2007 XC70 timing belt change. Do-able at home?

[AylmerQc]

I just found out from the previous owner that the timing belt was last changed in 2013 at 110,000.
It now has 200,000 miles.
Is this a job I could do at home on a weekend, or a week, taking my time?
I've done lots of mechanical work on my own cars over the years but no timing belts.
I have a pretty good idea of what's involved generally but wondering how complex it is on this particular car...

[abscate]

It would be due up at 215,000 miles, so another year of driving is ok. There is a lot of safety margin on these belts. The US version that is warranty for 150,000 miles uses exactly the same parts.

[AylmerQc]

Actually, the car is originally from the US so it might have had a 150,000-mile belt installed then.
There may be the number of years to consider though. we're getting close to 10 years on the same belt but I won't have time to do it (in the driveway) before winter comes so it's a next-year job in any case...

[jaywats]

Job is do-able, make sure you change all components as needed. Water pump, tensioner, idler, belt. You'll need the cam holder tool.

I wouldn't go past 75k/ 10yrs on a belt. Already replaced a block

[jonesg]

Job is do-able, make sure you change all components as needed. Water pump, tensioner, idler, belt. You'll need the cam holder tool.

I wouldn't go past 75k/ 10yrs on a belt. Already replaced a block

cam holder ?
why.

[chrism]

If you don’t loosen or separate the sprockets from the cams then there is no need to employ a any cam locking tools.

Here is a good video on the procedure. One thing I like to do differently is to remove the plastic shield from under the crank sprocket rather than removing the damper pulley.

[Blacklab467]

It’s easy and doable, you don’t need a cam tensioner nor do you need to remove the crank pulley. Just mark the old belt with a white marker and mark the index marks with white and transfer the marks to the new belt and away you go. Use only Volvo parts and replace the water pump and pulleys and tensioner, FCP sells a real good kit with a new serpentine belt also. Plenty of videos on how to set the tensioner. I did a post last year on how to do it with pictures, you could look at that too. It’s about a 2 1/2 hour job working slowly and methodically with hand tools.

[IlikemyXC70]

If it is the same as the 2004, yes. I used the video posted in this thread as a guide. I did remove the crank pulley, and I sprayed penetrating oil on the bolts about three weeks in advance. I used an electric impact tool, but there are also leverage "tricks" to loosen the bolts without the pulley spinning. I removed the ECM/ECU/computer housing too. I also replaced the drive/serpentine belt and tensioner.

The job took me about four hours working slowly and taking many breaks. A cam locking tool is not necessary. It takes a lot of force to move them. The trickiest part for me was the tensioner and its adjustment.

[br0dy519]

I've never done a Tbelt myself ... but why would anyone ever remove the crank pulley? Isn't that an equally painstaking, and unnecessary step?

[vtl]

I've never done a Tbelt myself ... but why would anyone ever remove the crank pulley? Isn't that an equally painstaking, and unnecessary step?

You need to remove plastic guard otherwise, and you will miss the ability to mark your old belt/sprocket, which can easily result in a skipped tooth or two. If you own an impact wrench it's a minute job anyways, why bother with dancing around the pulley?..

The best ambient temp to set the belt tensioner is 68F/20C btw, the needle would go right in the middle setting.

Agree with everyone else, it is an easy DIY job. One of the easiest engines in terms of t-belt replacement.