Mechanical Tensioner needle will not move

[scot850]

I had a nightmare with a mechanical tensioner when swapping a timing belt on my long gone 98 V70XC. Kit was bought from IPD. Part was an INA part. I spent about 5 hours trying to get the damn thing to align and it kept bending the bracket on the tensioner. I went to speak to Volvo parts to compare with an OE blue box part. Looked the same. The parts guy swapped it and said it was a 'warranty' part (really great guy). Fitted the OE part first time and had no further issues.

Neil.

[99TurboBrick]

Hmm, very interesting. Thank you scot850.

Mine is also an INA as part of an IPD kit, and it's *supposed* to be Volvo OEM. The kit came in a Volvo blue box. One interesting thing I noticed is how the Volvo logo looks so generic on the new INA, compared to the previous one that was on there. Also, the new one was made in Slovakia, versus the previous one that was made in Germany. Don't know how much it matters, just something I noticed.

I'll try the new one IPD is going to send me. If it doesn't work out, perhaps I should call the local Volvo dealer and see what they say, and try getting the part from them.

[wizechatmgr]

Also make sure it isn't too tight while attempting to adjust it. I've seen people tighten it before adjusting the tension, make sure you aren't doing this.

[99TurboBrick]

Also make sure it isn't too tight while attempting to adjust it. I've seen people tighten it before adjusting the tension, make sure you aren't doing this.

Right. That bolt is supposed to be loose before you turn the tensioner with the hex key. It is possible I may have had the bolt tightened just a smidge. I'll be careful of that.

[99TurboBrick]

Technically the 99-2001 5 cylinder and 6 cylinder turbo engines requires the engine be turned past the cam mark locations 90 crank degrees and then rotate crank backwards until crank mark and cam marks are aligned with their indicators. The spring in the exhaust CVVT unit will be relaxed since the cam was carried to a point CW and then the CVVT was turned back allowing the cam to stay ahead and the spring relaxes to its CCW stop and will not cause the spring to move your cam gear once belt is removed. Engines with intake only CVVT, 2002 on engines with exhaust CVVT, and the engines using the flat vane style CVVT do not require this step as there is no spring to move your gear and cause misalignment when the belt is slipped off the cm gear.

"Engines with intake only CVVT, 2002 on engines with exhaust CVVT, and the engines using the flat vane style CVVT do not require this step as there is no spring to move your gear and cause misalignment when the belt is slipped off the cm gear."

Hmm. I don't know what a "flat vane style CVVT" is, but I'm guessing this step does not apply to me. My exhaust cam does have CVVT, however it did not move between taking the old belt off, and putting the new one on. My timing marks still line up perfectly. Does that make sense?

[jimmy57]

your 99 has the piston style but should have a spring. If you turned it past mark alignment and backed it up to the marks the spring was relaxed and the exh cam gear wouldn't move when belt was removed.

[abscate]

The eccentric on the two tensioner sin that picture are completely different positions, almost 90 degrees offset.

I think that's a factor?

[99TurboBrick]

The eccentrics are different because they are just set differently. When off the car, you can put in a hex key and freely spin those around.

[abscate]

I thought the eccentric hole keeps a fixed position with respect to either the fingers or the indicator?

[99TurboBrick]

Nope, they spin freely. You can see Don doing it at 7:27.