Took serpentine belt off to replace, neither old nor new belt will go back on

[vtl]

I just ordered the Volvo Serpentine belt 30731808. It's only $10 more than the Contitech belt.

Exactly. New PS pump is like $380.

[93SCMax]

Conti is $25, Volvo is $35+. Both are good. Conti is OEM and may even make the belt (relabeled) for Volvo.

If you read the FCP Euro reviews for the Volvo belt, one customer complained that the belt was too short. They both are not "loose".

I'd rather save the $10 and buy a decent 6 pk with the money not spent. Either belt will do fine.

[vtl]

Volvo belt installs easily, unlike Conti. And it is not made by Conti.

[cn90]

Volvo belt is made by Conti.

[vtl]

Proof? They look, feel and behave differently.

If Conti does them for Volvo, why they sell a different bell under Conti brand?

[cn90]

Volvo belt is made by Conti.

[XC70Rider]

After removing the Contitech 30731808 belt I compared it to the OEM Volvo 30731808 belt this morning. The Contitech belt has less than 2k miles on it. The Volvo belt is made of a softer rubber making it more flexible. With the belts side by side hanging in my garage I had to to pull the flexible Volvo belt to get it to full length. With the flexible Volvo belt pulled down it is the same length as the stronger Contitech belt. Only difference is the Volvo belt is thicker and made of a softer rubber. Being the same length installing the Volvo belt was just as hard as the Contitech belt.

I've read that when Volvo changed the size of the PS pulley they had to change the length of the serpentine belt. Some P2s take the shorter 30731811 belt. According to IPD this is the length variation:

30731808 1841mm

30731811 1825mm

The 30731808 is 16mm longer than the 30731811.

[XC70Rider]

I still have the original belt I removed last January. I compared the original to the Contitech 30731808 and it is shorter! The original belt must of been a Volvo 30731811.

FCPEURO states my later chassis should take the shorter 30731811 belt. Since the longer Volvo 30731808 is a tight fit and working fine I'm letting it be. Less chances the AC compressor and alternator bearings will wear out.

[oragex]

There might be two belt lengths out there. The pump on later XC90 have smaller pulley and push 120bars. Perhaps the shorter belts are for these XC90 2.5T engines with their more powerful pump

[vtl]

I install 1841 mm Volvo belt with one hand, and it is not hard at all. For Conti I had to lock the ratchet holding the tensioner in max position and use both hands.