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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
@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.
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'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!!!!!
@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.
@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.
@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.
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
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.
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..
This kids, is the side the car manufacturers and auto dealerships WON'T tell you. How much effort it takes to fix that pretty little German car once it is time to take it in!
In fairness the front dosen't have to be removed completely. Insert 2 long skinny head bolts into the holes where the bumper bar is mounted, you can then slide the front of the car maybe 5 inches out without having to mess around with AC gas and heaps of other stuff.
@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.
Every new model is a culmination of doing things wrong for years. But that is the paradox of engineering. That Audi should have a big displacement hexagonal pushrod v-twin. Yes. with Texas longhorns on the front hood, and Yosemite Sam on the mudflaps.
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.
Service position is more than adequate for any tech that's worth being allowed to work on your car. It's really not necessary to waste time tearing the whole thing apart; I've never had any problems. Also, service position is not necessary for the ribbed belt replacement procedure, just clutch fan removal.
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...
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!!.
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...
All because Audi wanted to cram that engine in there. Could have pushed the engine back into the firewall area like a Jeep 4.0 I6 or could have extended the front end about 4" to make this necessary repair easier to do. You guys do a great job though.
@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.
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
FYI that is not the correct way to use the timing belt tool. The cam sprockets need to be loosened and pulled off the tapered interface on the cams. Then the belt is tensioned while the pulleys FREEWHEEL on the cams, and then the cam sprockets are re-torqued.
Great video, no matter what other people say i think taking your time and doing it right the first time is what matters. If you complain about it costing too much then sell it and buy yourself a honda.
i believe somebody else ask you that all i say was that the A/c shouldn't be disconnected and the lines are made of rubber for that reason any how excellent work and video
i know right? I got my 609 and using a A/C machine, you literally press a button and it takes a/c R134A out in the time you can change another car's oil, get the front end off, get that timing belt done, and press Vac, and refill. in auto class all we did since we were all issued a single car, was while the car was being recovered, most of us were on facebook lol.
Actually if you get a 1993 or later BMW (2.5/2.8/3.0 straight six engine) with VANOS, there is no timing belt to worrying about. Even the water pump is easy to do. It's an O ring type and not anywhere near such things like timing belt tensioners etc... Put 230k miles before selling mine and only replaced fuel pump and alternator. Alt only because the bearings started to whine but still charged battery.
Wow, and I thought a timing belt job on a Porsche 928 was hard! This car definitely takes the cake! I would never buy one because of this reason! What a maintenance nightmare!
you don't have to remove the the condenser u just put it aside on the passenger side that's what i do and it is a good idea to change the crank seal at the same time good work.
Ha! I guess nobody at that shop ever read the manual and learned about the 'Service Position'. That way, you leave the AC lines and Washer Pump lines and wiring harness attached to the bumper, and just pull it out enough to get to the front of the engine. Woulda saved you a couple hours of shop time. DOH!!!
I do not bother removing my whole front end either. It takes a very short time to pull the plastic bumper cover off and then loosen the front rad support assemly and slide it forward several inches. Why touch the A/C system at all if you don't have to. You can Beat the book BIG time if you do it this way.
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
@pimpb0tt There is no way that it is a couple of hours it takes no time to just pop the whole thing off. Just moving it back takes everything we did but unhooking the A/C lines I doubt that takes 2 hours lol. Not to mention a video of Clay's Rear end would not be too good lol.
@Ruohttas Because they can, i'm sure it was alot easier then swinging to the side then hunching over to work on the water pump and timing. Believe me, if I had the tools and the lift to do that i would have, instead of hunching over the car for hours.
@lrhelmers It's not a hard job at all and for the AC all I did was flip the condenser over and to the passenger side, just be sure not to kink the lines and you'll be fine. Believe me, this is definitely a DIY job.
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
I've seen a 2007 Audi A4 having the front end taken off to get to the thermostat because it leaked. You might as well check everything here so that this is not something that is done on a reglar basis.
@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.
I drive a 2000 Intrigue with a 3.5 V6, and the alternator is in a tight spot, jammed up behind the radiator, tucked in a corner with the battery, and coolant hoses. There is a lot of stuff to take out, not as bad as this car, but it is not a quick fix either.
