Audi A2 1.4 SE (51 Plate) Cam Belt Snapped - who's liable for cost?

daveyjp

"Oh & very few car manufacturers nowadays advise 60k for a cambelt change ...........for most mass-produced cars, it's 40k."

That is factually incorrect - Ford Zetec engine is 100,000 miles (how mass produced is that engine?), my Audi is 80,000 miles, but both have time limits in years too.

Back to the OP. VAG cambelt change intervals are confused to say the least. Up until earlier this year they had no time limit, purely mileage based. It is now a max mileage or four years, whichever comes first.

The low mileage of the A2 could be a problem in itself. The car has been sat around for too long and the belt will have deteriorated over time - just like a rubber band does.

If no time limit is recommended for the change you may stand a chance with Audi - you can only ask. There is an A2 owners club who may assist:

http://www.a2oc.net/

**Patty**

daveyjp wrote: »

"Oh & very few car manufacturers nowadays advise 60k for a cambelt change ...........for most mass-produced cars, it's 40k."

That is factually incorrect - Ford Zetec engine is 100,000 miles (how mass produced is that engine?), my Audi is 80,000 miles, but both have time limits in years too.

Back to the OP. VAG cambelt change intervals are confused to say the least. Up until earlier this year they had no time limit, purely mileage based. It is now a max mileage or four years, whichever comes first.

The low mileage of the A2 could be a problem in itself. The car has been sat around for too long and the belt will have deteriorated over time - just like a rubber band does.

If no time limit is recommended for the change you may stand a chance with Audi - you can only ask. There is an A2 owners club who may assist:

http://www.a2oc.net/

Factually incorrect? I suggest you speak to Ford.But hey...I'm only a woman, what could i possibly know eh?

daveyjp

**Patty** wrote: »

Factually incorrect? I suggest you speak to Ford.But hey...I'm only a woman, what could i possibly know eh?

No need.

Ford Focus Ford Focus Duratorq TDCI

04/2001 on
100,000/10

Ford Focus Endura DI TD

01/1999 on
100,000/10

Ford Focus RS Duratec

09/2002 on
100,000/10

Ford Focus Zetec / Zetec-E

08/1998 on
100,000/10

Ford Focus Zetec-E / LPG

08/1998 on
100,000/10

Ford Focus Zetec SE

08/1998 on
100,000/10

Last column is mileage/year limit.

Some Ford engines are now up to 150,000 miles.

Graham_Devon

Definately over it's life by 2 years, hence why it snapped.

Mileage has nothing to do with it. Could have done 100 miles and it would still be perished.

Pennywise

Why do people still think that old cars with low mileage are a good bet?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with mileage. A car with high mileage, properly serviced should easily manage 100k to 200k miles. I once bought a brand new car, and it just hit 200k when the engine blew - and that only happened because it over-heated and I stupidly carried on driving rather than stopping! The "non-mileage-related" parts all perished long before that, i.e. the rubbers, seals, bodywork, etc.

Before buying that new one, I always went for low mileage, ageing cars, and was plagued with repair bills, etc. My mother does very little mileage and is always paying out for repairs.

For all my latest cars, I have bought nearly new, but very high mileage cars, and all have been far more reliable.

Both age and mileage are equally important in my humble opinion. A low mileage car may indicate long periods out of use or excessive local short drives, both of which wear heavily on the car. On the contrary a high mileage car may be primarily motorway drive, with virtually no wear.

Clive_Woody

Pennywise wrote: »

Why do people still think that old cars with low mileage are a good bet?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with mileage. A car with high mileage, properly serviced should easily manage 100k to 200k miles. I once bought a brand new car, and it just hit 200k when the engine blew - and that only happened because it over-heated and I stupidly carried on driving rather than stopping! The "non-mileage-related" parts all perished long before that, i.e. the rubbers, seals, bodywork, etc.

Before buying that new one, I always went for low mileage, ageing cars, and was plagued with repair bills, etc. My mother does very little mileage and is always paying out for repairs.

For all my latest cars, I have bought nearly new, but very high mileage cars, and all have been far more reliable.

Both age and mileage are equally important in my humble opinion. A low mileage car may indicate long periods out of use or excessive local short drives, both of which wear heavily on the car. On the contrary a high mileage car may be primarily motorway drive, with virtually no wear.

Quite right, people who do high mileage are more likely to maintain their cars in good working order, respecting service intervals and carrying out replacements in accordance with the manufaturers schedule. Little Old Doris who nips to the shops once a week and does little over 1000 miles a decade will be of the opinion that her car isn't used enough to require servicing too often and if there is a problem she can try playing the low mileage card and hope soembody will sort out her over-sights.


No offence to the OP (or anybody called Doris) but you need to read the service manual that comes with your car and if you bought it second hand then unless you have the reciepts never assume something was done/replaced as you ahve no fall back if there is a problem.

Zazen999

Hi
I would just be glad that it wasn't driving at speed; which could have knocked the whole cam shaft to bits - don't the pistons go bonkers if the cam belt goes when travelling at speed??? They used to on older cars [showing my age perhaps].
Anyway - I agree that anytime you buy an older car, past warranty, you take the risk. That's why warranties run out surely?

darich

Anytime i have ever bought a car from Joe Bloggs down the street there are several things that are compulsory as far as I'm concerned, whether the car has full history or not.
change the oil and filter.
change the plugs
change the timing belt.

any other breakages shouldn't be too severe.

With a car that's 6 years old, regardless of mileage, to ask the manufacturer to repalce a wear and tear item, is laughable.

take the hit and move on.

roddydogs

You are very lucky the it didnt happen at 80 mph on the motorway. seizing the engine and causing a nasty accident, or needing a new engine!

Mr_Friendly

Iamthesmartestmanalive wrote: »

As I said earlier which you chose to ignore

Cam belts do not deterioate with use alone, they are made from degradable materials such as plastic therefore they are time dependent too

So the mileage alone is irrelevent

The interval from online sites seems to be 60k or 4 years - not whatever is longer so its likely to be very overdue as it is

Unless you have paperwork which shows it was done in 2005 and snapped 2 years later and with very low mileage you dont have a hope

The fact it was private makes that a mute point anyway

Having spoken to citizens advice they advise that I do in fact have a valid claim. Now to take it up with a solicitor to see if they agree. Having said that the vehicle which is 5 years and 11 months old. Audi have a policy that they will not provide goodwill gestures outside 5 years. Therefore I'm taking it up with Audi HO directly.

According to information received, I would stand a good chance of being able to get the work done and claim the money back through small claims court. Therefore letting a judge decide and given the costs of small claims it would be something I would be willing to do.

Iamthesmartestmanalive wrote: »

The good news is audi a2s are unlikely to suffer any other damage for a snapped cambelt and it will prob just be a cambelt change of about £150-200

Where did you read that? Do you have any info for this that I can look up because everything I have found thus far has said otherwise.

Thanks