v70 1999 / Fix or Trade-in?

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 27 Jan 2009, 12:35

I agree with Jim on this one. Take care of that belt ASAP.
It's about cheap insurance, not odds...

jrod · Post by **jrod** » 27 Jan 2009, 13:09

I plan on buying that timing kit today. Belts are like anything else I suppose. Sometimes you win & sometimes you lose. You guys think I should go ahead and buy the waterpump too?

I just changed the transmission fluid yesterday. It was pretty black. It shifts soooo much smoother now. I've seen where people say don't change old black fluid because it may cause slippage due to friction loss. That wasn't the case in this '99 v70 2.4L NA. Im sure the fluid is like the timing belt. NEVER been changed. 139,000 miles

Any suggestions on any other kind of maintainace I may be overlooking besides plugs & oil?

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 27 Jan 2009, 14:30

Yeah, I agree - it's a reasonable thing to do if you have a spare$800. It's insurance, but I'm not sure it can be called "cheap". An $800 premium to cover a $3,000 loss is expensive insurance - particularly if the chance of it happening is probably less than one in a thousand. DIY? Yep - do it - it IS cheap insurance then, but not everyone can do that.

I think having this discussion is valuable because with the economy the way it is, someone may have to decide if their $800 should go to the timing belt or to paying the rent.

And I want to state plainly that this is a philosophical discussion - NOT a recommendation to the OP.

Also a disclaimer - my timing belt was replaced at 105,000 miles by the previous owner so I'm not having to make the decision any time soon.

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 27 Jan 2009, 14:32

I apologize, jrod - I hijacked your thread!

Post by **wheelsup** » 27 Jan 2009, 15:09

I'm going to get flailed on here but personally I wouldn't buy the kit from FCP. I did a few months ago and it came with an aftermarket tensioner and a bum tensioner pulley. I would buy from Eeuroparts.com. Yes I know FCP has since made amends but they had a previous problem with them too. I just got burned, and I'm still upset.

If you DO buy from FCP make sure you get the AISIN tensioner (you have to specifically ask them to include it, it will up the cost $20 though) and swap the NEW bearing from the NEW tensioner pulley to the old tensioner pulley housing (including the old bolts). That will alleviate any problems BEFORE THEY OCCUR.

I replaced my water pump too. All told for the water pump + timing belt kit it was around $230 including shipping. Because of the bad tensioner pulley I had to bring my car to my indy to R&R it and the belt for another $430 because I couldn't wait to do it myself, I needed the car back, and I had snapped off a bolt from the accessory belt tensioner (he fixed that too, God bless him).

Really the only special tools you need is a 30(?) mm socket you can rent from Advanced Auto parts in their wheel bearing kit so that's free and a T45 socket from harbor freight that looks like this:

This is used with a 3/8" ratchet to loosen the bolt, it will require a lot of torque, I slipped a pipe over my ratchet as a "breaker bar".

Also get Advance's brake kit that has this T45 in it if you don't want to buy it:

That will allow you to completely remove the T45, as there isn't enough clearance to back it out with the harbor freight socket.

Or you could buy this:
1/4" T45 TORX BIT SOCKET

I haven't used it yet but want to try it, I bet it will do the trick, for $7 I will buy it and use it if I have to do another timing belt.

On a side note why you haven't replaced your belt defeats me. 136k with a 105k change interval? Crazy.

Post by **wheelsup** » 27 Jan 2009, 15:17

instarx wrote:Yeah, I agree - it's a reasonable thing to do if you have a spare$800. It's insurance, but I'm not sure it can be called "cheap". An $800 premium to cover a $3,000 loss is expensive insurance - particularly if the chance of it happening is probably less than one in a thousand.

I'm not sure putting the odds at 1:1000 is fair, it's essentially 100% guaranteed to break at some point, and since it's well past it's TBO (time between overhaul) the chances are greater and greater each day. You're going to spend the $$ either way whether it's a new belt or a new engine. Might as well do it NOW or sell the car.

