04 A4 3.0L Timing Belt Replacement

[JustinKing]

Next weekend I will be doing a timing belt job for my A4 3.0L V6.
I bought the cam locking kit and everything else

I will be using this DIY from here:
https://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng110.shtml

Is there any other helpful tips you all can recommend?

[Gosser]

Nothing wrong with that DIY link, I used it as well, then decided to make a video while I was doing it:


Took me two weekends to knock it off. Doing the video added a lot of the time to it, otherwise pretty straight forward to me.

[Turbo510]

Change out your plugs and valve cover gaskets if they're due, since most of the work is already done. Follow torque specs, take your time. I've done my '05 3.0 twice; first time skipped loosening-pre-setting-tightening the sprocket adjusters. I should have, as eventually a "camshaft friction too high" code started coming up. Actually one of the cam bolts was loose, which I found the second time around. Clean electrical connections while you are there, I use a commercial contact cleaner spray. A good-running 3.0 is worth it, mine's at almost 235K miles and averages 28 MPG on my freeway drive, little oil consumption, starts in a fraction of a second hot or cold.

[deyrag]

Don't bother with service position, take another 15-20 minutes and take the whole radiator support off.

[Gosser]

Don't bother with service position, take another 15-20 minutes and take the whole radiator support off.

I should have just removed the whole carrier, but I didnt want to disconnect the transmission lines or the AC. I know the AC condenser can swing down/not be disconnected, but then I'd be tripping/stepping all over it. And I'm no stranger to tight spots so it didnt bother me that much.

[neversc0t]

Good Luck!

[DarkoNova]

Yeah swinging the condenser out of the way was a pain in the ass, and somehow I twisted it and it was a pain in the ass to get all the bolts lined up for the compressor/lines.

One of the lines is zip tied to the oil pan because it won't stay in the little clip on the pan.

Honestly it's not really a hard job, and if you can't find the hole for the crank pin or can't get the bolt out, don't worry about it

I didn't even use the locking pin when I did mine and I haven't had any issues in ~30k miles.

[JustinKing]

Thanks for all the positive reinforcement!
I bought all the tools, a nice torque wrench, new sockets (torx, hex), extensions, everything I need.

[86turbodsl]

Don't bother with service position, take another 15-20 minutes and take the whole radiator support off.

This, i've pulled the front end clean off every time i've done mine. It's the only way to work on this engine. I do the timing belt sitting in a chair. Super easy.

[pablolizarraga]

Had to pull off front end and swung a/c condenser off to side only because I was pulling engine/trans. But doing the TB was so much easier because you can literally do it sitting down.
However, in order to pull off front end you have to disconnect coolant hoses and I always wrestle w/ the passenger lower radiator hose for at least 15min before it finally comes out.
If you stick w/ service position, get a telescopic mirror and mind this bolt. Almost stripped it thinking it was hex.
IMG_3599.JPG

Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[Protection]

This, i've pulled the front end clean off every time i've done mine. It's the only way to work on this engine. I do the timing belt sitting in a chair. Super easy.

I agree, pulling the entire front off is definitely worth it. Take your time, and clean everything as well.

Before


After


During..



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Gosser]

Had to pull off front end and swung a/c condenser off to side only because I was pulling engine/trans. But doing the TB was so much easier because you can literally do it sitting down.
However, in order to pull off front end you have to disconnect coolant hoses and I always wrestle w/ the passenger lower radiator hose for at least 15min before it finally comes out.
If you stick w/ service position, get a telescopic mirror and mind this bolt. Almost stripped it thinking it was hex.
IMG_3599.JPG

Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

T55 iirc for that bolt.