Well guys, the time is finally here. I have a 2002 Audi A4 1.8t with 103000 miles. I'm WAY overdue for a timing belt job, as you can see. I'm going to a friend's dad's who has a lift and lots of tools in his garage, and we're going to do the following:

- Replace timing belt
- Replace sepertine belt
- Replace coolant
- Replace cabin air filter
- Replace water pump
- Replace thermostat
- Replace Replace timing belt tensionor pully
- Replace fuel filter

I need to replace the snub mount too. Mine is actually cracked. But I didn't order it in time for this weekend. I may drop by the VW place here and see if they have one in stock and just put the OEM back on.

Anyway, this is the first time my friend and I will be doing this so any advice would be appreciated. I know there are many posts like this and I've been reading them, but I thought I would post my own to get any new insight.

Thanks, and wish me luck!

-Chris

 

Take lots of Pics.....

 

Will do.

-Chris

 

I wouldn't say your way overdue on your timing belt i replaced mine with 117,000 miles on mine. My advice is to take your time and it will all pay off at the end

 

Wow! My friend and I did it! I can't believe it... I have such a big sense of accomplishment now. That's the best part -- plus I saved myself a butt load of cash.

Took us 10 hours including a few breaks throughout.

We ran into two problems or it would have been eight. First, the instructions we had must have been for a different year because getting the bumper off was way more complicated than we thought. We didn't see two of the bolts holding it on so we spent almost 2 hours trying to figure out how it comes off. Now it should take about 20 minutes next time.

Also, when we pulled the alternator to get to the thermostat, we broke the wires leading to the controller on the back of the alternator. Not the big one that transfers power, but the one that controls the alternator output. So we had to use a hack saw and cut open the adapter and rebuild it from the inside. That took a long time as well.

Had we not spent time on the above items, we would probably have spent 7 or 8 hours total. Doing it again will take less because we know where everything is and how it goes together.

Whew, I'm so glad that's done... I'll post some pictures later.

-Chris

 

Were you able to get a new snub mount on the car? Because if you need one I do have the Stern snub mounts in stock and ship USPS.