v70 1999 / Fix or Trade-in?

jrod · Post by **jrod** » 24 Jan 2009, 15:07

139,000 miles
The warranty is out on my ETM and will probably need to be replaced soon. I cleaned it and seems to be working fine (for now) and the timing belt has never been changed. I seen where i can mail the ETM off and get it fixed for $600. If I do this I will probably need to replace the MAF sensor as well and do not know how much this will cost.

Also the timing belt is overdue to be replaced. I could probably tackle this myself as well but don't knw exactly what all parts/seals i need to replace while doing this or if there are any special tools involved that I need.
My questions are..Has anyone sent there ETM to have the non-contact upgrade done? Also, if I decide to do the timing belt replacement myself what all parts, seals, tools do I need and the best place to buy these parts?
Finally, should I just trade this car in (while she's running good) instead of doing all these costly repairs?

mrscullini · Post by **mrscullini** » 24 Jan 2009, 15:50

i can't speak to the etm rebuild.

the timing belt and maf replacement are a piece of cake. check with fcp groton for part, www.fcpgroton.com

parts are not that expensive, if i recall, maybe 2 hundy for the timing belt parts, 125 for the maf.

if it is running well, i would repair and keep. i would do the t-belt asap, you are running on borrowed time.

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 26 Jan 2009, 09:20

mrscullini wrote: i would do the t-belt asap, you are running on borrowed time.

Good advice, but it brings up another question. I am sure that Volvo builds a generous buffer into timing belt service life. For example it isn't likely to fail at 110,000 miles if you don't replace it at 105,000 miles. But do we really know if it is even likely to fail at 136,000 miles? It all depends on how conservative Volvo decided to be.

I assume that Volvo's schedule of 105K miles is written to prevent at least 99.999% of failures - one failure in 100,000 cars before 105K miles. (It is likely even higher than that.) Given an essentially zero failure rate at 105K, it seems unlikely to me that 136K would be very risky. So my question is - has anyone here actually had a timing belt fail, and what was the mileage when it did?

jrod · Post by **jrod** » 26 Jan 2009, 13:21

I found this link for more info and opinions on the timing belt.

check it out

http://volvoforums.com/m_81259/tm.htm

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 26 Jan 2009, 14:26

So my question is - has anyone here actually had a timing belt fail, and what was the mileage when it did?

I had one fail on my wife's old Chrysler Concorde. The recommended service interval was 100k and it broke at right at 102k. Fortunately it was a full clearance engine (there were two variants of the same engine, one had full clearance and the other did not).

I came very close on my '94 850. I noticed a slight coolant drip at the bottom of the timing belt cover and when I pulled the cover the belt nearly slipped off of the cam sprockets. The tensioner was failing as were the idler and tensioner rollers as well as the water pump. This was right at 210k and the belt had been changed at 143,500. Needless to say the car was parked until the parts came in.

I take the intervals very seriously since the resultant damage is so severe.

...Lee

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 26 Jan 2009, 16:43

jrod wrote:I found this link for more info and opinions on the timing belt.

check it out http://volvoforums.com/m_81259/tm.htm

Thanks, i didn't now that forum even existed.

The moderator (a Volvo mechanic) said 20% of belts fail before 105,000 miles, but another guy said two separate dealers told him they had never seen a belt break. Aargh!

But both those claims seem extreme to me - never is a long time, and 20% premature catastrophic failure doesn't sound like anything Volvo would accept (and something we all would have heard about).

Post by **JRL** » 26 Jan 2009, 16:56

They CAN and DO break before the stated time and mileage, trust me on this!

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 27 Jan 2009, 07:05

JRL wrote:They CAN and DO break before the stated time and mileage, trust me on this!

I'm sure you are right, JRL. My point though is what is the likelihood of that happening? It's fairly expensive to have these changed ($600-$800) and doing it more often than is reasonable is just wasted money. Personally I would be willing to take a 1 in 10,000 chance to save $800. Some people may not be, and that's fine too.

Suppose someone offered you a deal. He had a box with 10,000 white marbles and one black marble. If he offered to pay you $800 if you picked a white marble, but you had to pay him $3,000 if you picked the one black marble - would you take it?

Post by **JRL** » 27 Jan 2009, 09:28

If you're willing to take the chance that your engine can be totally wiped out in 3 seconds, I have no retort to that logic
"Stupid is as stupid does" (Forrest Gump, 1990)

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 27 Jan 2009, 09:42

JRL wrote:If you're willing to take the chance that your engine can be totally wiped out in 3 seconds, I have no retort to that logic
"Stupid is as stupid does" (Forrest Gump, 1990)

JRL, I've talked to you before about how you talk to me, and this is not acceptable. I thought you understood after the last time that you are not the F'ing king of the Universe. You are out of bounds with your idea that you can say anything to anyone, and insult anyone at any time. How many new members have been simply driven off by your aggressive insults when they ask a question here? I've seen it - a new member posts here, you insult him and he is never heard from again. That's income to Matthew1 lost and I'm surprised you are allowed to do it so blatantly and consistently.

Here is a hint on my personality, JRL: I never back down from bullies.

Now, if anyone else has any thoughts about risk assessment in this topic I will continue the civil discussion, but JRL - get lost with your mouth and your insults.