Question for all of you who did your own Timing Belt/Water Pump job.

Jason @ Streetwerke · 07-05-2005, 10:18 AM

For all of you who performed their own timing belt and water pump job, are you following the factory procedures to the letter?

I keep seeing people claiming to have problems with OEM replacement parts being used but I'm not so sure the parts are the problem. I just wonder how many of you are using the Bentley and are following the procedure correctly (including the loosening of the cam sprockets). We do a lot of S4 timing belt and water pump jobs at Streetwerke, and don't have the kinds of issues I see here. Some of the parts we use are not Audi, but actually OEM replacement parts from the aftermarket. I remember one roller being noisy, but aside from that...the parts have been fine.

So, is this "pilot error" I'm reading on this board...or are the parts really that bad? I'm not sure, but I've seen a few DIYers bring their cars in to me to have me fix their work. What do you think? Can you name specific brands that have been suspect?

AudiS4guy - NorCal · 07-05-2005, 10:50 AM

I heard bad things about connitech belts but Its been about 5-8k miles since I did mine and no problems thus far. T-stat looked like a POS so I went to audi and got the OE one. I forget the brand however. I got my kit from Avalon which is the same as ECS from what i've been told.

lemieux@curbside · 07-05-2005, 10:53 AM

for the peace of my mind.

AKS4 · 07-05-2005, 11:02 AM

Had no issues with the "non-oem" parts not fitting, never loosened the cam sprockets, and I used the cam lock bar. Went fairly smoothly minus not having a couple tools. (needed a couple allen sockets)

All in all, went smoothly for me.

Captain Matt, I be · 07-05-2005, 12:06 PM

i'll give you a ring when i get home re: tuning./

lemieux@curbside · 07-05-2005, 12:14 PM

Jason @ Streetwerke · 07-05-2005, 12:21 PM

AudiS4guy - NorCal · 07-05-2005, 03:06 PM

davenew · 07-05-2005, 03:12 PM

My engine runs fine so far. No strange noises or anything with the ECS kit. I drive it pretty hard *every day* so if it was going to fly apart.. it would've done so by now

The big test will be the dragstrip this Friday.

I did preload the tensioner 15Nm and used proper torques on most of the bolts. I also used loctite on everything, because I like it.

davenew · 07-05-2005, 03:17 PM

With the bolts loose, the sprockets can rotate freely as needed to allow the belt to tighten up as you preload the tensioner pulley. With them tight you're fighting against the valve springs.

In my opinion, doing so is extra insurance that all belt slack is taken up before you start the engine.

07-05-2005, 10:18 AM	#1
Jason @ Streetwerke Senior Member Account #: 30340 Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 5,193	Question for all of you who did your own Timing Belt/Water Pump job. For all of you who performed their own timing belt and water pump job, are you following the factory procedures to the letter? I keep seeing people claiming to have problems with OEM replacement parts being used but I'm not so sure the parts are the problem. I just wonder how many of you are using the Bentley and are following the procedure correctly (including the loosening of the cam sprockets). We do a lot of S4 timing belt and water pump jobs at Streetwerke, and don't have the kinds of issues I see here. Some of the parts we use are not Audi, but actually OEM replacement parts from the aftermarket. I remember one roller being noisy, but aside from that...the parts have been fine. So, is this "pilot error" I'm reading on this board...or are the parts really that bad? I'm not sure, but I've seen a few DIYers bring their cars in to me to have me fix their work. What do you think? Can you name specific brands that have been suspect? __________________ Jason Leone Founder Streetwerke

07-05-2005, 10:50 AM	#2
AudiS4guy - NorCal Member Account #: 79060 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 3,273	The only thing I use from the Bentley are the tq specs. I just followed the Tech section for the AR I heard bad things about connitech belts but Its been about 5-8k miles since I did mine and no problems thus far. T-stat looked like a POS so I went to audi and got the OE one. I forget the brand however. I got my kit from Avalon which is the same as ECS from what i've been told. __________________ My FATS Tests Stock Software - Before and After Tweaks AMS - Before and After Tweaks AMS part 2 - Before and After Tweaks REVO & TAP- Before and after tweaks APR - Before and after tweaks Ign timing testing AIM: AudiS4guy

