I just purchased a 1998 S90 to replace my wife's Suburban. I have worked on Saabs for a number of years, so I think my mechanical aptitude is pretty good.

One questions. the S90 has 86K on the odo. How and when should I be looking at replacing the timing belt? What are some symptoms that the belt is wearing?

Surprisingly, I have never had to change one on any vehicle even with 160K.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. I am sure I will be asking alot of preventive maintenance questions since this is my first Volvo.

S90

For the most part, the timing belts on Volvos are changed somewhere around 100k. Also factor in the car's previous maintenences, care, and factors which may have influenced wear.

98 and down 70k and 99 and up 105K is the normal timing belt change intervals

Correct by Volvo standards. 98 and down is 70k unless it is a 1992/1993 960 they are 30k belts.I think also the 1993 850 is a 30k or 60k belt.

Now to finish The newer cars aren't supposed to get it till 105,000. But I have seen tons of the newer cars with only 50k and the bekt is cracked bad. I had a 2001 S80 the other day that the tensioner went bad on and almost threw the belt off.
So when you do it inspect the idler pulley and tensioner pulley.If you see any grease at all coming out of the pulley on the inside by the bearing CHANGE IT. That will save you about $1500.00 to $2000.00.