hey guys l left my car in the cold without using it for just a day.it was like 15F outside. l went out to start it today and heard strange noise coming from the timing belt cover.l want to know what tool size do l use to remove the cover to check the belt and how to do it.thanks

 

12 mm bolt towards the middle below the level of the coolant reservoir

 

As I recall I use a 12mm deep socket to remove the single bolt in the upper middle of the cover. At that point it just slides up and out.

...Lee

 

When was the last time the belt, ilder roller, and tensioner rollers were replaced? If this is really the first hint of noise, you likely have a little time before damage occurs. My 960 was making noise for about 3 months before I got to it. I probably didn't have another week on it before it would have failed. I fixed it about 3 days after I learned what the noise was. Not sure if I drove it during that time.

 

the dealer said he changed the timing belt but did not mention anything about the tensioner, idle roller. l knew nothing about cars when l was getting it. so what do you think l should do?how are the signs that shows that the belt is bad and needs replacing? when the engine got hot the noise vanished.and what should l look out for when l open the belt cover?

 

Your probably not going to see anything. You'll need to reproduce the noise. Probably best to leave the cover off until you find it. Get yourself a 2-3' section of 1/2" hose and use it as a listening device. One side on your ear and the other is maneuvered around in the noise area to find the culprit. Be very careful not to get in the way of the timing belt or serpentine belt.

 

Read this write up and go from there.
Timing belt replacement instructions on a 1997 Volvo 960

You probably wont see anything there unless the items have already failed which would mean the car is not running. You can call and ask if he replaced the rollers when the belt was done, however, if anything breaks it's all on you so it's best to replace the stuff to be safe. Then you will know you have 70,000 on the new belt and parts. I have never heard anyone write "my belt looks worn". It's usually, "my belt came off or broke and now I'm screwed". There should also be a sticker under the hood or on the belt cover to indicate when the belt was replaced. The problem with that is that no one writes on that sicker, if they replaced rollers and tensioner or water pump. That would be a good thing for people to start doing.

 

On my '94 things started to sound a bit weird and I popped the cover off to find the timing belt very slack - the tensioner had failed but that stupid plastic spacer on the tensioner actually averted a catastrophe.

Needless to say I put the car in time out until the parts came in. At that point I changed everything - belt, tensioner, tensioner roller, idler roller, and the water pump.

...Lee

 

"Needless to say I put the car in time out until the parts came in. At that point I changed everything - belt, tensioner, tensioner roller, idler roller, and the water pump."

And life will be good once again !!