My 2003 A4 (1.8T)just gave out yesterday the timing belt went. I had to go on for a minute or two to get off the road slowly, and the engine overheat lights came on, and the motor just shut down. It would not start afterwards.
Is it possible that the computer just won't let it start after the overheat?
Or did the engine get fried with the valves hitting?
Does a broken belt causes damage to the engine in every case?
What am I looking at (dollars) if the engine is damaged?

 

if your timing belt went you need a new engine. They are interference motors, so there is definite damage to your valves and possible damage to your cylinder head and pistons.

 

whats the millage?

 

damn...how fast were you going when the timing belt snapped?

 

I was just doing about 40 km/hr to get off the road.

 

ferenc, after reading about the effect of a broken timing belt in an engine, If i was in your position, I would look for a very good AUDI/VW mechanic shop in GTA who had successfuly worked around this problem.

Sorry for this bad incident, update us. Best of luck dude

 

Ferenc,

I was reading your threads with interest: I truly feel your pain!

Sunday a friend's Jetta TDI threw a timing belt at about 130,000 Km.
The VW dealer in Beleville reported a shreaded timing belt; they have repaired previously a condition when ALL the pulleys came lose off the motor... but they are saying that there is no correlation.

Previously, did you have any kind of mechanical work done around pulleys and fan-belts?

 

The engines are interference so you definitely have a bunch of bent valves on your hands especially if you kept going. How many km did you have on the car?

 

Well the car is in the shop. The damage to the engine and blet water pump is coming to over $ 2,800. It is a real pain for a twenty dollars part failing at 120 K km on the car.

 

Dont mean to rub it in, but you should have changed it at a 100k. I really hope that you get it fixed and it doesent cost too much. $2800 vs a $700 for timing belt and time and everything is a lot less costly. I hope everyone can learn from your loss on here and get the car serviced properly. I feel your pain, our cars are not the sort of a car to "to wait till its broken then fix it" because that method might work on Hondas etc... but Audi is a big no go on these.