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To answer that specific question, there is a small possibility that the timing belt has jumped a tooth on its sprocket and the engine has stopped in time to avoid damaging any valves, so the garage is hoping that a new belt plus retiming the engine will solve the problem. In reality there is a much bigger chance that either several teeth have been jumped or the belt has broken causing valves to hit the piston crowns. As for the other comments on belt life, I too believe it was a grave mistake for Audi to change its recommendations. VAG is not alone in making this sort of mistake. Look at the problems caused by Ford and others who have changed from dry belts to wet belts in an effort to eliminate an expensive crankshaft seal.

Hello Ingrid, I too am very sorry to hear of your issue, but surprised? No. It’s of no consolation, but you will find numerous threads on here on the subject of VAG’s modified dictate on cambelt change intervals - which is now limitless on a time basis. You will find that all my responses point to - do not follow their advice - in clear terms together with my reasoning. Low annual mileage vehicles ( such as yours) take a hammering in terms of stop/start ( an engineeringly adverse system), short runs and gear changes and obviously the cambelt becomes more highly stressed than a vehicle running at 70mph on the motorway. What to do from here? Some valves will (in caps) be bent, due to valves hitting the pistons, so just fitting a cambelt is pointless. Worse possible case is conrods may also be slightly bent. Stevey Y is your man here, and as pessimistic as it is, getting anything out of VAG will be a more trouble than the worth of it route. Even if they do offer any degree of compensation - and it’s a big if - you will find that the whole job via an Audi dealer will cost you far more when they discount VAG’s compensation, than it would do at an independent. You need to find yourself someone who you can trust, and above all talk to, not receptionists at an Audi dealership. All the forum can offer you Ingrid, is all the support and advice you will need - we are on tap for you. Please keep in touch. Regards, Gareth.

I think that'd be your best bet. Putting a cambelt on it won't help in my opinion and could do further damage. They removed the 5 year rule a few years ago which I think is ridiculous. Also £1k for a cambelt is very expensive too.

Sorry to hear of your situation, it's appalling that Audi remove the time marker off the cambelt changes which used to be 5 years. The way I'd look at this, you pay £1k to Audi for them to fit a cambelt and then tell you it's worse than just a cambelt. Or you spend that money on having the engine stripped to confirm it's the valves. Audis response is disgraceful but not surprising

Ever been to an Apple Store? Costa? Have to disagree with you re. the Name thing. If a retailer wants me to buy something from them then I want to be a person that is well thought of and valued as a customer, not just a number. Picked up the Car this time and there was a bottle of Champagne in the boot. The time before I took my Son with me and they gave him a radio controlled car. Go into a dealership and have a coffee, feel welcome and enjoy the benefits. Yes it is probably a "New Car" thing but I have found all of the Audi franchises I have visited very accommodating.

Thanks Tom, No, as Cliff says, the buck stops with the vendor (the selling Audi dealer), and not Audi U.K. It will be the Audi dealers responsibility to seek redress from Audi U.K. if they want to. Where does ‘Partner’ come from then? How long before this forum will be talking ‘hood’, ‘trunk’, ‘rocker panels’ etc.

I didn’t mention the issue as unless I need to I refuse to pay the labour that Audi charges and generally try and do the work myself. Although I have a Audi specialist near me that I’m planning on booking in to get diagnosed The clunking between 2nd and 1st only happens when the gearbox is completely up to temp and as I only live about 5 miles away, it wasn’t warm enough for it to happen. The stalling out also didn’t happen as that will only happen when the cars been sat overnight.