Volvo 940 1992 gl 8 valve. Broken Timing Belt. Interferance

mikeanthony · Post by **mikeanthony** » 19 Mar 2009, 21:20

Lost my timing belt today doing 70 on the freeway. Have every thing apart and every thing seems ok. The valves are going up and down normally when I turn the cam shaft. I've heard that the 16 valve has interferance problems when the timing belt breaks but not the 8 valve. As I say preliminary inspection seems to confirm what I have heard. any body had the same experience and what damage was incurred? Right now I'm inclined to put it back together tomorrow, rotate it with the plugs out and see what happens.

Additionally it seems that splitting the lower belt cover would be a good idea so that next time I wouldn't have to remove the crankshaft pulley and starter motor. A metal strap fitted on with screws before I saw it in half would keep the two halves in relationship to each other and help keep the ignition timing marks in place. Any body tried that? I would be more inclined to change the belt at the recomended intervals if it was that much easier.

mikeanthony

Post by **billofdurham** » 20 Mar 2009, 12:30

You have the correct information about the 8 valve engine being non-interference and the 16 valve being interference. You should have no damage.

Your proposed modification has me puzzled. How would you get the belt off with the crankshaft pulley still in place?

Bill.

mikeanthony · Post by **mikeanthony** » 24 Mar 2009, 15:23

Hi Bill

Pleased to report timing belt replaced and no problems, as was expected. Replaced Distributor, rotor, wires, plugs and air filter. All were really due. She really wants to go now.

Re splitting the belt cover. I hadnt looked carefully at the covering web below the crank sprocket. That rules out any mods.
It would be nice to be able to change the belt without the palaver of removing the crank shaft pulley. Oh well.

mike anthony

Post by **billofdurham** » 25 Mar 2009, 13:32

Thank you for the update.

No car manufacturer would make a major job too easy or the dealers would not make so much profit.

Bill.

Steven242 · Post by **Steven242** » 25 Mar 2009, 18:10

I recently changed the belt in my 242 about three months ago, left the damn cover off cause it kept rattling. would never tighten down right after I removed it, but I didn't remove any pulleys, just took the tension off the belt tensioner and the belts off the accesories and pulled the old belt over the fan, and fished the new belt back on... I don't see why everyone says to take cranks and pulleys apart to change a belt... they are flexible...

Post by **billofdurham** » 26 Mar 2009, 13:56

Yes, they are flexible but not flexible enough to pull through a timing cover that encloses the belt and is behind the crankshaft pulley.

From memory the lower end of the timing cover on your engine is open which does allow the belt to come over the pulley.

Bill.

Steven242 · Post by **Steven242** » 29 Mar 2009, 07:14

I pulled mine off a long time ago cause the thing was warped from the previous owner not knowing what they were doing. But yeah, it's all open below the pulley and without the cover makes it so much easier to check the condition and monitor it...not to mention the easy replacement...