Opinions on 2014 XC60 Serpentine Belt replacement? Let me premise that our 2014 XC60 has 85K miles. Original owner purchased new and loyal Dealer customer. All service done at dealer over the life of the XCC60. Dealer has been honest and competitively priced. Just brought it in for the 85K service and outside of the usual stuff to be done the tech identified a need for the serpentine belt to be replaced based on the fact that the belt is 10 years old? The question I have is this something typical for the age and miles of the vehicle? Would this be a preventative maintenance approach vs is it about this time and miles and it is something needed to prevent a more serious issue? Thanks in advance for any and all experienced insights! waadman

 

what engine do you have? Are the accessories/idlers making any noises? Reason I ask is if you have a 5 cylinder, your timing belt will be due next year (10 years /120 K miles) and normally the serpentine belt is replaced as part of that job. If you have a 6, you have a timing chain with no service requirement so you could do the belt at any time.

 

She's an XC60 T6 AWD with 325 HP 6-cyl Turbocharged engine, 6 speed Geartronic auto trans, paddle shifters w/sport modem, T6 R design sport chassis. Not hearing any noises except for a slight/very slight rough idle? Interesting you mention the difference with the 5 vs 6 cyl? The tech in the service video doesn't use the term "timing chain" and refers to the concerns as the "serpentine belt"? Is that just a nomanclature thing? As always, thanks again for your professional insight! waadman

 

The 5 cyl has a serpentine belt that can fail and pieces of it get caught up in the timing belt - that usually causes bent valves and a multi thousand dollar repair bill. Some cars I would replace the serpentine belt at the 60k service. The timing belt replacement is recommended every 10 years or xx miles and you would put a new serpentine belt on at the time also since it was removed to get to the timing belt. That serpentine belt drives the alternator, steering pump and ac compressor. Later 5 cyl engines have two shorter belts - but the same valve bending problem with serpentine belt failure happens with those engines also.

The 6 cyl has a much shorter serpentine belt that only drives the ac and the water pump, steering pump also on some cars. That belt is mounted up high on the engine and might be subject to less abuse from the environment. With no timing belt on the engine next to the serpentine - there is no possibility of the same type of failure as seen in the 5cyl cars. I've never seen a 6cyl FoMoCo (ford designed the engine and is used in some land rovers also) serpentine belt fail but if it did - the results will cost the same as doing it before it breaks. I believe the suggested replacement interval is 150k miles.

 

Hoonk,

Thanks for your insight and quick response! Appreciate the 5 vs 6 cyl comparison? It's a $1600 fix and not a show stopper but more concerned about the timing 85K vs 160Kas to when to put it in the budget
I'm off to the dealer tomorrow and will pose your response to see what their tech has to say? waadman

 

Hoonk,

Called the dealership service manager and explained my concerns over the 5 cyl vs 6 cyl approach. The manager explained the information states 10 years or 160K which ever comes first. Since it's 10 years I can understand the "preventative" focus on the serpentine belt. Will ask again this morning to make sure they are distinguishing between the 5 and 6? Any feeling on this is just a good idea to eliminate the chance for the belt going bad and having to tow and add an additional diagnostic vs what you have experienced with little or no bareak down on the 6 cyl heading to 160K miles?
Thanks again ion advance,
waadman

 

Yes - The service schedule from Volvo has a ten year replacement interval for both the 5 and 6 cyl belts and tensioners. Or 120k for the 5 cyl and 150k for the 6cyl.

 

Hoonk,

Thanks again for your experienced insight. You are spot on with what they recommended and that made my decisions easy to make! All done yesterday and picking up the 60 this morning!

Respectfully,

waadman