What did you do to your A3?

[Fellow Gaucho]

+10hp vinyl:



...and I got my gummi fußmatten

Okay but, that looks awesome. Where did you get that?

[kharma]

Okay but, that looks awesome. Where did you get that?

eBay special from Hong Kong

[BritBulldog]

Finally got around to doing my timing belt yesterday. Things actually went pretty smoothly. It took me all day but that was me not rushing and wanting it all done right.

I did spill a lot of coolant when i took out the water pump. I didn't think there would be as much as there was since i have drained from both the oil cooler and the lower radiator hose, but oh well, it was in my garage and i cleaned it up pretty fast with my "shop" beach towels

I also found out that the culprit of the squeaky pulley was my alternator, so i used some electrical cleaner on it and now she's all quiet! Hopefully that's not a sign of it going bad though...

Shout out to DBC Performance for getting my kit out to me promptly after the first one apparently got lost by FedEx.

Next up: Valve cleaning!

[BritBulldog]

So things may not be all that good...although she is idling fine and seems to run alright something feels off, like it's running a little slow (i.e. she doesnt seem to accelerate as fast). How would I be able to tell if my timing is off? like by a tooth or two? Because i may not have gotten it in exactly the right one...

and if that is the case, what is the best way to fix it? Other than trial and error...

[Evo V]

Tinted windows last Friday, DSG shifter and dogbone mount over the weekend.

[Rob Cote]

Finally got around to doing my timing belt yesterday. Things actually went pretty smoothly. It took me all day but that was me not rushing and wanting it all done right.

I did spill a lot of coolant when i took out the water pump. I didn't think there would be as much as there was since i have drained from both the oil cooler and the lower radiator hose, but oh well, it was in my garage and i cleaned it up pretty fast with my "shop" beach towels

I also found out that the culprit of the squeaky pulley was my alternator, so i used some electrical cleaner on it and now she's all quiet! Hopefully that's not a sign of it going bad though...

Shout out to DBC Performance for getting my kit out to me promptly after the first one apparently got lost by FedEx.

Next up: Valve cleaning!

Not all that bad, eh? I did mine, and was about 6 hours iirc. Also not rushing around and being thorough. I noticed no performance difference before and after. Not sure if these are an interference motor, but if you're off a tooth and no valves are slamming pistons then it might not be. The only solution is to take it apart and redo it all, making sure to get all the marks lined up proper.

[kharma]

Tinted windows last Friday, DSG shifter and dogbone mount over the weekend.

Looks great... I need to do all of the above, including those wheels.

[TBomb]

Not all that bad, eh? I did mine, and was about 6 hours iirc. Also not rushing around and being thorough. I noticed no performance difference before and after. Not sure if these are an interference motor, but if you're off a tooth and no valves are slamming pistons then it might not be. The only solution is to take it apart and redo it all, making sure to get all the marks lined up proper.

It most definitely is an interference engine. I am not sure how far off timing you have to be to start causing catastrophic damage, but that is the main reason why timing belt changes are such a big deal on the FSI. If that belt snaps or the tensioner fails, valves are guaranteed to meet pistons and bad things happen.

[tp.wannabe.s3]

evov damn i like ur wheels better than my. I like the clearcoat on them.
my is flat

[Evo V]

Looks great... I need to do all of the above, including those wheels.

and I need to do your APR tune.

[kharma]

and I need to do your APR tune.

I'm quite pleased... the Volvo still takes the cake on the top end, but around town the A3 is way quicker (not to mention actually maneuverable!). Now I need to resist a DSG flash

[Fellow Gaucho]

Tinted windows last Friday, DSG shifter and dogbone mount over the weekend.

Tint is a must


When you say DSG shifter you mean the one that says "s-tronic" ?

[BritBulldog]

It most definitely is an interference engine. I am not sure how far off timing you have to be to start causing catastrophic damage, but that is the main reason why timing belt changes are such a big deal on the FSI. If that belt snaps or the tensioner fails, valves are guaranteed to meet pistons and bad things happen.

...So since it sounds fine and runs realtively smooth do you think i am alright? It might just be all in my mind since something usually goes wrong when working on this car...

Not all that bad, eh? I did mine, and was about 6 hours iirc. Also not rushing around and being thorough. I noticed no performance difference before and after. Not sure if these are an interference motor, but if you're off a tooth and no valves are slamming pistons then it might not be. The only solution is to take it apart and redo it all, making sure to get all the marks lined up proper.

The problem is when i marked both the camshaft and crankshaft pulleys i hadnt moved it to cylinder position 1....so when i took off the belt i think the top pully (camshaft) had a bit of tension so i think it moved a little bit, because my whiteout marks were a tiny bit off, so i had a frien move it back as close as possilbe with a wrench to where it looked right, then i put on the belt....i know i know, i messed up, but if i did it can only be off by a tooth or two right? since it is running pretty quiet and smooth. Also, is the cylinder position 1 mark on the camshaft pully an indent on the pulley? like a line? and is that what is supposed to line up with the arrow? And if i am already off how am i supposed to line it up right now that i am already off? cause if i get that to line up then my bottom (crankshaft pulley) will be off...i hope all of that made sense

argghh, i always seem to eff something up, even when i think its going well!!

