Hi,

I have a problem with my V70 that I am hoping to get some advice for. PLEASE HELP!!!

CAR: 1998 V70 GLT Wagon, 2.4 L, Front Wheel Drive

Problem: Recessed Ball Bearing in the Tensioner Bearing which failed, retarding the valve timing and eventually causing the Timing Belt to slip off and tear through the Timing Belt Cover. [:@]

What/How it happened: Driving from NY to VT on Christmas afternoon and noticed that my car was struggling to get in to high gear (PASSING/POWER ON HILLS) . I am no car guru so at first I thought my tranny was slipping, after ruling that out i figured it may be exhaust, due to the sound and power loss. I got safely to my Girlfriends uncles house had dinner, then when i went to start it up i got a horrible sound, so I opened the hood and found that the timing belt had torn through the cover (COVER SN#:1362497) and slipped off!!!! (please see pics)

My 'options' according to Volvo Dealer (never dealt with) and my Local Volvo mechanic (who i trust and is not pushing me to do either or any)

1. Replace Belt and Tensioner bearing, roll the dice and try to start it up assuming there was no other damage done. $700+

*dealer seems to think this may work
*mechanic seems to think insides are shot to pieces

1.A. If timing belt replacement does not fix the problem, replace heads, cams and pistons etc... (engine rebuild basically) $2000 + original $700=$2700

2. Replace engine with other used engine $3000-$3500. 2 days of labor etc....

I am in dire need of help from you guys, I paid $3800 for this car 12 months ago, the TB was done 25 to 30K ago. Has 187,000 miles on it but had all records, services done.

Has anyone had this problem?

What should I do in your opinion?

PLEASE HELP! I love this car (its in AWESOME shape) and if its time to either fix or bury it, i just need to know.

THANKS SOOO MUCH I AWAIT YOUR ADVICE & TIPS!

LINKS TO PICS:

Timing Belt: http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l4...r/DSC01547.jpg

Tensioner: http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l4...r/DSC01549.jpg

TB Cover: http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l4...r/DSC01551.jpg

 

Very common problem.

I will bet there is valves bent. But you can give it a shot on trying a belt. I have seen a few run after but not many. Usually the damage is done.

You can have the head pulled and the valves replaced or drop in a used motor.

 

Tech knows better then I, but I think it would be foolish to do anything until you changed the belt and found out if it ran ok.

If you slipped a couple of teeth and it still ran I would doubt it ate the valves.

Whatever you do DO NOT DRIVE IT LIKE THIS. Have it towed to a shop, or do the tensoner, and belt yourself and see what you get.

Worse case, if you pay fo rthese parts and change them you will save having to buy them again when you get the rest of the repair done. best acse, you learn that you don't have to spend the extra thousands of $$$...

Good luck.

(BTW, How many miles did the belt / tensioner have when this happened>?)

 

The Belt only had 25 to 30K on it and I am not sure about the tensioner.

I drove it about 50 miles when everything was acting weird, then when I tried to start her up the belt slipped off.

Then towed it to shop, has not been started or ran since then

Thanks for your swift responses guys, as I am chomping at the bit to do something. I miss my car something fierce!

please keep them coming!

 

First of all-so sorry to hear...what a horrible discovery that must have been when you opened the hood! reading the post, I had to comment. We had a 98 70XC do the same thing...had to do an engine overhaul. Big money for the customer, so we ended up buying the car from him and then having the owrk done ourselves and then reselling the car. Car has gone great since. No complaints.

Would be curious to hear whether or not the tensioners/etc had been replaced with the belt 25-30K ago...if you have a way of finding that out and posting it, i'd be interested to hear! Good luck making a decision...I've seen the 1998 and 1999s go 250K plus miles. So I'd say it's got some life left in it!!!

 

Oh man, I hate to hear you tried to start it again....

Sad to say, you probably did not have any bent / broken valves until you tried to crank it up and the belt came off. If the motor spun at all with the belt off then you bent valves at the least.... Hate to hear it.

 

Hi, sad to hear this happens and is even noted as common problem as it's expensive one.

Is this mostly due to the mechanical tensioner? if so then which years of V70? any new improved designs?
Should one allways renew tensioner and idlerwith TB.

I have 2x850-94s with original hydraulic tensioner and V70MY06 running original TB.
br Tapsa

 

The 850's rarely have as bad of a problem. But they will make a squeeling noise on start up for the first few seconds before they come apart.

The late 98 and up cars have the Mechanical tensioners that have the problems. Yes they should be replaced with the t-belt.

Actually the tensioners are rated for like 80K and the belts rated for 105K go figure.

 

The tensioners are only rated for 80k?! man...guess it really is a no-brainer to replace them with the belt...thats asking an awful lot of the tensioners to last 2 belt-mileage durations!

 

Yes it is.

 

Hi, thanks for clear answer to replace tensioner with TB.

Years back I can remember this squeeling sound on my 850-94 around 200kkm/10 years,I speeded up TB change with idler and water pump but kept the tensioner and the sound went away.

be Tapsa

 

Looks like im going to have junk it

Auto International here in Rutland said $3480 to fix it which sounds about right.

if you are interested in some sweet parts and live in New England see post below :

http://burlington.craigslist.org/cto/995031614.html

TYVM for all the help! Its a very sad day for me