Paging El_Uly and other Audi Oppos

"Big Bubba Ray" (eganward01)
04/29/2016 at 22:06 • Filed to: None

My dad’s 2001 A6 2.8 (pictured below) is ready for a timing belt change. It’s at 153,000 miles so it’s time. I’ve been doing a bunch of reading about the timing belt and it is a job that I can do but do you guys have any pointers or tips?

While I’m in there I’m probably going to do cam seals and valve cover gaskets because they need to be done.

Also, where should I order parts? I’ve been all over blauparts because they seem to have everything but if you guys have a better source, let me know!

DISCUSSION (38)

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 22:10

“Step 1: Remove front end”

I use FCP Euro for all my M3 stuff and it all seems high quality and has lifetime warranties!

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/29/2016 at 22:14

Step 2: sudden electrical fire

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
04/29/2016 at 22:15

Step 3: Collect insurance money

whoarder is tellurium > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 22:19

What ever you do, make sure to buy a high quality timing belt tensioner or a good quality (complete) timing belt kit. I had a nightmare... twice. Replace the thermostat and water pump while you’re in there too.

As far as tools, there is a special camshaft lock bar and a crankshaft lock pin that threads into the crankcase. These tools are optional, but it does keep everything in place.

Be sure to organize/label all the little nuts n’ bolts from the front end.

Hope you have a good set of torx bits.

Mr Parker > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 22:21

Try Pelican Parts. They carry everything German

Big Bubba Ray > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/29/2016 at 22:22

Ya putting it into the “service position” doesn’t excite me considering I just detailed the paint a week ago. I don’t want to mess up my work! haha

Big Bubba Ray > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
04/29/2016 at 22:22

Too bad it’s worth nothing haha

Big Bubba Ray > whoarder is tellurium
04/29/2016 at 22:24

I’ll definitely do the thermostat, thanks for the tip!

I’ve seen the cam tool and I’ll most likely rent one from autozone or whatever store has one for rent.

And I have an obscene amount of torx bits. One of the perks of going to tech school!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 22:24

I did not know you could still get the 2.8 in 2001, I assumed all A6s had 2.7T(T) or 4.2

whoarder is tellurium > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 22:26

Yep. Also add the water pump as well.

Another heads up: I seem to recall the cam covers take a little flexibility trying to get to the bolts near the firewall, unless there is more room on the A6 compared to the B5 A4.

Steve in Manhattan > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 22:27

Budget twice as much time as you think it will take.

Sam > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 22:30

I thought that about my Miata that was totalled. Then they handed me a check for $5,500 for a 2001 with 200,000 miles on the body, on it’s second engine (which had 50,000 miles). We paid a total of $2,500 for the car, including the cost of the engine and mods, so it was a big surprise. Though we did a lot of cheap mods that made it look nicer (leather seat swap, extremely clean interior, etc.).

sdwarf36 > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 22:34

Thanks for reminding me. After I just threw a bunch of $ at my wife 99 A4. And I don’t like the looks of the A arms=or the axle boots...

Its only about 15 more minutes to remove the front end completely. Its so hard to tell if the marks are all right-all gaskets didn’t slide etc. in service position. A small price to pay considering how much it could suck to have to do it a second time—or worse.

Big Bubba Ray > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/29/2016 at 22:41

The 2.8 was the sort of “base model.” My dad has the 2.8 non quattro. The 4.2 and 2.7 were the better versions in my opinion but my dad didn’t want to pay for the gas consumption of a V8 or deal with turbos in the 2.7 and that’s why he chose the 2.8. He drives an obscene amount of miles for his job and actually accumulated all 153,XXX miles in less than 10 years of owning the car. The 2.8 was a great choice for him.

The car has been back on the road for about a month and he’s already packed about 4,000 miles on it. Retail real estate has him driving literally across the state and even to different states nearly every week.

Big Bubba Ray > sdwarf36
04/29/2016 at 22:43

Where did you find a guide on how to remove the front end? I’m very confident that I could do it without a guide, but having some instructions as back up would be a major help.

Big Bubba Ray > Sam
04/29/2016 at 22:44

HOLY SHIT! That’s absolutely insane!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 22:45

Well he certainly made the right choice... He would have been out of a job years ago if he had the 2.7T to depend on *badum tsst*

Big Bubba Ray > whoarder is tellurium
04/29/2016 at 22:47

Yep, water pump will be replaced when I’m in there!

