Hey guys,
Quick question about a timing belt I just got sent in the mail.
The water pump was done last 70k miles and it’s still clean and firm, so I just ordered the belt kit, the kit came and there is no hydraulic tensioner, I noticed most of the kits (even the Bosch one) don’t have the hydraulic tensioner if they don’t have the water pump in the kit.
can I just reuse the hydraulic tensioner and change it out in 70k miles when I do the water pump?

 

service is to replace the belt and tensioner. Reason for NOT reusing the tensioner is that a failed tensioner is the reason why many belts break. $100 for a OEM tensioner is a lot cheaper than a timing belt failure. If your water pump was a OEM or genuine brand, it will last more than 70K. The pump on my 850 lasted over 200K.

 

Thanks for that I will buy one and replace It,my question though is if it’s so crucial how come it doesn’t come in any of the kits unless the water pump is included? The kit I bought and all the similar kits were $160 bucks and none of them have that. Another hundred bucks for the hydraulic thing, I should’ve just got the water pump kit, but my water pump is in great condition.

 

If you shop Volvo friendly stores like IPD or FCP Euro, you will find they have kits with and without water pumps. Its ok to be proactive on the water pump when you do the timing belt - my point was about not going cheap on the water pump part. Genuine Volvo parts will last multiple belt changes so go genuine or OEM. If you have a genuine volvo pump in the car now, you don't need to replace with every belt change. If you've never done an 850 timing belt there are two tools worth considering. First is the serpentine belt tensioner tool (I have one that I would be happy to sell/ship - PM me if interested). Second is a cam lock - its a flat plate with four pins that fits on the front of the cams (only works on non-VVT cars). nice to have, but not required. FCP and IPD sells them for about $20.

 

The kit I bought and all the similar kits were $160 bucks and none of them have that. Another hundred bucks for the hydraulic thing, I should’ve just got the water pump kit, but my water pump is in great condition.