Timing belt failure sound like?

mar601 · Post by **mar601** » 17 Nov 2021, 08:12

I've been pushing my luck with my car and attempted to start this morning and it tried to start and shutdown immediately. Tried again and nothing but now wondering about any further attempts are smart. I have no idea whether it's the belt or not but that's been on my mind and have all the parts and was ready to take it in. (My luck? then yeah, that's it).

Anyway -- if it is, I wonder what it sounds like and once it happens you're screwed? or -- is it further attempts at starting that do the damage?

I heard a brief attempt at starting and a "bit" of a clang then it shutdown. Maybe 2 or 3 seconds at most of activity.

Post by **abscate** » 17 Nov 2021, 08:25

Take off the top plastic cover ( Torx t27 or 30 screws) and look at the back of the timing belt to see if it stretches across the two cam pulleys. Image to come.

That will tell you if it broke. It’s possible but rare to jump time and stay in place but let’s not consider that right now.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 17 Nov 2021, 08:28

What Volvo model and engine?
Remove the top belt covers and see if the timing and Aux. belts are in place. A timing belt failure can bend valves in seconds.
volvolugnut

mar601 · Post by **mar601** » 17 Nov 2021, 08:37

ok thanks. unfortunately, one of the engine cover screws is stripped. Can you get the timing belt cover off without removing anything else first? Looks like there's one screw to get to (size?). If it's a hassle I'm just having the car towed in. I'm 68 and it's harder to deal with this stuff anymore.

mar601 · Post by **mar601** » 17 Nov 2021, 08:47

heck with it -- going to send it in and cross my fingers it wasn't the belt. thanks you guys.

Post by **850 LPT** » 17 Nov 2021, 09:05

Good luck!

Post by **abscate** » 17 Nov 2021, 11:42

mar601 wrote: ↑17 Nov 2021, 08:37 ok thanks. unfortunately, one of the engine cover screws is stripped. Can you get the timing belt cover off without removing anything else first? Looks like there's one screw to get to (size?). If it's a hassle I'm just having the car towed in. I'm 68 and it's harder to deal with this stuff anymore.

On a 1999 on you can take out the timing cover bolt, m6 with a 10 mm head and pull the cover but I think the 1998 you have to have the cam cover off too.

Put down your zip so we can see if anyone is nearby. Getting those stripped cam cover bolts out is pretty easy

Post by **erikv11** » 17 Nov 2021, 16:39

98 is the same too, you only need to unscrew that single timing cover bolt.

befarrer · Post by **befarrer** » 19 Nov 2021, 16:18

When cranking, it will be uneven or quicker, depending on if valves are bent in a couple or all cylinders. They will have no compression so starter will spin up when those cylinders are on compression stroke.

mar601 · Post by **mar601** » 22 Nov 2021, 14:15

I haven't heard back yet from them -- very busy right now. It's a great shop, volvo specialists. I'm hoping I'll be ok. I just started it once, heard sort of a clunk and after just a few seconds it shut down. I'm not even sure it was the belt but I do know it was overdue. It had around 90K on it I believe. If there was engine damage, does it mean it's a total disaster? Or can some things be rebuilt?