I went down to leave for work one morning a little while back, and my 850 turbo wagon wouldn't start. Upon taking it to a mechanic (my mother in-law decided to just have it towed to a AAA-Recommended shop in the phone book today "as a surprise"), we were told the timing belt broke when I started it up.

I know this is a huge deal for any car. The quote we received from the shop it's in now was $2400 to replace valves, etc. (thats as much info as i got from my mother in law)...

Any ideas on how fair this is? I could practically buy another car for this much... it's a lot of money, just want to be sure. Thanks for any guidance possible... tough day. [sm=headbang.gif]

 

That's a good price. It would $3,000 at a Volvo shop, I'm sure. It's not all that tough of a job for a good mechanic though. The main thing though is to make sure the head is taken to a very good machine shop. You want to plane as little as possible off the head. The list for a new/rebuilt head from the dealership is around $1800. If I had it to do over again I would buy the head rather than having it machined. Do not buy just the head though. The cam cover and head are machined together, and the deler includes the cam cover in the price of the head.

 

How many miles are on the car and what year is it. Was the timing belt ever changed before. I think for that car you have to change the timing belt every 70K miles.

 

It's a 94... 130,000 miles. I'm aware it needs to be changed, around 140k. Doesn't really matter much now since it's broken and the damage is done...

I'll ask for a price from a local volvo shop and go from there... Thanks for the input JimKW.

 

It is a pain to do the Job.

Make sure when you have it fixed they know Volvo's.

 

Was the timing belt ever changed at 70K miles. I also heard that they have to be changed every 6 or seven years no matter how many miles the car has.

 

Yes that's true every six years or 70K miles.

 

How much is it to replace the timing belt? My new '97 has 119,000 miles and no service records.

 

I would say if you have someone do it between $300.00 and $400.00.

If you were close I would do it for alot cheaper.

 

thanks Tech, I wish you lived closer

I found these instructions to do it myself. It does sound difficult. Do I have to have the special tools mentioned, and do you have anything to add that might help if I decide to try this myself ?

VOLVO 850/S70/V70, 20-VALVE ENGINE
These engines are identified as "interference" engines, so special precautions should be taken during timing belt replacement. One such precaution is: Do not rotate the crankshaft when the timing belt is removed.

Removal and Replacement Procedures:

1. Raise and support the vehicle.

2. Unclip the coolant reservoir and disconnect the level sensor wire. There is no need to remove the hoses. Rest the unit on the valve cover.

3. Remove the right front tire.

4. Remove the nut in the upper left corner of the fenderwell trim. Bend the trim up to access the crankshaft damper, then hold it out of your way with a small sheet metal screw.

5. Remove the upper timing belt cover and notice the small plastic tabs to relocate it on the engine when reinstalling. See Fig. 1.

6. Remove the serpentine belt by making a special tool that will ease removal (See Fig. 2). I developed it on a Milling machine � it is 1-1/4 long, 3/4 x 3/4. Insert the tool in the belt tensioner using a 3/4-inch wrench and insert the pin

7. 3 mm in the stay bracket to hold spring tension on the pulley assembly.

8. Remove the lower crankshaft pulley damper retaining bolts, and then the center nut. Remove the damper from the crankshaft.

9. Remove the spark plugs to make turning over the engine easier.

10. Turn the crankshaft clockwise to the number 1 cylinder TDC. The lower crankshaft will line up with the mark on the engine block. Make sure that the timing marks line up with the camshaft markings. See Fig. 3.

11. Remove the belt tensioner and check for any signs of leakage at the plunger and for little or no resistance when it�s compressed.

12. Use the Volvo press tool #5456, or a suitable hydraulic press, to compress the belt tensioner. Apply pressure slowly for the plunger to reset itself and install a 2 mm pin to hold the plunger in place. See Fig. 4.

13. Check all sprockets for foreign materials that can get in between the teeth and cause serious damage.

14. Fit the new replacement belt on the lower crankshaft sprocket, and guide it around the right idler pulley and then over the camshafts, while looking at the timing marks for movement. Position it around the water pump.

15. Install the belt tensioner and torque it to 18 ft.-lbs., making sure that the belt is riding correctly on the idler pulley.

16. Remove the 2 mm tensioner pin. Make sure that the restricting washer (p/n 1271851-6) is in place on the tensioner.

17. Rotate the crankshaft about two revolutions to seat and auto-tension the belt.

18. Position the upper timing cover so that the marks are visible.

19. Rotate the crankshaft two more times and check the markings on the camshaft sprockets to match the crankshaft. Use correction fluid or another type of paint to highlight the small markings, as they tend to fade over the years.

20. Reinstall all of the following components with step-by-step procedures.

o Fuel pipes on top of the valve cover;

o Top timing cover;

o Vibration damper and center nut;

o Serpentine belt (remove holding pin);

o Spark plugs and cover; and

o Coolant expansion tank (Don�t forget to plug in the level sensor).

o Reposition the wheel well liner and install the right wheel.

 

Thats not to bad but some steps can be skipped.
If I get time I will post it for you.
Do you have a 36mm socket?

 

Yes, I had to buy a 36mm to get the front axle nut off for that CV job.

 

Sorry was thinking about the wrong size. The crank nut is 1 1/4 or I think 32MM.

 

I probably have a 1 1/4, if not I can pick that up or the 32mm. How much will parts run me (ballpark) ?

 

http://www2.swedishpartswholesale.co...g+Belt&dp=true
Timing belt
http://www2.swedishpartswholesale.co...ppEngines=_any
Idler
http://www2.swedishpartswholesale.co...ppEngines=_any
Tensioner pulley
http://www2.swedishpartswholesale.co...b+Belt&dp=true
Serp. belt
You might have to change some info I pulled parts for a Non-turbo.
I forget which yours is.

Hopefully this will help.
I put the pulleys in you will want to change them with the milage that is on the car.
Better safe than have to spend about $3000,00 to do the Head.

 

Thanks Tech...... For future reference, this is my '97 850 GLT turbo wagon

 

Sorry I keep forgetting. So much to keeps track of. SORRY

 

Well I used the links and info you gave me and did a little research. Do I need the Timing Belt Tensioner Damper too ?

This is my first post with the new sig....let's see if it works!

 

LOL yes it works.


Are you talking about the hydrolic tensioner?

If so it is up to you. You won't know for sure unless you inspect it before and see if it is leaking.

 

I'm looking at these parts here....


http://www.fcpgroton.com/volvo850timing.htm