850 140k Major Maintenance

[jfuhrman]

just looking over this - it gives me confidence that at 200k I'll do the timing belt on my V70. I had the first one done at the volvo shop - they wanted around 500 which seemed very reasonable after calling around to a number of shops. The timing belt is something I'd like to do though, next time.

[marginal]

Hi Ozark.

I didn't understand why do the spark plugs have to be removed ???

Thanks.

[chax]

I'd say to eliminate the resistance of compression, since you might be trying to rotate the crankshaft. However, I don't imagine either the crank or camshafts would need to be moved much, so maybe Ozark has another reason.

[Ozark Lee]

I didn't understand why do the spark plugs have to be removed ???

chax nailed it.

You can turn the engine over by hand much smoother if your aren't fighting the compression strokes.

...Lee

[marginal]

OK, thanks .

[Carbon15]

Other than TDC is there a mark to line up the Cam? My belt went and the original engine is toast. I got a junk yard motor for four hundred and will be re-installing the motor this weekend. I'll be a lot easier with the engine out of the car. On one hand, I wish I wasn't doing this. On the other it's a cool project, I've already replaced the entire front end and suspension, so it's too late to stop anyway.

[chax]

There's a TDC mark on each cam sprocket, and one on the crank sprocket; no other marks, regarding timing.

Are you replacing the t-belt on the replacement motor, before installing it? Now'd be the time to do it: so much easier when you have unimpeded access to all the parts.

Consider this: when I changed the t-belt on my wife's Forester, I marked the crank and cam sprockets with a marker, and made matching marks on the t-belt. I removed the t-belt, then transferred the marks from the old belt to the new one, then just lined up the marks on the new belt with the marks on the cam & crank sprockets. This is as straight-forward as it gets, and can be done, regardless of the timing marks. This method might not be plausible on this Volvo engine if the work's being done with the engine in the car,* but it should be easy with the engine on a bench. Before doing this, though, remove the plugs, then turn the engine over by hand a few times, to make sure the timing marks are lining up.

* I haven't done a t-belt change on an 850, but I think there's a pulley in front of the crank sprocket that would have to be removed, in order to mark the belt. However, as I said, with the engine on a bench, it should still be pretty easy.

[volvomileage]

for those who think the water pump should be skipped at the 2nd bel change , well when i did the belt a year ago the pump was fine no leaks and bearing did no noise , so i skipped

thankfully i monitor this car closely due to its age water pump started leaking lately upon the removal the bearings of the pump had gone and the pump started to eat itself from the inside ... cheap insurance while you are in there just change it !

and yes the timing marks are a major PITA really c ant beleive a luxury car engineered with care with such microscopic marks what a poor design takes time a patience to find them, a big fat zero to Volvo for those marks !

cheers !

[rcannon]

Just wondering if it might be a good time to replace the engine mount next to the crank. Mine had a big chunk of rubber broken off just sitting there, the portion protruding out, about a inch thick rounded off on the top. I haven't done the belt yet. How often does the mount go bad? Or is it bad?

[Ozark Lee]

The motor mounts all go bad. Most of the aftermarket brand mounts go bad even quicker. It sounds like your mount is shot.

...Lee