What is this belt in the engine for ?

[MarcusA3]

I’ve just noticed this belt in my 2018 audi a3 2.0 tfsi. It seems worn out and that it needs replacing. I called up a VAG group specialist garage asking if it was a cambelt but have been told that this car would use a timing chain or timing belt. Does anyone know what this is?

Regards

Marcus  

Edited May 12, 2023 by MarcusA3

[Magnet]

Hello Marcus,

Looks like the auxiliary belt, and it seems that’s it’s done more than it’s service life! 
Your trusted local garage should be able to renew this, much cheaper than an Audi dealer. Fitting a new belt tensioner at the same time sounds advisable. 
Belts manufactured by Gates is about as good as you can get. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[MarcusA3]

19 minutes ago, Magnet said:

Hello Marcus,

Looks like the auxiliary belt, and it seems that’s it’s done more than it’s service life! 
Your trusted local garage should be able to renew this, much cheaper than an Audi dealer. Fitting a new belt tensioner at the same time sounds advisable. 
Belts manufactured by Gates is about as good as you can get. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

Hello Gareth, 

You are spot on it is for sure the auxiliary belt thank you for clarifying that for me. My car is currently booked in for a water pump and thermostat replacement along with coolant tank replacement. Have a leaking problem, just coolant from what I can see

 

I’ve been going to the main dealer in Coventry and bought this car from them approved, only driven 8,000 miles roughly since buying it 2 years ago (I work from home so don’t drive often) I’m confused as to how they’ve missed this and my contaminated water coolant tank

[Magnet]

Thanks Marcus,

What is the total mileage on the car? 
Are you still seriously considering getting this done at the Audi dealer? 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[MarcusA3]

6 minutes ago, Magnet said:

Thanks Marcus,

What is the total mileage on the car? 
Are you still seriously considering getting this done at the Audi dealer? 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

Mileage as of now is 32,705 and to be honest at this point I’m probably going to seek other options mate. The price of the work may be out of my budget at the main dealers but I’m of course willing to pay a decent amount to get it sorted. I’m scouting around at the moment. What would you suggest jut out of curiosity? 
 

Regards 

Marcus
 

 

[Magnet]

Hello Marcus,

Seems very strange that this belt should be worn on a 5 year old 32k mile car. Have you had this car from new, or if not do you know/ has sight of its service history? 
What would I suggest? Already suggested Marcus. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[MarcusA3]

1 hour ago, Magnet said:

Hello Marcus,

Seems very strange that this belt should be worn on a 5 year old 32k mile car. Have you had this car from new, or if not do you know/ has sight of its service history? 
What would I suggest? Already suggested Marcus. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

This is why I’m confused, honestly doesn’t make sense. No no I bought the car from the main dealer 2 years ago like I said, I’ve just only driven it 8,000 miles. It was part of their second hand approved cars and has full servicing history with multiple audi dealerships. Because of this I paid a premium and opted for the service plan but expected a car in better condition than this. 
 

The job for the car isn’t just the auxiliary belt but the entire cooling system (According to the VAG specialists I went to).  I wouldn’t necessarily trust this job with a local mechanic. What I’m wondering is it worth taking it back to the main dealer? 
 

 

[Magnet]

Thanks Marcus, 

When you say this 5 year old car 32k mile car has been serviced  with multiple Audi dealerships, how many services has it actually had (take it it must have been on an annual mileage schedule)?  Take it you have a printed copy. Have these services been carried out at dealerships spread over various parts? - possibly suggesting a number of owners. 
Does your warranty cover this anticipated work? 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[MarcusA3]

10 minutes ago, Magnet said:

Thanks Marcus, 

When you say this 5 year old car 32k mile car has been serviced  with multiple Audi dealerships, how many services has it actually had (take it it must have been on an annual mileage schedule)?  Take it you have a printed copy. Have these services been carried out at dealerships spread over various parts? - possibly suggesting a number of owners. 
Does your warranty cover this anticipated work? 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

I do yes I’ll have to check. I believe it was on a schedule (again will have to check to confirm) why do you ask just out of curiosity?
 

Initially it was in Audi Northampton when it was registered and sold to its first owner there. 2 previous owners. Warranty was for 12 months so ran out last year unfortunately. I have reached out for a quote for the work (excluding auxiliary) and they emailed today saying it would be £1130

[Magnet]

Hello Marcus,

No, I’m certainly not asking about the car’s service history out of curiosity, but simply to gather as many facts as possible to be best placed to advise you. Unfortunately, we are now into Post no.8 and you are still not able to provide sufficient facts for us to try to come up with a reason, but OK, that’s how it is…..

You suggest Coventry Audi should have picked that up, but you don’t tell us when they last serviced it. You tell us it’s been previously serviced by ‘multiple dealerships’ but don’t tell us at what mileages or when. OK, to some ( and this might include yourself) it’s simply important to be told ‘yes, it’s got full service history’, at the point of purchase, and it’s of little or no importance to be bothered with any of the detail, and sometimes not even be bothered to have any evidence that that statement is indeed fact. 
 

