I recently purchased a 1996 volvo 850 and it will not start. So i took a look under the hood and discovered that the engine timing is off. Should i take the timing belt off and reset the timing marks, or should i turn the engine over and see if i can get the engine back to the proper timing?

 

What do you mean by "timing is off"? Can you post a photo?

 

 

If you pulled the black cover and checked the cams and crankshaft timing marks and they are off you don't want to be cranking the engine. If you are lucky it's just slipped and no damage has occurred.
You need to determine WHY the timing is off. Is the tensioner bad, bad idler, ....
Repair or replace whatever caused the problem, reset and then run a compression test. Or ... you could gently reset it and run a compression test to see if you've bent any valves before you start spending money on parts.
Some info on interference engines: https://www.google.com/#q=volvo+850+interference+engine

 

Thank you for the advice. I got the engine timed properly and the car running.

 

Is it running well?? if so, you need to find out why the timing was off so that it does not occur again. Are there worn parts (i.e. tensioner or belt) or was it improperly timed to start with?

 

Timing is one area you want to leave no guess work. My first 850r came to be in my possession because a timing belt broke- and it took 10 valves with it. It cost me about $800 to have the head fixed, $100 for a gasket set and $200 for another belt kit. When they go, bad things happen.

I have bought many cars where this has happened. Bought them for about 1/3 of their KBB price. Cars with bad engines are not worth much.