07-05-2005, 10:53 AM	#3
lemieux@curbside AudiWorld Super User Account #: 47312 Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 17,783	i'll redo mine with new cam bolts (torqued to specs) and oem belt for the peace of my mind. __________________ ************************************************ ************************************* "it's a B5 S4 ,it may break down, but its far enough ahead, by the time its fixed, you still haven't caught up." -best line i've heard ;) AUDI B5 S4 detail info (pdf file) that everyone should read and have saved on his computer AUDI B5 RS4 study guide detail info (pdf file) FATS database VAG-COM LOCATOR ASP Hands down the "BESTEST" tuner out there.

07-05-2005, 11:02 AM	#4
AKS4 Member Account #: 56758 Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,844	Used AR write up + Bentley for tq specs & slight clarifications/differences from AR writeup Had no issues with the "non-oem" parts not fitting, never loosened the cam sprockets, and I used the cam lock bar. Went fairly smoothly minus not having a couple tools. (needed a couple allen sockets) All in all, went smoothly for me. __________________

07-05-2005, 12:06 PM	#5
Captain Matt, I be Elder Member Account #: 26545 Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 32,092	sounds like good tech session material! :) i'll give you a ring when i get home re: tuning./ __________________ Support Innovation for the B5 Platform - www.autospeedperformance.com www.vastperformance.com B5 S4 Forum Cliff's Notes B5 S4 RNS-E Nav+ Installation

07-05-2005, 12:14 PM	#6
lemieux@curbside AudiWorld Super User Account #: 47312 Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 17,783	ok, sounds good . i'll try and do it this (or before) weekend tho' __________________ ************************************************ ************************************* "it's a B5 S4 ,it may break down, but its far enough ahead, by the time its fixed, you still haven't caught up." -best line i've heard ;) AUDI B5 S4 detail info (pdf file) that everyone should read and have saved on his computer AUDI B5 RS4 study guide detail info (pdf file) FATS database VAG-COM LOCATOR ASP Hands down the "BESTEST" tuner out there.

07-05-2005, 12:21 PM	#7
Jason @ Streetwerke Senior Member Account #: 30340 Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 5,193	So, you guys are not using the crank lock pin or loosening the cam sprockets? Hmmm. __________________ Jason Leone Founder Streetwerke

07-05-2005, 03:06 PM	#8
AudiS4guy - NorCal Member Account #: 79060 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 3,273	do you really have to loosen the cam sprockets though? __________________ My FATS Tests Stock Software - Before and After Tweaks AMS - Before and After Tweaks AMS part 2 - Before and After Tweaks REVO & TAP- Before and after tweaks APR - Before and after tweaks Ign timing testing AIM: AudiS4guy

07-05-2005, 03:12 PM	#9
davenew AudiWorld Super User Account #: 70028 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,828	OK, I admit it.. I didn't use cam bar, crank pin, or loosen sprocket bolts My engine runs fine so far. No strange noises or anything with the ECS kit. I drive it pretty hard every day so if it was going to fly apart.. it would've done so by now The big test will be the dragstrip this Friday. I did preload the tensioner 15Nm and used proper torques on most of the bolts. I also used loctite on everything, because I like it. __________________ '00 S4 EPL Stg 3 (March'04-May'08) '08 BMW 135i Dinan Stg 2 (May'08-Present) '00 S4 Imola widebody AWE Stg 3 (Bought Nov'08. AWE stg 3 kit is sold.. I'm switching over to ASP GT soon)

07-05-2005, 03:17 PM	#10
davenew AudiWorld Super User Account #: 70028 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,828	all it does is ensure the belt teeth are fully seated and that all slack is out of the belt With the bolts loose, the sprockets can rotate freely as needed to allow the belt to tighten up as you preload the tensioner pulley. With them tight you're fighting against the valve springs. In my opinion, doing so is extra insurance that all belt slack is taken up before you start the engine. __________________ '00 S4 EPL Stg 3 (March'04-May'08) '08 BMW 135i Dinan Stg 2 (May'08-Present) '00 S4 Imola widebody AWE Stg 3 (Bought Nov'08. AWE stg 3 kit is sold.. I'm switching over to ASP GT soon)

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