1998 Volvo S70 Non-Turbo, 173k miles. Retime cams

[Pauloil]

Okay....I found the marks on the cams and lined them up with the markings on the TB cover. After aligning it, and installing the TB, the car wont start. It just makes a cranking noise but will not start. Please tell me where I might have failed.

start with the crankshaft mark.

[volvojosh]

Can I turn the cams and crankshaft independently without damaging the engine? If not I might have ruined my engine. When I was removing the cam gear to replace the seal I accidentally turned the gear when I removed the bolts.

[Pauloil]

Leave the belt on until you have the crankshaft lined up. What you don't want to do is have the camshafts and the crankshaft moving independent of each other until you get things roughed in.

Ask questions and post pictures if you get stuck, we'll get you through it.

...Lee

[Ozark Lee]

Once you have the crankshaft mark lined up (with the camshafts moving with it) you can then move the camshafts independently to get them back on the marks so long as it isn't more than +/- 10 degrees or so. If you are out much further than that then you have bigger problems.

...Lee

[erikv11]

Actually, when the crank is on the mark, you can spin the camshafts all the way around, no problem at all. One-hunnnndred-eighty degrees, 360, whatever, all day long. When the crank is on the mark, it holds all of the pistons out of the way of the valves.

Of course you want to be very sure the crank is on the mark, that you know what the mark looks like etc etc. Put it there, leave it there until the timing job is all done. If you are unsure about the mark, don't proceed with the timing job. Become sure first.

[volvojosh]

I got this filling I am f--ked. Maybe I am over reacting but I kind of think the valves are bent based on the outcome.

[abscate]

Peace be with you. Chances are overwhelming that you have a loose wire or other issue causing your no start condition. You would have felt it if you did clearance damage turning the crank.

Fuel spark compression timing cranking....

If you really want to ease your mind on bent valves, a compression test will remove all doubt.

[erikv11]

I also doubt you ruined the engine, hang in there.

A couple times when doing timing belts I have had the car end up with lawn mower syndrome, where it has zero compression but only because the cylinder walls have dried out (no oil). If the timing marks are all lined up now, then try putting 1 teaspoon of oil (no more, you can out in more but you don't need any more than about 1 teaspoon) into each cylinder through the spark plug hole. Put the plugs back in, and crank the starter for a long time. If the engine has "lawn mower syndrome" then after like a minute it will eventually chug and start up. Worth a try.

[cn90]

O.P.,

You may want to review this thread:

DIY: 1998 S70 TB, Water Pump:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=53722

PS: You might have put the sprocket back wrong, I think the 3 holes are spaced apart equally, so technically speaking, the sprocket can be re-installed 3 different ways, and of course only 1 way is correct!

[volvojosh]

Hello,

I took everything a part for the 3rd time. Mae sure in fact all of the markings on the TB cover are aligned and that the crank shaft is in alignment. After, everything looked correct put it back together. Now when I manually crank the engine it is very hard to turn over like very hard.

Any thoughts or reasons why this is?

Since I knew without the shadow of doubt that it's perfectly timed and assembled for the 3rd time, I tried it and it still will not start.