Serpentine Belt Topic is solved

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 06 Apr 2005, 13:13

94 850 NT manual tran 160K

Had Alternator replaced 1 month ago. Next day screeching at higher rpm and got worse until continual. Mechanic said power steering leak onto belt was problem so replaced power steering last week. started same thing all over. then they cleaned belt saying residual fluid on belt...fine...good for 2 days...doing same thing all over again along with a low droning and some pseudo rattling at idle after it gets up to temp. To keep sanity i sprayed WD-40 on pulleys which stops everything for a short period then starts up again. After looking on Volvospeed i found a listing for Serpentine install with different configuration for newer(longer) belts. My mechanic used the original install config where belt goes from PS-alternator-idler. Newer install goes PS-Idler-Alternator.

My Question:

Is it possible this configuration is the culprit and i need newer configuration? Also is this going to harm anything. It doesn't sound good at all and i want this over with. Belt looks fine and still has Volvo writing and codes visible. I'll get new belt if need be but think something simple is wrong and have already put 400 in power-steering.

thanx in advance.

Post by **tina** » 06 Apr 2005, 17:16

It says here when you buy a new belt it will be a new part # intended to use the new route. SInce the belt is a different length I am sure it would not perform well in the original configuration.

http://www.volvospeed.com/Repair/850_serp.pdf

I don't know if that is the problem, maybe the belt you replaced was already in this configuration... but I would buy a new belt (not try to re-route this one that may be stretched or damaged) and try the new routing.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 15 Apr 2005, 14:14

Once oil got on the belt, it can't be totally removed. The belt is about $20. Just replace it. There is no way to route the new belt in the old pattern nor vice versa. The sizes are too different

Ken