Topic: RRocket's FGC Thread Extravaganza

[johngenx]

No , right?

I'm curious to see if anyone actually stocks a belt for a VR6. And who knows why it snapped? Might need a new idler or tensioner too.

Um, it's an Audi.  That's why.

[rrocket]

No , right?

I'm curious to see if anyone actually stocks a belt for a VR6. And who knows why it snapped? Might need a new idler or tensioner too.

Um, it's an Audi.  That's why.

Well yea....of course.

I just meant in addition to being an Audi.

Lots and lots of rain. Half wondering if there was some slippage that overheated the belt causing failure.

Or just FGC.

I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

[Dante]

Just curious, do you expect the belts to last a lifetime?

[blur911]

It could have been worse, you might have been out of rum.

[HeliDriver]

Just curious, do you expect the belts to last a lifetime?

Yeah, I’m still on the original belt on my 2010 VW. Have been thinking about changing it, but it still looks decent so I haven’t yet. Looks like I’ve got around another two years. 

[rrocket]

Just curious, do you expect the belts to last a lifetime?

Nah, I don't.

But have never broken a belt ANYTHING.

I'd like to say just a coincidence...but after watching Youtube and seeing failed idlers and tensioners is a "known thing" on these...I dunno.

Had broke belts on other cars...my opinion might be different.

Maybe this car has just made me really cynical.

[johngenx]

Belts wear and when they start to show cracks I change them, but it's been a long time since I've had a belt break, I mean not since I owned a car made in the 1970s.

I have heard of people having belts melt when an AC compressor or alternator seizes, etc.  I've found those things usually start complaining before they seize up.

[blur911]

I've had at least 3 or 4 idler or tensioner pulley bearings seize up on out Outback.   They usually squeak for a bit, one seems to be starting to now, and then eventually seize or fall apart, either way the belt either get thrown, or caught and broken.
I now carry a spare tensioner and pulley in the car just in case.


I also had an AC compressor bearing seize on my pickup, it stalled the engine and I had to cut the belt to get out of the intersection.

[rrocket]

I now carry a spare tensioner and pulley in the car just in case.

That just seems wrong.

Smart, but wrong.

[johngenx]

I've had at least 3 or 4 idler or tensioner pulley bearings seize up on out Outback. 

It's the H-6, right?  The 2.5L do that, but not as bad as the 3.0L engines.  Only had it happen once on the Forester, using a non-OE kit of pulleys seems to have solved it, as recommended by owners.  But, seems to be a consistent issue on the sixes.

[Dante]

Just curious, do you expect the belts to last a lifetime?

Nah, I don't.

But have never broken a belt ANYTHING.

I'd like to say just a coincidence...but after watching Youtube and seeing failed idlers and tensioners is a "known thing" on these...I dunno.

Had broke belts on other cars...my opinion might be different.

Maybe this car has just made me really cynical.

I think it did to a certain extent. Not to say that the car did not have a lot of faults as expected - you've been brave to get it in the first place, but I think you might be at the point where you would end up blaming a flat tire on the FGC.

Crap is expected to happen on a 12 years old Audi from that era but look at the bright side .... Remember why you/IQ got the car in the first place - it offers something that not too many cars offer - 4WD coupe, manual right?

[rrocket]

Just curious, do you expect the belts to last a lifetime?

Nah, I don't.

But have never broken a belt ANYTHING.

I'd like to say just a coincidence...but after watching Youtube and seeing failed idlers and tensioners is a "known thing" on these...I dunno.

Had broke belts on other cars...my opinion might be different.

Maybe this car has just made me really cynical.

I think it did to a certain extent. Not to say that the car did not have a lot of faults as expected - you've been brave to get it in the first place, but I think you might be at the point where you would end up blaming a flat tire on the FGC.

Crap is expected to happen on a 12 years old Audi from that era but look at the bright side .... Remember why you/IQ got the car in the first place - it offers something that not too many cars offer - 4WD coupe, manual right?

I still don't think their reliability is anywhere near where it needs to be. They've been building cars a long time and there's no reason they shouldn't be able to get it right. Wrench on some of these FGC and almost every time time I say "WTF? " for the stupid, complex way they do something. By mid 2005, a powerhouse company like VW should be able to get it right.

And sure it's AWD, manual and coupe. But that shine wears off with suspect quality and reliability. Should I have to give up either of those things for the others?  But for the size, I think she would have just as much fun in an Acura TL for example. It was on her list and she liked it.

[Dante]

It's common knowledge, and I'm sure you were well aware of it,  that until recent years the Germans were less than reliable yet you went for it. Nothing wrong with it IMO, more so that you know a thing or two about cars and work on them yourself.

Should they be reliable? Sure, but we all know this is not the case.

I'm of the principle that one should drive the car he likes and enjoys even though it comes to a price. Plus you keep them short term anyway so even less concern.

Speaking of belts, I replaced it proactively on the Outlander, including the pullies, at around 160K / 8 years when I did the timing belt. I try to avoid waiting until something breaks and end up stranded or worse.

[rrocket]

that until recent years the Germans were less than reliable

I think it's still the case.

[Dante]

that until recent years the Germans were less than reliable

I think it's still the case.

I don't know but my GTI was trouble free for almost 4 years and just over 50K. Knock on the wood as I'm planning to buy it out after the lease is up in few months time. Only time will tell.

[rrocket]

that until recent years the Germans were less than reliable

I think it's still the case.

I don't know but my GTI was trouble free for almost 4 years and just over 50K. Knock on the wood as I'm planning to buy it out after the lease is up in few months time. Only time will tell.

50k isn't mileage.

I'd sure hope a car is relatively reliable driven only 12k a year.

[ktm525]

the bar is set low.

[tpl]

The 12000 km  a year is why my FGCs have been reliable I'm sure.   Although they do get lots of 5-10km trips from cold in the city which is never a good thing.

[Ex-airbalancer]

It could have been worse, you might have been out of rum.

This is the scariest post today !   

[Dante]

The 12000 km  a year is why my FGCs have been reliable I'm sure.   Although they do get lots of 5-10km trips from cold in the city which is never a good thing.

Exactly my case at the moment and it pains me but it is what it is.... Car it's parked outside in cold overnight, driven 5.5 km to and from Go station and eventually short trips for errands in the neighborhood in the evening. This is as severe as it gets on the car....
Besides, electronics and some wear and tear items are more prone to fail on time not distance traveled.

The car would be much happier I'm sure to regularly make 20-40 km trips on rural roads....There were times when I was putting 2000-2500 km per month on it driving at least 90-100 km per day to and from work with half of it on 407 at unobstructed highway speeds. That was much easier on the car than how it's driven now.

Anyway, I have few close friends with relatively recent VW and Audi products and they didn't experience any significant issues either.