1998 V40 Timing belt tensioner type?

shanegtr · Post by **shanegtr** » 17 May 2014, 06:20

Hi all,

I would like to change the timing belt and tensioner/idler pulleys on my in laws V40. I need to organise the spare parts before hand as they are not common here so I cant pull everything apart and expect to get it back together again that same day without the spares ready to go. So I need to know if this engine has either the mechanical tensioner or the hydraulic. Engine is a B4204S - 1998 build with auto trans. Any ideas how best to find this info out. I've already tried pulling the top timing belt covers off, but I cant see the top of the tensioner.
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giant · Post by **giant** » 18 May 2014, 16:05

Hi Shane,

I thought Vadis might tell you with the vin number. I live in Australia and the vin is YV1VS1926XF366013, can anyone tell which tensioner I have.

I also have the same issue and have tried to get a look at that tensioner with mirror and camera etc and no luck so far, although do have new camera now so maybe will be able to slot it down for a macro shot today. Other idea is call Volvo dealer and ask for quote on parts and slip the question in... "oh, is that manual or auto tensioner?". Not sure I trust the USA parts dealers to know if I have manual or auto tensioner although I guess I could order both tensioners from USA and just suck up the extra expense, guarantee it will still be cheaper than buying from the dealer in Oz.

Bad news for me over the weekend when I floored the accelerator to pass a slow vehicle I got the same warning light come on again engine check light and dsa (abs?). Babied the car home on the edge of limp mode some 20km in city driving went into limp mode on driveway just as I was pulling into garage.

It is now Monday and instead of working for the dollar I am working on the car.... frustrating.

I still need to sort out a code reader (OBD Compliant???) and get Vadis software running too.

Your a good son in law working on the outlaws car.

Cheers
Anthony.

giant · Post by **giant** » 19 May 2014, 15:20

Got in to have a look at the timing belt tensioner on my v40t yr 2000, took a while to figure out how to get the lower cover off, had to take the serpintine belt off and a pulley and the centre bolt holding the engine mount to the engine has the thread stripped.

Found out I definately have the manual tensioner, now I can order the part with confidence and having done this have a better feel for doing the timing belt job too.

Will look into what can be done to re thread the centre engine mount thread.

shanegtr · Post by **shanegtr** » 19 May 2014, 17:08

Now apparently you can pick it from the engine number:
Automatic tensioner is used in engine up to serial 1266195
Mechanical tensioner is used in engines from 1266196 onwards.
From that info this one is mechanical (as is my V40). But like giants found out the engine mount really needs to come off in order to see the tensioner.