How to Replace the Timing Belt of an Audi Coupe Quattro


1. Remove the front grill, which is held on with two screws at the top. Remove the outside temperature sensor by squeezing the prongs and pulling.
2. Unbolt the front support located behind the grill. There are four 10-mm bolts, three 8-mm bolts and two screws at the bottom. Remove the clips from the hood-release cable and push them to the front of the car.
3. Remove the secondary radiator. It's held on with two 10-mm bolts at the bottom. Remove the two hoses, and let the coolant drain into a pan.
4. Loosen the 13-mm bolt that holds the alternator to the block. Use a 13-mm wrench on the alternator bracket, turning clockwise to loosen the belt.
5. Remove the compressor belt for the A/C with a 14-mm wrench on the bottom and a 15-mm wrench on the top. Remove the power steering pump belt with a 15-mm wrench and a 13-mm wrench behind the pulley.
6. Remove the bracket shaped like an upside down 'L' from the passenger side of the block with a 17-mm wrench.
7. Remove the plastic cover for the belts that is attached to the block and held on with 6-mm Allen bolts.
8. Remove the crank pulley. First remove the four 6-mm Allen bolts from the pulley and then the center bolt with a 27-mm socket. Put the car in fifth gear to keep the motor from turning.
9. Remove the metal cover located in front of the timing belt, held on with two 5-mm Allen bolts.
10. Put the crank bolt back in and with the car in neutral, turn the motor with a socket on the end of the crankshaft bolt until the small dot on the crankshaft pulley lines up with the arrow on the valve cover. Mark the dot and arrow with a marker or paint.
11. To make sure the motor is at top dead center (TDC), remove the first spark plug and use a long screwdriver to make sure the piston is at the top of its travel.
12. Remove the camshaft gear with the timing belt still on and car in fifth gear to keep the motor from turning. Remove the camshaft gear and timing belt. Put car back in neutral after it is loosened.
13. There is an inner metal plate that needs to be removed with a 10-mm and 13-mm socket. There are three bolts on the front, one on the passenger side and on for the water pump.
14. Remove the remaining 6-mm Allen bolt for the water pump and remove the pump.
15. Put a new seal for the water pump and reinstall the water pump (or install a new one); install in the reverse of removal.
16. Reinstall the camshaft gear, aligning it with the timing marks. Make sure the crankshaft is also still aligned with the arrow on the valve cover.
17. Once everything is aligned, install the new timing belt and rotate the water pump to set the timing belt tension. You should be able to just twist the belt to 90-degrees with your fingers.
18. Reinstall everything in the reverse of removal. Bleed and top up coolant system.