[Subaruski1]

evov damn i like ur wheels better than my. I like the clearcoat on them.
my is flat

You like when they look more like reps?

[Evo V]

You like when they look more like reps?

Mine are reps but for the price I am perfectly happy with them.

[BritBulldog]

I am off by a tooth or two...i pulled a code that said crank/camshaft position blah blah and i freakin drove with it like that for about 70 miles (to and from work)...i think i know which way to go, but in my 3 hours of attempting to get it fixed i broked the allen key part of not just my new timing belt tensioner, but the old one too!!!
So now i have no car, work tomorrow at 6am, and a lab exam at 7pm... eff my life.

[Bwinn]

Changed out my cabin air filter. Took all of about 10 minutes and smells all freshy in the car now! I think it was original with 98k on it.

[TBomb]

Changed out my cabin air filter. Took all of about 10 minutes and smells all freshy in the car now! I think it was original with 98k on it.

Holy crap What was living in there?

[greyjetta]

Mine looked just like that

[tp.wannabe.s3]

You like when they look more like reps?

Yeap the gloss make it looks better on the black car. Matt makes it look too dark. I should have gotton the all silver TTRS style ones

[tp.wannabe.s3]

I am off by a tooth or two...i pulled a code that said crank/camshaft position blah blah and i freakin drove with it like that for about 70 miles (to and from work)...i think i know which way to go, but in my 3 hours of attempting to get it fixed i broked the allen key part of not just my new timing belt tensioner, but the old one too!!!
So now i have no car, work tomorrow at 6am, and a lab exam at 7pm... eff my life.

do u have link to diy timing belt change?

[4mymalamute]

I changed the oil and filter on my rig today....then, I hooked up the city driving lights. Super easy and looks kinda neat.
Next will be the Haldex oil filter change...next month when I get paid!

[jds215]

I changed the oil and filter on my rig today....then, I hooked up the city driving lights. Super easy and looks kinda neat.
Next will be the Haldex oil filter change...next month when I get paid!

diy for city lights? did you use led bulbs?

[BritBulldog]

So i was able to pick up a new timing belt tensioner pulley, and got the timing correct! She is now running like a champ.

[krazyboi]

diy for city lights? did you use led bulbs?

http://oooo-a3.blogspot.com/2006/04/...-bi-xenon.html

[cldub]

So i was able to pick up a new timing belt tensioner pulley, and got the timing correct! She is now running like a champ.

I was terrified when I first started up my car after the timing job

[beckermanex]

Changed out my cabin air filter. Took all of about 10 minutes and smells all freshy in the car now! I think it was original with 98k on it.

Where'd you get a new filter from? I only ask because I've see a couple different options and wanted to know if you went OEM or if there is a aftermarket replacement

[NBPT_A3]

Bought this:




With monopoly money....Europrice is a bunch of pushovers

[tp.wannabe.s3]

damn that kit looks good. i NEEED

[TBomb]

Where'd you get a new filter from? I only ask because I've see a couple different options and wanted to know if you went OEM or if there is a aftermarket replacement

I got this one when I did mine: http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-A3-FWD...ters/ES258932/

[NBPT_A3]

damn that kit looks good. i NEEED

No seats come with.

[tp.wannabe.s3]

No seats come with.

never mind then

[4mymalamute]

diy for city lights? did you use led bulbs?

I used the DIY in the sticky thread. Super easy to do. I only used the stock bulbs that were in there (which is strange that they instal them but never hook them up). I would like to switch out for some led ones when I can find some for cheap.

[Bull_D]

Tinted windows last Friday, DSG shifter and dogbone mount over the weekend.

for the DSG shift, did you use the "heat and twist" or "cut and grub" method? how long did it take? FINALLY got my shifter knob sorted out and ready to install...

[krazyboi]

Bought this:

With monopoly money....Europrice is a bunch of pushovers

You on FB? We could invite you to the party there...unless you're added already.

I would like to switch out for some led ones when I can find some for cheap.

Cheap, you can get regular bulbs, add resistors in-line. Proper, but costly: http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Ziza...ight/ES252272/

for the DSG shift, did you use the "heat and twist" or "cut and grub" method? how long did it take? FINALLY got my shifter knob sorted out and ready to install...

Cut and grub, cut and grub. If you got a steady hand and can cut straight, it should take you no more then 20-30 minutes to do the whole thing. Heat and Twist...you may not be lucky to cut and grub. (Although I heard heat and twist still works...but cut and grub allows for reinstalling OEM shifter in future).