Fun and Frolic with the VVT hub

[Mike Langlois]

Greetings All,
My 2002 V70 X/C keeps throwing trouble codes indicating that the cam/VVT orientation is off slightly. The motor starts and runs beautifully. I don't have the car here at the moment (I lent it to a friend in need temporarily), so I can not provide the VIDA info and codes. I did do Everything possible to boost the Hp to above 280: bigger turbo, intercooler, injectors, piping, ported heads and the like. I keep getting a check engine light related to the camshaft timing/VVT hub (I will get the codes ASAP), even after resetting the timing belt and VVT Hub. I have the correct tools and skill set to do this, but I am not conceited enough to believe that I am immune from repeatedly putting the VVT Hub on incorrectly.

My question to the community is: Will I keep getting a check engine light since there is an aggressive tune (Hilton) on the computer or am I really so human, that I keep putting the VVT Hub/ timing belt on wrong? Hilton is great with customer service and I am contacting them also. I did yank the starter motor, use a quality cam shaft locking tool and follow the VIDA procedures for the VVT hub/ Timing Belt install and the motor runs smoothly. It appears that very few people build extremely high hp Volvo motors, so my support base on this subject is limited. The modifications are a whole different thread and/or forum, but this motor was researched and designed to be Extreme for the appropriate application- an X/C model, not a Drag Racer.

The car is next project in line. I will pull and reset the timing belt/VVT hub, verify everything I can access and run VIDA. Looking for general thoughts and obvious issues I could be ignoring, until I can check the above.
Yours,
Mike

[abscate]

My record for putting the VVT hub on incorrectly and coding was 9 times before I got it right. It is a bit finicky.

See thread in the p80 forum on ‘ cam flank angle’ which will tell you where you are relative to correct position

[lawrencium265]

The procedure is really confusing. I thought I had to have the hub fully tensioned and then tighten the 3 bolts on the sprocket. It turns out that it needed to be sitting in the "limit position" aka hold tension while you put the belt on and then let go before tightening the 3 bolts. Fortunately I was able to just loosen the 3 bolts and move the cam without retiming everything. Iirc it was reading +/-11° I can't remember which and moving The cam counter clockwise fixed the issue. I would check the numbers in vida before doing anything.

[vtl]

Check VVT adaptation angle in VIDA. Should deviate for less than 8, ideally less than 4 degrees.