I cannot find the crankshaft locking hole position

xarlock667 · Post by **xarlock667** » 09 May 2018, 15:29

2009 Volvo XC90 3.2 Inline 6
Hello all, here is my problem: I am trying to do the timing on an 09 xc90 3.2 and I cannot find the locking position for the crankshaft so I can pin it and keep it locked and FINALLY get this beast done. I pulled the crankshaft cover from behind the passenger wheel, I can spin the crank with the alternator driving shaft and a 13 millimeter socket. Doing this, I spin a few degrees and look. Nothing. I do it again. and again and so on. I just cannot seem to make the stars align correctly to find this thing. WTF and I doing wrong???

Post by **jimmy57** » 09 May 2018, 15:33

On the short I6 engines there is no hole. There is a tool used to turn crank with a 1/2 in breaker bar. The tool has a spring loaded pin that pops into a hole in block and stops crank in the timing assembly position. The use of tool requires that the front engine crank plug be removed (the black plug on front of engine where end of crank would stick out if there was an and of the crankto stick out).

xarlock667 · Post by **xarlock667** » 09 May 2018, 16:02

I have the front engine crank plug out. That is the hole I am looking for. I see the hole in the crank itself for the spring loaded pin to pop into, but I cannot find the hole in the block behind that for the pin to anchor the crank with. You would think that it would be relatively easy, but after wasting time with Chilton online AND with ALLDATA, I have determined that the best way it just to ask someone that has done it. HOW can I find that damned hole? ANY suggestions welcomed.

xarlock667 · Post by **xarlock667** » 09 May 2018, 16:21

This is what I am looking at:

As you can see, it is just a hole on the bottom, like a tiny peep hole, but when I rotate the crank, I see nothing to anchor it into on the other side.

xarlock667 · Post by **xarlock667** » 09 May 2018, 16:38

Just figured it out. For anyone with the same problem, you need to make a jig to hold the 3 holes in position in a perfect triangle. Or buy volvo's tool. A flat piece of metal, a drill and 3 bolts and nuts should do it. Rather than use a proper locking pin as anyone with intelligence would do, they decided that the spinner could hold the weight and torque just fine by itself. I disagree, but whatever. Just make sure they are a perfect triangle, mark them so that you know where YOUR timing marks are, and have at it.

xarlock667 · Post by **xarlock667** » 15 May 2018, 20:44

SO! Lets add insult to injury. Volvo ALSO decided to NOT index the VVT sprockets to the damned cams. That is right. They are held in place by torque on the damned nut and nothing else. SO unless you have the correct VOLVO brand tool to lock it in place, you are kinda screwed. Here is what I did: look at the tool face so that you know the correct position of the sprockets, Put them on WITH THE CHAIN or you will have hell getting them back on again to redo it. You can use the READ drive from the alternator side to hold the sprocket in place, then torque it to 30lbs. I would not go past that as you might damage something. Once you have it to 30 lbs, then you can move up to a strap wrench and take it to 70. Once you have 70 really dig in and add 180 degrees to that. I have a heavy duty strap wrench that I use for diesel oil changes that worked perfectly. Remember that the idea is that the bolt goes onto the LOCKED camshaft and that the sprockets DO NOT move when you torque the bolts. Yeah, enjoy that.

And remember, NEVER buy a Volvo with a damned 3.2 EVER again.