Back to your belt issue:- it sounds to have failed prematurely ( if the recorded mileage is correct). We don’t know if the service history records any prior mention to this issue. The leaking water pump - and probably associated bearing issues- may have led to this premature wear. 
Fact:- it needs sorting. Who does it? Entirely down to you Marcus. You tell us the main dealer charge might be outside your budget, so I suggest a couple of alternatives, and you come back and ask me what I would do! So I repeat. 
To box it up:-

You decide whether you prefer to pay the Audi dealership ( who you think should have picked it up earlier)

You seek an alternative quote from an independent. 
Ditto from a trusted local garage. 
Perhaps you could let us know what you decide Marcus. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 
p.s. It’s a little confusing when you complain that you paid a premium for the car because it had full service history, yet you are not familiar with much/ any of that servicing detail. 
Apologies if all of this seems harsh, but we are trying to offer best advice here, and the actual evidence is painfully slow in coming through. I feel a bit like the vet, when the dog isn’t explaining any of the background it it’s problem! 

[MarcusA3]

15 hours ago, Magnet said:

Hello Marcus,

No, I’m certainly not asking about the car’s service history out of curiosity, but simply to gather as many facts as possible to be best placed to advise you. Unfortunately, we are now into Post no.8 and you are still not able to provide sufficient facts for us to try to come up with a reason, but OK, that’s how it is…..

You suggest Coventry Audi should have picked that up, but you don’t tell us when they last serviced it. You tell us it’s been previously serviced by ‘multiple dealerships’ but don’t tell us at what mileages or when. OK, to some ( and this might include yourself) it’s simply important to be told ‘yes, it’s got full service history’, at the point of purchase, and it’s of little or no importance to be bothered with any of the detail, and sometimes not even be bothered to have any evidence that that statement is indeed fact. 
 

Back to your belt issue:- it sounds to have failed prematurely ( if the recorded mileage is correct). We don’t know if the service history records any prior mention to this issue. The leaking water pump - and probably associated bearing issues- may have led to this premature wear. 
Fact:- it needs sorting. Who does it? Entirely down to you Marcus. You tell us the main dealer charge might be outside your budget, so I suggest a couple of alternatives, and you come back and ask me what I would do! So I repeat. 
To box it up:-

You decide whether you prefer to pay the Audi dealership ( who you think should have picked it up earlier)

You seek an alternative quote from an independent. 
Ditto from a trusted local garage. 
Perhaps you could let us know what you decide Marcus. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 
p.s. It’s a little confusing when you complain that you paid a premium for the car because it had full service history, yet you are not familiar with much/ any of that servicing detail. 
Apologies if all of this seems harsh, but we are trying to offer best advice here, and the actual evidence is painfully slow in coming through. I feel a bit like the vet, when the dog isn’t explaining any of the background it it’s problem! 

You misunderstand me Gareth..I was asking out of curiosity, I wasn’t asking why you were being curious. You asked a lot of questions and I was only trying to get an idea of your train of thought. If you felt attacked that wasn’t my intention, your last post seems as if I triggered you and you decided to make it personal. Appreciate any advice I can get here but regardless of however much information I give the options are still between me either going to the main dealer or not. 
 

In the nicest way, it’s not really worth me digging up documents and taking pictures of my instrument cluster to show mileage when the benefit of the advice doesn’t equate to the effort, I really would have to go out my way to give you the info you need (honestly no insult intended) and if I’m being honest I am reluctant to give that much information to someone online.

I asked for your opinion based on what was said already. If you had said “I don’t have enough information, I would need to know X,Y and Z because it will give me a clearer picture” I would have said fair enough, I’m sorry but I’d rather not go through all that trouble. I only enquired about the belt, everything else was just extra conversation. With that being said, I do understand without such information you cannot give your best opinion. Thank you for giving your time and help on clarifying that it was an auxiliary belt in relation to the pictures above 

 

Regards 

Marcus 

p.s: This will be my last response to this thread, I don’t appreciate being referred to as a dog. No need is there.

Edited May 13, 2023 by MarcusA3
I keep thinking about it😂

[Magnet]

Thanks Marcus,

I need to apologise to you for the giving you the wrong impression of my intents with the information I sought, to be better placed to give you some possible explanation of why this belt appears to have suffered from premature failure. 
I might be alone in the belief that to offer advice we need to be in possession of as much of background information as the poster can supply, - well that is my stance on any situation where a poster requires a reasonable explanation. Curiosity does not come into the equation. 

Obviously, it is now clear that presenting those facts is not something you want to do, and we have to respect your decision on that. Not that it matters, but we - or at least I- have never come across this reluctance before on this forum. 

I must also apologise to you for my reference to dogs and vets. In no way was this reference meant as a reference to you as a dog, but simply that vets have to try to diagnose animals without the full background of the patients ailments or history of symptoms. This is where the analogy simply started and finished - in a light hearted principle I thought. 

I’m sorry you feel this contact with the forum has to cease at this point, and I do genuinely wish you well with whatever course of action you decide to take. 

From my side, politeness has always been a key word that I attempt to follow with my responses on here, and I’m really sorry to hear that you feel I have not lived up to that principle on this occasion. 

Please don’t be a stranger to the forum in the future based on my response. There are quite a few others on here who give their time to be as helpful as they can possibly be to any owners  that might benefit from their advice.

Take care Marcus.
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

p.s. re. the reference to ‘I keep thinking about it’ - hope that is about the issue with the car, and not any discontents with me.