Timing Belt Moving?

alexv702003 · Post by **alexv702003** » 31 Aug 2017, 19:54

Hi guys, it looks like my timing belt is moving laterally. You can see it in the video below. Does this look normal?

Thanks for any help.

Post by **jonesg** » 01 Sep 2017, 06:39

How old are the components, tensioner and water pump.? Is there any play in the cam hubs?

alexv702003 · Post by **alexv702003** » 01 Sep 2017, 23:13

The timing belt and water pump were replaced 20k miles/3 years ago. I don't know if the tensioner was replaced. I am also not sure if there is play in the cam hubs. Could I just wiggle them with the timing belt on and see if there is play?

Post by **jonesg** » 02 Sep 2017, 04:07

Is the belt moving on the sprocket or is the sprocket itself moving.

The tensioner is what can kill the engine, belts don't normally break.

Post by **abscate** » 02 Sep 2017, 05:02

There will be normal rotation play in the intake side ( the one with the tubular solenoid right behind it) but neither should have axial play. It's usually hard to measure axial play with the belt on

Post by **oragex** » 02 Sep 2017, 10:53

alexv702003 wrote: 01 Sep 2017, 23:13 The timing belt and water pump were replaced 20k miles/3 years ago. I don't know if the tensioner was replaced.

The belt should not move sideways at all. It is an urgent repair or the engine may be ruined if the belt or components fail. I'd guess some of the timing belt replacement parts were of low quality.

Unless the car has over 200k miles, the water pump shouldn't have been replaced. This may indicate the job was done by some random garage without knowledge in Volvo. The most important question now is which brands were used for the replacement parts. Aftermarket water pumps are known to suddenly fail in a very short period. If you have no idea which brands were used, I'd replace everything again with Gates or original Volvo (Aisin for the water pump).

alexv702003 · Post by **alexv702003** » 02 Sep 2017, 11:07

Here is a better video with the covers fully off. I'll see if I can find out the brands. Also, I don't know if its related, but when the engine is under heavy load up a hill or at full throttle at higher rpm's (~5k), there is a slight rattle noise coming from the passenger side of the engine where the belts are.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 02 Sep 2017, 11:14

Either something in the belt chain is going bad --WP, tensioner, pulley(s)--, the belt was low quality or defective, or the tech damaged it during installation by not removing plastic guards around the crank and twisted it bad getting it down in there. Timing belts are packed/shipped in a box designed to keep the belt on a flat plane. You absolutely cannot twist/ deflect the belt during installation or you'll damage the reinforcement and get this. I'd bet money this is what happened on this one. Serpentine/Vbelt accessory belts are constructed differently and can tolerate being flexed and twisted to an extent. Timing belts--no.

alexv702003 · Post by **alexv702003** » 03 Sep 2017, 10:32

Okay I'm going to buy the whole kit with the WP, tensioner, and pulleys and replace any on the car that are worn/cheap part after I get the belt off. Return anything I don't use.

Can this maybe explain the severe lack of power I have below 2k rpms? When taking off from a stop the car has no power until it hits 2k rpms and then all of a sudden the rpms climb faster and there is power.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 03 Sep 2017, 13:00

No that wouldn't explain lack of power under 2k rpm unless the timing is off by a tooth or two somewhere. But if that were the case I would expect you to be getting a CEL/check engine message.