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!!
no need to remove front end, just put the lock carrier in service position...everything moved forward a few inches and you get plenty of space to do the job :) i bet you wish you knew this earlier!
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.
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.
A professional mechanic in about 3 to 6 hours because you have to quit a lot of things to get to the timing
How are you going to recover the refrigerant for the air conditioning system?
... You aren't. OK.
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.
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.
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.
nice thorough video. tired of these hacks that skip half of the procedures when repairing a vehicle.
Well said, when I bought my Audi A6 I new what I was getting into and I never regret buying it.
You've convinced me. I wouldn't touch an Audi with a barge pole.
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.
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.
@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.
You guys seem to do very solid, clean work. I like it.
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'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!!!!!
@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.
@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.
@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.
@execct That light is a Central Tool Light. It works great and has a super strong magnetic base.
@foop1 We don't charge extra to remove the freon for this job. This only takes 15 minutes extra and for the ease of access probably makes up the time.
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
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.
if i had opened even 1 part of this car i would't have remembered shit.This guy is great
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..
Vw vehicles are very difficult to work on. Great video, you make it look easy
This kids, is the side the car manufacturers and auto dealerships WON'T tell you. How much effort it takes to fix that pretty little German car once it is time to take it in!
In fairness the front dosen't have to be removed completely. Insert 2 long skinny head bolts into the holes where the bumper bar is mounted, you can then slide the front of the car maybe 5 inches out without having to mess around with AC gas and heaps of other stuff.
I was under the impression that audi had timing chains, good job.
@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.
Every new model is a culmination of doing things wrong for years. But that is the paradox of engineering. That Audi should have a big displacement hexagonal pushrod v-twin. Yes. with Texas longhorns on the front hood, and Yosemite Sam on the mudflaps.
I did a a6 a few years ago and these cars are a pain in the ass to work on ... I did a timing belt and rack ....
This video... I've been waiting for. Thank you so much, perfect angle.
Wow! Good job, Thas next level repair work.My old 2.8 is not quiet that complicated
Thanks for posting this, you just reminded me why I wouldn't own or work on these cars.
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.
Wish I could change an audi timing belt in 6.5 minutes working at that pace, I would make bookoo bucks
great job !! you R the fastest tech in the whole USA
Service position is more than adequate for any tech that's worth being allowed to work on your car. It's really not necessary to waste time tearing the whole thing apart; I've never had any problems. Also, service position is not necessary for the ribbed belt replacement procedure, just clutch fan removal.
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...
Charles Roucher Request the old parts when the job is done. all parts have part numbers on them and can be traced to a Make and model.
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!!.
Awesome car. Awesome Video!
Audi A4 Quattro here. Need this work done soon but dont have the big gonads ...yet!
Gonna have shell out. :(
Good
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...
All because Audi wanted to cram that engine in there. Could have pushed the engine back into the firewall area like a Jeep 4.0 I6 or could have extended the front end about 4" to make this necessary repair easier to do.
You guys do a great job though.
Thanks for taking the time to make this.
@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.
Geeesh. that explains why maintenance is so expensive at Audi.
You scared shit out of me. I will change it myself when it is due.
This wasn't necessary at all, Service mode eliminates 4 of these hours
@trumpio this is correct, according to the bentley manual. No pre-tensioning was done here
It's true. Setting the front in service position is more than enough.
It has 2 chains as well. one for each pair of cams.
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
thats just sick dude, i wish i can work on cars like that
FYI that is not the correct way to use the timing belt tool. The cam sprockets need to be loosened and pulled off the tapered interface on the cams. Then the belt is tensioned while the pulleys FREEWHEEL on the cams, and then the cam sprockets are re-torqued.
@SANYUR
Yes- it's less work and more space left at the 4 cyl- - engines. That fat motor hardly fits under the hood.
Great video, no matter what other people say i think taking your time and doing it right the first time is what matters. If you complain about it costing too much then sell it and buy yourself a honda.