On a side note my indy quoted me $550 for the belt, tensioner, pulleys, and waterpump.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 27 Jan 2009, 15:31

I think you're doing the right thing. I can't think of other stuff unless you want to flush brakes and coolant and do the turkey baster thing to your power steering fluid too.
Just remember that on the T.B.'s that break, people aren't taking into consideration the time frame either...after 7 years, even if you're under the 105K miles, it could break from just getting soft...That may be part of the 20% spoken of earlier. That said, most times, it's the tensioner that causes the belt to go early (from what I've read) and the newer mechanical tensioners are often the ones that do this. Make sure you replace at least that part with a genuine Volvo one.

jrod · Post by **jrod** » 27 Jan 2009, 18:06

I bought this car w/ 119 on it two years ago. I didn't even think about the timing belt untill i started reading these forums.

On any other car I've ever owned, you squeeze all you can out of the belt until it breaks. (In this case I can't do that)

I was quoted $300 from one place and they provide the parts (not including the water pump) and $100-$150 labor cost if i brought my own parts in at another shop. Could you link me directly to the parts that YOU would buy? I see belts, kits w/ belts, kits w/ waterpump. Also I might as well replace the serpentine belt while she's broke apart.

These shops I don't think have worked on Volo's that much because they had to look it up on their computer. Im just wonderin' if they are going to "F" up my car. I could probably do this myself but I really don't have a place to do it and surely someone who does it all the time on other cars can do it better than I can. And for that price, I'd rather just pay to get it done and save my knuckles and not incur any problems that I may run into by not having all the tools etc.

Any special notes that I need to tell the mechanic to help insure he does the job properly?

As far as dude saying he's hi-jacking my thread..im just glad u guys are trying to help me so every thought and opinion is appreciated. As far a JRL's thoughts, I tend to be hard-nosed and to the point as well. People take offense too easily these days. I thank you fellers again

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 27 Jan 2009, 18:14

wheelsup wrote:I'm not sure putting the odds at 1:1000 is fair, it's essentially 100% guaranteed to break at some point, and since it's well past it's TBO (time between overhaul) the chances are greater and greater each day.

That's the problem - we just don't know the failure rate vs miles. All we have is the service interval and a bunch of anecdotal information (like that Volvo mechanic I quoted who said 20% failed before 105,000 miles). But we all know Volvo would be out of business if 20% of their engines self destructed before 105k, so I discount that. Even 1%.

I know one fact: I have owned maybe 15 cars and trucks in my life, all high mileage, and I have never replaced a timing belt on any of them and I have never had a timing belt fail. I believe manufcturers' timing belt service intervals are VERY conservative. I can also fully understand why they would do that.

Neither would I ever recommend anyone exceed the service interval, but for me personally I would not bat an eye if circumstances made me go +50% on a timing belt change. I would never say anybody was wrong or stupid to change belts sooner rather than later, but I have simply seen no evidence that it is that critical an issue.

And jrod - if this were the first or only time from JRL I would ignore it, but it isn't. Maybe I went overboard a little.

Those are great prices - go for it.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 27 Jan 2009, 18:26

If there is a mechanic that you trust, who is well seasoned, this shouldn't be hard for him...actually, the Volvo TB is easier than most Honda's now. Just print out these instructions for him: http://volvospeed.com/Repair/timingbelt.php
Parts, from eeuroparts.com is what I recommend (free shipping for orders of $40 an up).
You need this: http://www.eeuroparts.com/Main/PartDeta ... ?id=274338
OR THIS (check your engine number- it's on the side of your timing belt cover): http://www.eeuroparts.com/Main/PartDeta ... ?id=274338
And this: http://www.eeuroparts.com/Main/PartDeta ... d=30638277
And best to go ahead and buy this (once again, check your engine number): http://www.eeuroparts.com/Main/PartDeta ... id=8630590
And serp. belt: http://www.eeuroparts.com/Main/PartDeta ... d=30731808
And here's a water pump (there are several choices- one cheaper but this is by Aisin- same make as your transmission- made in Japan- I would trust it): http://www.eeuroparts.com/Main/PartDeta ... d=272476OE

Guys, am I forgetting something?

v70 1999 / Fix or Trade-in?

Re: v70 1999 / Fix or Trade-in?