On Fri, 18 Jul 2003 19:37:42 -0700, "Ab" <ab.furner@***.net> wrote:

Perhaps you should ask the US government (Or at least the State of
California) why the VAG service interval is totally different for the
remainder of the world, yet incredibly high in the USA??

Perhaps you could sue them.

 

Is this failure record on the timing belts, just for the 1.* A4's or are the
other A4 and S4's possibly affected by premature timing belt failure?

"Avantium" <avantium@munich.com> wrote in message
news:ad68da8c.0307180943.2ef6bbe1@posting.google.c om...
> ian@jardine.net (Ian) wrote in message
news:<1d7c2ddc.0307180555.54800f90@posting.google. com>...
>
> Ian: I have heard of them failing at 46k miles.
> Sad, but true.
>
> > I have a well maintained 1998 1.8T A4 Quattro.
> > The timing belt just broke on the I95 in North Carolina and the car
> > was towed to the dealer in Greenville NC who had to replace the
> > Cylinder head, valves etc. etc . etc. at a cost to me of $3,600.00
> --snip--
> > I rang them this morning and
> > they told me that they feel NO responsibility, because the car is out
> > of the warranty period
>
> This is typical, stick with it. I believe eventually they'll come
> around.
> There are many who have had a similar experience, and from what I see
> on the internet, Audi often pays at least something.
>
> --snip--
>
> > Well to cut it short Audi Customer Service just repeated NO.
> ....
> >No repsonsibility out of warranty. He
> > also REFUSED to give me any name of any person higher up the corporate
> > ladder. Hmmm
> .....
> > So in summary even if you strictly follow Audi dealer advisory
> > maintenance schedules and have a major failure (and a timing chain is
> > a major failure because it has NO fall back safety precautions to
> > limit damage like some other cars) Audi fells it is not at all
> > concerned for the owner and feels not even a tiny bit of
> > responsibility. Not even 10-25%. NOTHING.
>
> An Audi dealer once told me that the only way that Audi will take
> responsibility for the belt failing early is if the owner has a
> "timing belt inspection" which can only be properly done by taking the
> t-belt off the engine. Naturally, at such time, it would be pointless
> to replace the old belt, and golly, at this point, wouldn't it make
> sense to put on a new one? Essentially, it is bulls hit. I think what
> it boils down to is that each audi owner must somehow know when his
> belt will break and replace it before then. But I doubt the 46k mile
> person could have fathomed his breakage still inside the warranty
> period. For that one, I don't know the outcome.
>
> > Q: Has anyone else had similar experience?
>
> I believe if you look at websites such as audiworld.com, audifans.com
> and vwvortex.com, you'll find hundreds of similar stories.
>
> > What is concerning me here is that I am now getting unofficial
> > feedback now that some dealers tell A4 owners to change timing belts
> > between 60-70K Miles, so there has to be a history of failures here,
> > which Corporate Audi has chosen to ignore. Probably because they would
> > have to offer compensation in cases like mine.
>
> In the Audi and VW world, this is a known phenomenon. Timing belts
> break prematurely, in both the 2.8 litre entines (12v and 30v) as well
> as the 1.8 litre turbos (20v). I can't say if one breaks before the
> other. Similar in the old 20v 5-cylinder cars, but not as often and
> not as early.
>
> It is just sort of "known" that one must replace a timing belt around
> 60k miles in Audi cars for the past 10 years or so.
> Having said this is "known" I'm *not* saying that you stop pursuing
> the issue with Audi of America. Keep hammering away. Many people,
> myself included, (and I'd say you, too) believe that if the owner's
> manual recommends replacing the t-belt at 90k, then it should last to
> perhaps 120k most of the time. (i.e., a safety margin) It *IS* absurd
> that Audi "knows" about this problem and has not addressed it. You
> are quite correct. This is not a warranty issue, yet a failure
> occurred at substantially below the recommended service interval.
>
> > Well my feelings are that I would NEVER buy another Audi after this
> > experience.
>
> Some believe it is better to buy a 4-5 year old audi with 70-90k
> miles. In many cases, the previous owner will have replaced the
> t-belt once by then.
>
> Eventually I believe you'll see follow-up postings from others who
> have had the same problem.
>
> Keep hammering away at AoA. I think you'll get something.

 

Design flaw?
Please elaborate on your theory, oh wise one...



On 29 Jul 2003 06:37:48 -0700, avantium@munich.com (Avantium) wrote:

>Ian--
>
>Do you have an update on your attempt to get AoA to take
>responsibility for a well known design flaw?
>
>thanks