This why a good mechanic makes more than a doctor
That Audi is quite clearly not designed to be serviced. At all. It's a disposable car.
i believe somebody else ask you that all i say was that the A/c shouldn't be disconnected and the lines are made of rubber for that reason any how excellent work and video
i know right? I got my 609 and using a A/C machine, you literally press a button and it takes a/c R134A out in the time you can change another car's oil, get the front end off, get that timing belt done, and press Vac, and refill.
in auto class all we did since we were all issued a single car, was while the car was being recovered, most of us were on facebook lol.
Actually if you get a 1993 or later BMW (2.5/2.8/3.0 straight six engine) with VANOS, there is no timing belt to worrying about. Even the water pump is easy to do. It's an O ring type and not anywhere near such things like timing belt tensioners etc... Put 230k miles before selling mine and only replaced fuel pump and alternator. Alt only because the bearings started to whine but still charged battery.
Wow, and I thought a timing belt job on a Porsche 928 was hard! This car definitely takes the cake! I would never buy one because of this reason! What a maintenance nightmare!
the worst thermostat location ever seen !
Edward Norton-looking mechanic. Good video.
holy balls that mechanic better get PAID
@owenmataiti This is a 2001 A4, 2.8L V6 30 valve engine.
I believe this particular job only took one day.
you don't have to remove the the condenser u just put it aside on the passenger side that's what i do and it is a good idea to change the crank seal at the same time good work.
Ha! I guess nobody at that shop ever read the manual and learned about the 'Service Position'. That way, you leave the AC lines and Washer Pump lines and wiring harness attached to the bumper, and just pull it out enough to get to the front of the engine. Woulda saved you a couple hours of shop time.
DOH!!!
good vid. I enjoy watching it.
I do not bother removing my whole front end either. It takes a very short time to pull the plastic bumper cover off and then loosen the front rad support assemly and slide it forward several inches. Why touch the A/C system at all if you don't have to. You can Beat the book BIG time if you do it this way.
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
Genius, they made it nearly impossible to fix without taking it to a dealer...
give that guy a raise
he's got my respect; great job!
he forgot to turn the belt several times to guarantee the original timing. cool video tho
@pimpb0tt There is no way that it is a couple of hours it takes no time to just pop the whole thing off. Just moving it back takes everything we did but unhooking the A/C lines I doubt that takes 2 hours lol. Not to mention a video of Clay's Rear end would not be too good lol.
Awesome video ! How long did that take ? Must have been a couple of hours ?
@Ruohttas Because they can, i'm sure it was alot easier then swinging to the side then hunching over to work on the water pump and timing. Believe me, if I had the tools and the lift to do that i would have, instead of hunching over the car for hours.
@pimpb0tt A couple of hours. What are you talking about? For the extra 15 mins it takes to get the front end out of your way it is well worth it.
I love my Audi, nothing like it... Like Justin said, if you can't afford to have it professionally repaired, maybe a Kia or a Hyundai is in order.
I'm curious, Is there anything that a home mechanic can do on these vehicles? Also, what is involved in R & R of an alternator or starter?
@lrhelmers It's not a hard job at all and for the AC all I did was flip the condenser over and to the passenger side, just be sure not to kink the lines and you'll be fine. Believe me, this is definitely a DIY job.
thanks for the great video
so without the ac recovery machine what should the diy'er do instead for that step?
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
I like the trouble light that he uses .Where can I get one of those?What brand is it?it looks like this light is very versatile.
Great Video Thanks
What is the time it is required on this operation?
Girls work for YOU in car-care center?
I've seen a 2007 Audi A4 having the front end taken off to get to the thermostat because it leaked. You might as well check everything here so that this is not something that is done on a reglar basis.
@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.
I've had this done twice on 98 A4. $1000 to $1200. I have 265k and will have to do again if I plan on keeping it.
awesome video!
I drive a 2000 Intrigue with a 3.5 V6, and the alternator is in a tight spot, jammed up behind the radiator, tucked in a corner with the battery, and coolant hoses. There is a lot of stuff to take out, not as bad as this car, but it is not a quick fix either.
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!!
I so glad that my BMW has a timing chain after I saw this
Nice work dude!
What kind of light is that you're using? The output looks amazing. Nice video.
no need to remove front end, just put the lock carrier in service position...everything moved forward a few inches and you get plenty of space to do the job
:)
i bet you wish you knew this earlier!