Cam Belt has gone on my S40 P reg 1.8 1996

Tom Davis · Post by **Tom Davis** » 10 Jul 2005, 13:33

Please help
My cam belt has gone when on the motorway, the car just cut out no big bangs or nocking, it just felt like the accelartor cable had gone. What i would like to know is on this model is there a safty cut out on the cam belt.

thanks

Tom

yeagermeister · Post by **yeagermeister** » 10 Jul 2005, 15:42

sorry to hear of your misfortune.

how many miles/kms?

the earliest S40 listed on the www.volvocars.us site is a 2000- you mention 1996 in your subject.

this, from the 2000 owner's manual, leads me to believe the 4 cylinder was an interference engine:

Timing belt

For proper functioning of the vehicle and its emission control systems, the timing belt and tensioner must be replaced every 105,000 miles (168,000 km). Engine damage will occur if the belt fails.

i'm not familiar with a "safety cut out"- most timing belts just break with no warning.

it's likely the head and valves at the very least are damaged if you were on the highway. typical timing belt failure will have very little audible noise, and will be sudden as the engine just quits running. if the valves are bent, it's likely the head has some damage as well. it's possible the pistons have been damaged, too, and at the very least is still a costly repair.