Timing Belt- The past 48 hours.....

[MaxRS6]

I am about a block from the homestead Wednesday evening when I hear a very strange noise from the engine bay. I slid into the garage with a very very very bad noise, and immediately shut it down. The voices in the head immediately went to chattering with scenarios that made the stomach twist. Vagcom scan gave the following:

16395 - Bank 1: Camshaft A (Intake): Retard Setpoint not Reached (Over-Advanced)

I hit the normal searches and see that this can be related to timing belt issues. I have actually been in preparation to have the TB service completed along with other laundry list items within the next couple of weeks.

Now the voices are hitting me with shouts of a possible TB break or slip. Further searches and as most know, this can be veddddy bad. I see all kinds of horror stories of valves being open, pistons bangin, interference engines, catastrophic damage. Oooofffff!!!

I arrange the tow truck Thursday morning and have it winched onto the flatbed. I see it go off and wonder if it will fight again. I do further searches and have some brief discussions with the techs. There is some hope given- but I have a bad feeling with memories of engine clanging noises still rattling in the space between my ears. Thoughts wander as to what will be the next horse?? L Thursday passes without any news.

The service manager calls me late this afternoon, and asks “How you doing?”. I say “You tell me”, and after a dramatic pause…..”You are good to go!”. The grin produced was immediate. He says the motor sounds great and everything looks good without any damage done. J

A roller had apparently come off (as I understand it), and was up against the block. I'll get better details on Monday when I go by the shop. I didn’t hear much as I will get my car back with just a normal timing belt service- along with other sundry items while it is opened up.

I was right at 40K miles since my last TB service. My future service interval for this service will be the 25K~30K range.

[TozoM8]

Someone on QW D2 forum just had the same problem. http://forums.quattroworld.com/a8/msgs/45007.phtml

[MaxRS6]

^^ Wowza- two lucky Audi owners!

[skribe]

I was sick when I started reading this post... Years ago I had a similar experience... Except with mine, the tb DID slip, the valves DID hit the pistons, and I DID have to pull the top end, pay $$$ for a rebuild (with a port and polish ) and put her all back together in an unheated garage in February.

So glad to hear it ended well!

[4everRS]

Wow Randy. Very glad to hear that your back on the road. Paranoia is an issue many of us have I think. I would have been going nuts for the time it was at the shop. I didn't realize this was somewhat common. Did the shop replace the rollers on the last change?

[MaxRS6]

Thanks Skribe- and that sounds like a horror story I was envisioning for myself...

Kyle
2 Rollers part#077109244c were replaced and a roller part#077109244E were part of the TB service at 115K along with the other normal parts. The 48 hours seemed like an eternity- However; my wife (and much better 3/4) kept it in perspective as there are a lot of people out there with real problems with the recent storm activity and normal everyday issues (health, etc. etc). Good thing she was around or I may have kicked critters and small children as they passed by....00

[4everRS]

I just saw the storm footage and reports you had down there. Strong stuff. Good to put things in perspective.

[hahnmgh63]

Congtatulations on dodging that bullet. Since it looks like the rollers were replaced I wonder if it comes down to what brand they were? Over torqued? Just a fluke? I wonder if along with the one Tozo posted from the A8 forums if there are some bad rollers out there. They should never fail in that little bit of time.

[DHall1]

Randy,

Update which roller failed when you get a chance. Here are the 4 roller bearings

[MaxRS6]

Wow!- The bolt broke holding the roller in place that almost brought down my beast. They are replacing all the bolts along with all the other parts during the TB service, and will do so on all future TB services. The roller was in good shape.

[JSRS6]

wow, thats crazy! Looks like the tech maybe over-torqued it?

[marklar182]

I replaced every roller/tensioner/crank bolt when I had my 75K done. No way I will let a $2 bolt bring me down!

[MaxRS6]

^LOL- I didn't see it on the option list for the service or I would have checked the box. Good call to replace the bolts and knowing to do it- or being smart enough to request the mechanic replace the bolts.

I don't know if the prior tech replaced the bolts or not during the last TB service. I have it at a different and closer Audi dealership. These are the kinds of things one hopes their mechanic/tech would maintain in a professional manner. It may have just been a fluke, may have been over torqued, the leprechaun pay for play girl may have found my residence- Who the F&ck knows??

Good news is I am tooling around in a F150 XLT. Dang- the thing is huge- and with me being height challenged- is a funny site. However; watch out idjuits as I can see directly into your vehicles..00 Gas mileage isn't much different ;0

[MaxRS6]

AoA steps up to the plate- treats me right- again! Audi continues to improve my faith in the Audi brand. They have agreed to pay for my rental bus for the entire period of the repair, offered me their sincerest regrets, and appreciate me bringing this to their attention. I must say the dealership is also going beyond the call with the service manager fully involved in the repair and inspection.

[Amulet-S6]

AoA steps up to the plate- treats me right- again! Audi continues to improve my faith in the Audi brand. They have agreed to pay for my rental bus for the entire period of the repair, offered me their sincerest regrets, and appreciate me bringing this to their attention. I must say the dealership is also going beyond the call with the service manager fully involved in the repair and inspection.

Wow, You're very lucky to have such a great service dept at your dealership... Just how far is Little Rock from KC?

[marklar182]

My other car (Z32 300ZX) has a history of idler studs failing, so I just applied that to the RS6 as well

I never had one fail, but I always replace them when I do a Timing belt on my Z......

For the RS6 I replaced;

N10135503 x2
N10194702
N10238802 x8
078105229D

[JP4]

WOW.... That's quite a story!

[hahnmgh63]

Thanks for the list Marklar, I'm ordeing my studs right now.