Broken Timing Belt

[schigara]

I just can't take it anymore. I have been a member of this forum for a while and everytime the topic of a timing belt comes up, the ususal suspects proclaim that a broken belt means the end of an engine or the head is "destroyed" and requires purchasing a new or rebuilt head.

While a broken timing belt is bad and costs a lot more money than it would have cost to maintain the belt, it is by no means, a catastrophe or the end of the engine.

The only thing that happens when a timing belt breaks is a few valves get bent. This is not that big a deal! The valves for this car are relatively cheap at $10-15 a piece. In 1992 I bought a 1987 Porsche 928S which was a 32 valve V8 that had a broken belt. The intake valves were $48 each and the exhaust valves were $76 each and the headgasket set was $315 per bank. Now that was a catastrophe! Only one intake valve was unbent. I had to buy the other 31 valves.

All that is required is a valve spring compressor and a piece of 1/2in pvc pipe with a slot cut out to reach into and get the valve locks out. Put in the new valves, re-lap the valves with a drill or a grinding stick with suction cup and fine grinding material.

For those who might think that there are special procedures or something different because this car is a Volvo, think again, there is nothing different or difficult. Because of the automatic tensioner, it is actually one of the easiest engines to put a belt on. The Porsche 928S-S4 , GTS and 944/944Turbo are the most difficult which requires the use of a special belt tensioning tool(p9201). The Porsche 928's are so critical to have the timing belt at a particular tension that they are one of the only cars that have a timing belt tension light on the instrument cluster.

The Volvo engine is as simple as a Toyota or Nissan and is nothing to marvel at or be afraid of.

[tjts1]

The Volvo engine is as simple as a Toyota or Nissan and is nothing to marvel at or be afraid of.

Have you ever removed and then tried to reinstall the valve cover on one of this volvo engine?

[Ozark Lee]

There is no such thing as a "valve cover" on a Volvo 5 cylinder engine. There is the spark plug cover and then there is - to steal from the Porsche vernacular - the Cam Tower which is the upper half of the casting that holds the cams. The lower part is the head itself.

I agree with schigara that many folks are way too quick to call for a new motor although after the head gets warped after overheating badly the money is about the same for a used engine and re-working or replacing the head.

The big problem is that most of the shops are populated with mechanics that just give you a blank stare if you start talking about lapping valves, they have never done it.

...Lee

[tjts1]

There is no such thing as a "valve cover" on a Volvo 5 cylinder engine. There is the spark plug cover and then there is - to steal from the Porsche vernacular - the Cam Tower which is the upper half of the casting that holds the cams. The lower part is the head itself.

There is an upper cylinder head half that doubles as both a valve cover and cam bearing.


The liquid gasket that separates the top and bottom half of the cyl head is a chore. Most mechanics wouldn't know how to put it together properly.


Be prepared to buy or make your own valve spring compression tool.


You'll have to either buy or build tools to properly compress the valve cover against the tension of the valve springs.

http://volvoforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18322

My point was that disassembling and rebuilding the cylinder head on these engines is always more complicated, more labor intensive and more expensive than replacing the complete long block with a used engine from craigslist or ebay.

The construction of the volvo whiteblock engine has more in common with the newer M96 Porsche engines in its layer cake construction.

[voodoorobaz]

I agree that a timing belt mishap can be repaired, however, a lot a variables to look at. I on one hand can do my own work for the most part. Did my timing belt for a total cost of 161 bux that included the belt, tensioner and idler. I did not by the cam lock tool either. Took me like 2 hrs and that included talking to my neighbor and chasing down my dog once as he got out the gate. Lucky me.
The dealer I am told charges around 450-600 bux for the job. Now if you break a belt and you do bend valves and don't do any damage to the block it can get very expensive if a person is unable to do the work themselves. The cost of that repair vs. the value of the car might be close. From a financial standpoint the car probably is not worth it but depends very much on the proper upkeep of the car. I have seen damaged pistons due to a timing belt breaking. Not a good situation at all, But I would be able to remedy it and I have other cars I could use while it is being repaired. Some people situations this would be catastrophic to the car. Could be the only car, financial situation, car is beat to death and just not worth it at all.
If I wanted a car I could drive until the belt broke without any damage I would research it and find that kind. I myself rather change the belt every 5 years and be good with it but that is my situation.
I never owned a Porsche 928 but believe me, I used to want one bad, the 928 S4 was my choice at the time. But I do know they are a maintenance intensive vehicle and the timing belt there is critical down to the slightest degree of tension. Most all that bought that car brand new never ever would have done that work themselves anyways. But if you got the money to play you got money to pay hopefully.
I love Volvo's. For me it is the styling. Just my thing I guess. But if I wasn't mechanically inclined not so sure I would own one. Bought my son a S70 and trying to get wife to get out of her Jeep Grand Cherokee and into the XC90 but I won't accomplish that she just loves the Jeep. From a $$$ of maintenace fees the Jeep is superior to my car but like I said, I love my Volvo. So enough of my rant. It's all in the eye of the person who owns whatever they drive to like it, maintain it, repair it or drive it until it blows and get another one.

[iselloil]

I think the point everyone is trying to make is to do the required maitanance, and that when a timing belt breaks,the job is more than most members can handle,and the expense to take it to a shop that knows what there doing is going to cost them a arm and a leg.

[schigara]

Yes. I did it a few days ago to fully clean it.

The Volvo engine is as simple as a Toyota or Nissan and is nothing to marvel at or be afraid of.

Have you ever removed and then tried to reinstall the valve cover on one of this volvo engine?

[C@lvin]

OK guys, I am really interested in this discussion.

I was recently considering the purchase of a 95 850 Turbo with an asking price of $600 because the timing belt broke. I assumed it would need a new engine and I found one locally for $750 asking price. But I decided against this because I didn't want to risk that much money (especially since I have never done an engine or tranny swap before).

So, can it be assumed that there is a good chance that the engine could be repaired and that I could do this though never having done it before and that it would be substantially less expensive than replacing the motor?

If I could get the car for $400-$500 and do the repair myself for a couple of hundred dollars I would be very tempted. I would especially love to learn how to do this kind of work.

Are there good instructions anywhere for doing this type of engine repair? Haynes? VADIS? MVS? Elsewhere?

[Warren561]

The only thing that happens when a timing belt breaks is a few valves get bent.

Nothing happens to the tops of the pistons? You don't have to re-surface them?

[schigara]

Sometimes there is a slight dent or gouge. If a sharp bur is present, it should be sanded smooth to prevent causing a hot spot.

The only thing that happens when a timing belt breaks is a few valves get bent.

Nothing happens to the tops of the pistons? You don't have to re-surface them?