I doubt there is much room because Audi. Luckily I’ve got my mom who has small hands who can help me out haha

Big Bubba Ray > Steve in Manhattan
04/29/2016 at 22:48

Oh, it’s easily going to be a weekend project.

MikeP3 > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 22:53

I used to do the timing belt on my A6 2.7T. An interesting tip I remember is that when you are pulling off the front bumper, you need to pull outward where the bumper meets the wheel well. Pull firmly. It will feel like you are breaking something, but you are not.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 22:55

My once wrecked, high mileage 4Runner is insured for $6500. I might be able to get $3000 for it.

sdwarf36 > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 22:56

I have a Bentley manual. But a bit of forum searching + you tube vids will get you there.

Big Bubba Ray > MikeP3
04/29/2016 at 22:56

Haha that’s what terrifies me. I did a 5 hour paint detail on his car literally one week ago and I’m scared of breaking something or scratching the paint.

Thanks for the tip/heads up!

Big Bubba Ray > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/29/2016 at 22:57

Dear god why is it insured for that much?! My 240Z isn’t insured for that much haha

Big Bubba Ray > sdwarf36
04/29/2016 at 22:57

Awesome, thanks!

Big Bubba Ray > Mr Parker
04/29/2016 at 22:58

Never heard of it but I’ll check it out! Thanks!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 23:04

No clue. But I’m about to pay more for liability only. Thanks Allstate!

Sam > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 23:10

I know, right? We bought 2 cars with it, the E34 wagon and a MKIII Supra. Hell, my dad’s Miata was hit and damaged and they gave him like $4,000 for about $2,000 in damage, so now he’s going to use the extra money to do some mods to it for AutoX. Geico has been very good to us.

TrickJos > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 23:10

Check ECS Tuning for parts. They typically have car specific kits you can buy for timing belt jobs and other routine tasks. I always check ECS first when I need parts for our Beetle.

Big Bubba Ray > Sam
04/29/2016 at 23:33

Damn, Geico came through! I was read ended by a guy with Geico. My car still hasn’t been fixed. They make it near impossible to file a claim.

Big Bubba Ray > TrickJos
04/29/2016 at 23:34

Great, thanks for the help!

Sam > Big Bubba Ray
04/29/2016 at 23:36

When it comes to almost all insurance companies, it seems like it’s less a company-wide thing, but more of an issue with the local agents and offices.

Big Bubba Ray > Sam
04/29/2016 at 23:55

I’d what the problem is. They refused to work with me on filing my claim and getting my car fixed. They told me I could get it checked out monday-thursday all day, but I work 40+ hours a week and have class Monday and Wednesday nights. I literally can’t afford a day off work to go to a place to meet an adjuster and they refused to send someone to my house to get it all sorted out.

I despise Geico because of this. I was read ended in December and my car still isn’t fixed. I guess they keep their policy holder’s rates so low by not paying out on claims against them!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Big Bubba Ray
04/30/2016 at 01:10

I’ve had great experience with fcpeuro.

Make sure to get the special tools, particularly the cam locking bar thing.

If you’re doing cam seals also get two cam adjuster hold down bolt things. IIRC they look like a long bolt with a “T” piece towards the top to keep the adjuster from over expanding. And use a paint pen to mask the relationship between the cam chains and sprockets because counting links is dumb.

It’s been the better part of a decade since I’ve done one of these but it gave me a really hard time so I remember parts of it vividly. Though I could easily be wrong about something.

Big Bubba Ray > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
04/30/2016 at 01:39

Thank you so much for chiming in! I appreciate the input and I’ll look into that stuff!

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Big Bubba Ray
04/30/2016 at 09:08

As Sam said, insurance can be surprising. We had an 2001 Corolla worth about $3000 but insurance gave us $5000. Not that I’m complaining.

bmil128 > Big Bubba Ray
04/30/2016 at 15:45

+1 for ECS. They carry OEM as well as cheaper non OEM options on most parts. I order most of my stuff from them.

torque > Big Bubba Ray
05/02/2016 at 15:24

I bought one (cam locking tool) years ago (still have it and the car) online b/c I couldn’t find anything available locally.

Being German, I would be Very surprised if Autozone/Western Auto/Pep Boys/Napa (insert local auto parts store name here) actually had the VW/Audi specialized cam locking tool available to rent/loan.