My relatively new to me S60 T5 (52K miles when I bought it) now has 60K miles and I was thinking of changing the serpentine and ac belts. They don't look too bad, but I'm a preventive maintenance kinda fella. Looking at Alldatadiy, the procedure for the serpentine belt looks pretty straightforward; take off the right wheel and wheel pant, put a wrench to the tensioner, etc. However, to get to the inside belt, one has to remove the bolts to the outer portion of the pulley and remove it. They then show a special tool on the AC pulley (see drawing). Does anyone know if this tool is really necessary and if not, what is the workaround?

 

The tool basically just stretches the belt onto the pulley. I really wouldn't worry about it now though, I think the interval is 120,000 miles on it.

 

If that is the case, I'll just do the serpentine belt and take a closer look at this belt while I can get to it. Thanks much!

 

Hello, I bought a new serpentine belt tensioner; but stripped out the star socket because I can't get straight to it. Did you use a special tool; or have any advice?

 

You have to have the appropriate torx socket. I believe that they are either T-55 or T-60. It makes you wonder why Volvo didn't just cast a 17mm bolt head on the thing like Mercedes does on theirs.

 

Thank you. I tried to access the first one with at T-55 and a regular ratchet; but couldn't get it in straight because of the tight clearance and it stripped out. I bought the volvo belt tensioner tool.