free of stress on the lines. I've done it many times. It's sure better than having to refill your AC later on.
Nice job.I1ve done a couple of them ,good fun!I usually invite the owner of the car to watch me while im working!During the job i always watch their faces,when its finished they usually give me a nice tip...
Did the belt on the V6 TDI brother of this engine once. Engine code AFB. With those you also have the injector pump belt to deal with. As with most things its pretty straightforward if you follow the workshop manual and are able to be creative with tools and material to stand in for all those factory special tools that you cant get anywhere. I did make a photo repo but no video unfortunately..
there are these threaded metal rods with big plastic balls on the end that supports the front clip so you can put it in "service mode" and you don't have to mess with the A/C
As a young man you would have to be "really" excited about working on todays cars and also you would have to be a small framed person too!...but this isn't so bad when people "restore" whole cars!...now "THAT'S" a lot of work!!.
This is 100% true. I actually found out that I had chain when I serviced my car at the Audi Dealer. I was worried my costs would be $1k+ if it was timing belt lol
