2002 XC70 - mouse body parts in the belt and pulleys

mlanctot · Post by **mlanctot** » 18 Feb 2017, 10:51

My son's car, 2002 Volvo V70XC, 319700 miles. Upon starting the other day the engine ate a mouse that was nesting in the Timing Belt. He didn't know it at the time but the engine immediately started making a loud rapping sound. He stopped it and called me. When I took the covers off I noticed the mouse body parts squished in the belt and pulleys.
My question is, could the mouse body cause the belt to jump a tooth on the gears? If so would it cause the valves to make an extremely loud rapping noise? I can borrow the tool for aligning the cams and actually have the parts already purchased.

Klausc · Post by **Klausc** » 18 Feb 2017, 10:59

Poor little mouse! After cleaning out the mess, which shouldn't be a lot, you could always check the timing marks.

I assume the car hasn't run in a while, like a few weeks. The oil can completely drain out of the lifters at that point. As soon as oil pressure comes up to 'normal', the lifters will get nice and quiet again. Before you start it again, charge the battery. You may experience "lawn mower syndrome" as the gasoline washed the rings during cold start and compression may be low.

I seriously doubt that the timing will be off.

mlanctot · Post by **mlanctot** » 18 Feb 2017, 11:21

I'm going to check timing marks now. Its like 50 degrees here in Connecticut. I've had Volvo's for a long time. Never heard an engine this loud! This car was originally my Wife's. One owner car.

mlanctot · Post by **mlanctot** » 18 Feb 2017, 12:08

The upper Marks are right on but I can not see the lower mark on the Crank Shaft. Going to remove the pulley.

Klausc · Post by **Klausc** » 18 Feb 2017, 12:12

NO! Do not remove the pulley. The crank mark is extremely difficult to see. You need a flashlight and view it from above.

You cannot remove the pulley until you know where the crank mark is. Try rotating the engine 180 degrees and look again.

mlanctot · Post by **mlanctot** » 18 Feb 2017, 12:37

OK, before I read this, I had my son give me a hand. He turned the crank and I watched for the marks.
The belt jumped. I have the lower marks set and the upper cam marks are about five teeth past.
Should I remove the belt and rotate the cams BACK to the Marks? And set from there?

Klausc · Post by **Klausc** » 18 Feb 2017, 12:46

5 teeth is a long way. I would have never expected a mouse to have enough body mass to do that kind of damage.

Go ahead and align the marks. Watch out for the VVT, as it will want to turn backwards just a bit.

You may be looking at a valve job...

mlanctot · Post by **mlanctot** » 18 Feb 2017, 15:24

Up date: Like I said , I have all the parts to upgrade this engine, parts from FCP.

Every thing has been removed. I'll tackle this tomorrow. The upper cam have been aligned. Tensioner installed. Idler installed.

Thanks for the assistance!!

mlanctot · Post by **mlanctot** » 18 Feb 2017, 15:27

Just a quick comment. We have had this car for many years. We diid a valve job about 4 or 5 years ago. Good so far. We shall see after this episode.

Thanks all for your help!!!!!

mlanctot · Post by **mlanctot** » 19 Feb 2017, 09:50

OK, want to finish today. New water pump, idler, belt adjuster completed.
Trying to get the timing belt on. Any tricks for this. Adjuster slackened all the way. Hard to see how to get belt over cam pulley. Not long enough.