Timing Belt Failure after replacement - Getting ripped off?
 

2000 S80 T6. Timing belt replaced at 98,000. Engine damaged after timing belt system component failure at 100,000. Repair shop says it's not their fault. Am I getting ripped off?

Repair shop charged for Timing Belt Kit @$229.
Repair shop charged for Timing Idler Pulley @$128.
Repair shop charged for labor to install above parts.
(Also elected to replace water pump at the same time)

Repair shop's insurance company says that ensuing damage is not their fault because they determined that the tensioner pulley caused the damage and that the "tensioner pulley was an isolated material failure."

So,
1. Is it even possible to determine that the tensioner pulley caused the damage?
2. Doesn't a Timing Belt Kit have the following contents: Belt, tensioner pulley, idler puller? If so, why did I get charged for a Timing Idler Pulley after already getting charged for a Timing Belt Kit? Something doesn't add up there.
3. What might be another likely cause for the failure? Mechanic accidentally got coolant on belt? Mechanic didn't tighten a nut properly?

My engine is wrecked, and I think I may be getting ripped off. Thanks in advance for any helpful advice.

Did you hear directly from their insurance? Im not clear on weather it was a part they supplied and fitted was at fault or not. If it wasnt a part they supplied its going to be harder to get them to pony up the dough.

Your case will be they are incompetent as they did not replace all the parts generally considered to be part of the timing belt drive. Keep in mind they are meant to be the experts. If they advised you replace the part and you chose not to, then of course thats tough luck. I'm guessing that's not the case though. Start off with the reccomendations from what needs to be replaced by Volvo. If they say that the part that failed would generally be replaced as part of their process, then the garage that did the work for you didnt follow the correct proceedure, therefore IMO it's their ***kup and they should pay.

Source (recent up-to-date) documentation from Volvo regarding the timing belt service.
Get an independant engineers report\assesment, perhaps your auto insurance company can refer you to someone.

Good luck!

I think that motor is the same that is in my 960. The timing belt kit has a belt, sticker, and a plastic tensioner spacer. It does NOT include a idler roller, tensioner roller, tensioner, nor the water pump. Whenever these belts are replaced, the mechanic will usually ask if you want EVERYTHING replaced, as if you would know. On a 10+ year old car, I would suggest YES. I did not on my 850 and wish I had. No problems but it can.

I had a belt only replaced on my 960 at 58,000 miles. At 82,000 miles the water pump started leaking and the idler started making noise. So I decided to replace the idler roller. The belt only had 24,000 miles on it but I figured that the roller may have caused some extra wear on the belt, so I decide to replace the belt. When I pulled the belt off, I noticed that the tensioner roller was extreamly easy to spin, like it didn't have much time left so I decided to replace that roller. Then I compressed the tensioner and noticed that it was leaking oil, so I ordered and replaced that, along with the water pump. Ended up replacing everything at 82,000 miles, the car's second belt.

No, a little anti-freeze would not cause a belt failure. Either the tensioner was bad and the belt got loose and jump the cam or the tensioner roller was on it's last leg and seized then came apart. You can actually look behind the cover and see if one of these roller came apart.

IMO, the mechanic that replaced the belt should have checked the roller and if it wasn't turning properly, recommend replacement of it. Or the tensioner was bad and they missed it. Anywho, if they said the tensioner roller went out, that is likely what happened.

The question I have is, how long ago did they replace the belt? A year ago, 2 weeks ago. My brother-in-law blew 2 timing belts in 90 days. The 1st one on his own and the second one almost 90 days after the motor was rebuilt. The shop that did his 1st belt did the 2nd one and the motor rebuild at NO CHARGE. So, IMO, I think they should do the repairs if the work was done within 90 days. They must have some kind of warranty on the job. But if they advised you to replace the failed part and you refused, it should be your cost. But from what I've read, they decided was was going to be replaced and didn't ask your imput.

Here are instructions on how to replace the timing belt on a '97 960. They will help you understand how this works.
http://www.atthetipwebs.com/technolo...iming_belt.htm

If they supplied a timing belt kit with all the pulleys and it was within 12 months or 12,000 miles it is on their dime!!!
A good shop would stand behind their parts they use!