I just did the full timing belt service on my Volvo 850 turbo. This job took me two weeks since I have been very busy.

I installed new:

timing belt
serpentine belt
water pump
idler
roller
tensioner

Now when I start the car I have a ticking sound that speeds up with engine speed. I double checked markings before firing it up, and made sure the engine was TDC when doing the timing belt. I suppose there is a chance it could be 1 tooth off because it didn't line up perfectly before I took it apart, but I doubt it.

The car idles fine and runs fine. I only babied it around the block and idled until the thermostat opened to burp the coolant system. This was about 5 minutes. I read online a ticking sound after t belt could be the result of oil draining lower in a TDC engine and needing time to be pumped up the engine. It still made noise after five minutes so I shut it down and now I am stumped.

A quick search online shows the serpentine belt tensioner could be failing? I did not replace this (160,000 miles). I did remove the serp belt tensioner for more space. Is there a test I can do to see if this noise is the serp tensioner, something timing belt related or my valves are contacting the piston? I thought if valve/piston contact happens it will run like crap, or not run at all. It seems to run/idle fine aside for the loud ticking sound (loud relative to how silent this engine was before). Not a good day

 

If these cars sit for several days the lifters tick. It will likely quite down after you take it on the highway. It's normal and common.

Read the bottom of this page:
1995 Volvo 850

 

take the highway and it should get quiet.if it doesnt then you can look at something else

 

it seemed to get a little louder after my 5 minute drive. Is there anything that could get damaged if I drive it under 3k rpm for 15 minutes?

 

Did you rotate the crank two revolutions by hand with a ratchet on the crank pulley nut before you started it? This is an essential step to check for mechanical interference. If you didn't do it, do it now. If you have any piston/valve contact you will (probably) feel it.

 

I did rotate the crank two revolutions before starting. I suppose it is possible the belt slipped when I started it, but unlikely - the tensioner is automatic. I will try again tomorrow when there is more light. Then I will take it on the highway and keep it under 3k rpm. I don't feel or hear any mechanical resistance when rotating the crank, just engine compression causing resistant. I'll try removing all spark plugs and listen for any contact. I did the timing belt on a Porsche before, but that was single cam. Just out of curiosity, how much can the crank rotate without the cam on this car before something hits?

 

Man, I don't understand why you are going down these trails other possibilities. The link I provided to the owners manual is 90% likely the noise source. You can post a video and like us to it so we can hear the noise. I do NOT believe you did anything wrong, it's just the nature of the OLD beast. If I let my car sit for 2 days I get lifter noise when it starts. When I let one of my 850's sit for 3 weeks, the lifters ticked for a few minutes. Will you feel better if I take 20 minutes of my time typing? Or will a simple quick response do? I don't mind typing more and more, just let me know. Other than that, take the car on the highway and drive it for a few miles and see if the noise clears up.

Here is a video of slims lifter noise, does it sound like that?

You did say that the car sat for several days while you did the timing belt job. If you pulled the pin from the tensioner BEFORE you turned the motor, you did the RIGHT thing. You are not suppose to turn the motor with the pin in the tensioner.

As for how far you can turn the crank before it hits a valve, yea, I'll run right out there, pull my timing belt, give it a crank, and let you know. Not gonna happen.

Also, I have read countless threads on broken valves that contacted pistons, even spoke to people first hand, NONE have every heard a thing. It's a silent killer. Not a sound, once you hit that key it will run or destroy the motor.

AGAIN, I really believe you did a good job with the timing belt stuff, just let it sit a little to long while you messed around with it. Hopefully the lifter noise will clear up without surgery.

 

Another example of the silent killer:
https://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-...r-broke-65141/

 

It's different in every case because with the crank and cam locked properly together they have clearance. When you seperate that bond then either an intake or exhaust is left hanging down and one of the five pistons is on it's way to it. If you're turning it by hand slowly and gently you will feel the interference and can STOP !! If you hit the starter, it's over before you know it's happened. I've seen plenty of Porsche 924s/944s that needed extensive head work or a new head because the belt didn't get changed when it should.

Also, if you're using a Fram filter I'd toss it out yesterday. They have been know to contribute to that ticking problem.

 

If it is lifter tick, try Auto-Rx. I've used Auto-Rx in a couple of engines and I'm a believer. In your 850, Auto-Rx will dissolve the varnish inside your lifters and quieten them down. It will also decarbon the piston ring packs and give you a noticeable bump in fuel economy.

 

A compression test will tell you if you made valve/piston contact.

 

I did the 15 minute test drive and its back to normal. Thanks rspi and everyone else for all your help. The noise was so bad I felt that running it for 15 minutes would have caused damage, but its silent again.

 

Auto-Rx, baby!

I've had the same experience with power steering pumps. If you drain a vane-type PS pump then refill the PS circuit the pump makes a terrible whining noise. Sounds like it's wrecked but the noise goes away over a couple of days as all the small air bubbles leave the PS fluid.