1995 850T wagon – Engine suddenly died on freeway

[Ozark Lee]

I have never heard of a whiteblock that broke a timing belt that didn't bend several valves. It usually doesn't damage the bottom end or the pistons but it can. You won't know for sure what the extent of the damage is until the head comes off.

For a DIY person it is a heck of a lot easier to pull the head and get it repaired than it is to swap the engine but price wise it might be cheaper to buy a pick-n-pull 2.3 liter turbo engine and drop it in. It largely depends on what resources you have. You don't need a cherry picker to pull the head but you do need one to swap an engine. There is also the uncertainty factor when you buy a junk yard engine. If you buy them from a place like Erie-VoVo they will guarantee them but they are a fair amount more expensive than the local salvage yard. Fortunately there a gobs of Volvo 2.3 liter engines to choose from, it was a very common engine.

...Lee

[Seamonster]

Lee, much thanks for the perspective.

I'm wondering what the percentage would be in my first trying a new belt (or kit?), even given the slight chance(?). Because beyond that, my next recourse would be to tow the lot to my mechanic and have him do whatever the next least expensive fix might be, e.g., valves. Doing valves is beyond me in my current situation/ability. Would I risk destroying the new belt, or if it doesn't work, might I at least be able to hand it off to my guy to defray his bill a bit? In other words, should I just take it to him now, or... no harm in trying the belt and learning something about timing?

Thanks anyone for some more comment. -- Kraig

[jcdillin]

IMO your going to be wasting your time replacing all the timing belt parts to find out that the head has to come off anyways to fix those valves, i've never heard of anyone ever being able to just put a timing belt back on and have it work.

If it were my car i'd do the job myself, doesn't require any special tools besides a torque angle gauge to reinstall the head so your only looking at the cost of the head rebuild, timing belt kit, the head bolts, head gasket and some various seals.

Now if you take the head off and find it's knocked a hole in the piston then at that point i'd consider another engine.

Might be worth reading through this guide to see if it's something you want to tackle

Volvo 5-cylinder: How to Replace the Head Gasket

[Seamonster]

That write-up is nice – thanks, jcdillin – but the job is clearly much more than I can address right now. It would be a fun hobby thing, but not something I could pull off in a few days, for various reasons (e.g., having nothing to drive to get parts and additional tools, my back is cranky at the moment, etc.).

I need to see what my mechanic would charge for the likely valve job, and how that compares to what I could sell the car for, as is, plus the cost of another comparable vehicle. Etc. Juggling apples and asteroids.

I wonder what I could get for the car as is. It’s a 1995 850 Turbo wagon with 165k miles. Prior to the timing belt fiasco, I would’ve said it’s in basically good condition, with a new radiator and two tires, all service done on time, paint fading but body straight, analog odometer stopped (I query the onboard computer for mileage), seat leather pretty beat... Without the damage, I could’ve gotten maybe $1500 for it, or at least $1,000. What’s it worth now, and to whom?

This triage process is just a whole lotta not fun!

- Kraig

[Ozark Lee]

You can try putting it on Craigslist for $500 and see if you get any bites. That will pretty much be top dollar for it unless the paint and interior are pristine. A junk yard will give you in the neighborhood of $200.00 to $250.00 for it and tow it off. There are also some charities that tow it off and give you a decent tax donation receipt which may be appealing depending on your tax bracket.

...Lee

[Seamonster]

My long-time, trusted mechanic says (on the phone) that I’d be in for at least $3,000 for the valve job, new timing belt, etc. I see nicer ones for sale for less than that, plus I can maybe get something for mine on Craigslist, as Lee suggests. Sad, but it looks like it’s time to move on. Anyone in So Cal looking for an 850 turbo wagon parts car? - K

[abscate]

Ouch on that bill. That's a lot of Orange County user tax

[Seamonster]

LA County near Ventura County.

[Seamonster]

Maybe a moderator could update the topic title to something like "Engine died – broken timing belt" to make it fit the eventual outcome better. -- Thanks, Kraig

[clifford06]

Greetings. Sounds like TBelt. The same thing happened to me " Stalled on Freeway" post. Loud thud, no power. All valves bent. My opinion is if you have invested money in this car, take a weekend and take the head off. Inspect it and see what's up.
I bet the water pump locked up. Check local Pick n Pull for a decent head. Just hate to see you lose money by selling to scrap yard.