Catastrophic Serpentine belt failure '98 S70

[s70_Joe_Tx]

Me:
Long term lurker. Have read and searched regarding procedure specifics. Formally trained in automotive repair, experience mainly in diesel. None in driving/maintaining Volvo cars. Most prior pro tool collection gone, and primitive diy parking lot workspace.

Car:
1998 S70 GLT. 18x,XXX miles. Above average service records/mechanical condition. Fresh recent complete timing job. Engine serial unconfirmed.

Long story short:
Serpentine belt splits 2 innermost ribs off, 2 weeks ago. 4 ribs remained intact. Replaced belt (Gates). No evidence of pulley wear or damage.

New belt disintegrates 2 days ago, working its way into timing case at crank gear. Belt shards wedge between timing gears and timing belt. Wraps around everything, destroying case, tensioner, and generally making a mess. Lower belt guard destroyed, making removal of serpentine shards a 4hr process. Jumped time confirmed after barring engine over by hand. Crank significantly off time, no locking of engine. Minor binding while belt pieces remained jammed. Timing belt still fully intact and undamaged. Appears that serpentine may have possibly rubbed and cut on jagged protrusion on timing cover.


Worst case scenario looks like ~$1500 parts/tools/machining assuming proper cam tool and quality parts. Prefer the actual tool. Also includes valve seals and pcv not damaged by serpentine.

Questions relate to the tools and timing case.
Mechanical tensioner indicates this is a late engine style. Parts websites indicate same serial-break also applies to timing cover. This engine appears to have older style cover and metal belt "guide". Is this correct? Or is this engine need the '99-up style cover (front back and guide all damaged)

Are the eBay knock-off cam tools any good?

Seal/gasket recommendations?

Other recoomended part replacements while torn down to short block?

Thanks and sorry for long post.
Joe.

[phils94850]

Joe.. welcome to the site and sorry for your problem..

If it did indeed jump time while running then chances are likely it bent valves in the head. I would say it uses the older style cover if it has the metal guide and mechanical tensioner. I would obviously replace whatever is causing your serpentine belt to jump. I would start by removing the head and go from there. Ofcourse get the head checked and reworked by a machine shop. Ive never used the cam tools but if your going that far theres no point in skimping on the correct tools for the job. Volvo uses a special sealant for the cam cover you must use, I would purchase from dealer or reputable aftermarket source.

[Ozark Lee]

The knockoff cam tools are fine are excellent, at least the set that I bought (JTC) are. I think I paid around $160.00 for my set but now tools that look identical, even the red case looks the same, are less than half that price.

As far as the cover goes, I don't think you can mix and match the pieces. We had another member (several years ago) suffer the same type of failure that you describe. In his case, the belt worked its way into the timing cover via the hole in the cover where the harmonic balancer comes through and that hole is pretty much the same for both styles of the cover.

...Lee

[cn90]

Once you have fixed the head, my recommendation is to stick to Volvo, INA parts.

I understand that the car had "Fresh recent complete timing job", but my comments are generic:

For example:
- TB kit is $120 at dealership, cheaper than online vendors!
- Water Pump is Aisin, if you have not replaced the WP, then do it.
The Serpentine Belt:
- The mechanical tensioner maybe weak, allowing the belt to wobble.
- Replace the idler and tensioner pulleys x2.

Details below:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=53722

[s70_Joe_Tx]

Once you have fixed the head, my recommendation is to stick to Volvo, INA parts.

I understand that the car had "Fresh recent complete timing job", but my comments are generic:

My price estimate is largely based on OE parts such as Volvo/INA/aisin. (Did entertain the kevlar belt even though it is certainly not needed, just same price, also no objection to just using dealer blue box kit) Will not be attempting reuse with the exception of sprockets. Do not know which parts were previously utilized. Water pump may have been in good condition, but will not risk it as bearings may have suffered excess stress of belt being pulled and jammed. Duly noted on serpentine assembly as well.

Ozark,
My intention was not to mix and match. I definitely have the older style top cover and rail. As I need to replace 3 of 4 pieces (top piece with timing marks survived) and seem to have a late style tensioner, I was concerned about the inner cover compatibility especially. Online parts houses list late style cover and mechanical tensioner as mutually exclusive. I may entertain used covers (jy) depending on my experiences with required time for removal+cost vs the ~$100 or so that I've found for new pieces.

I will do more research on how to use/acquire VADIS for the sole purpose of parts research.

Thanks!

[Ozark Lee]

VADIS/VIDA is excellent for parts and part compatibility between different years and models. I think the cover is all the same for at least the late '98 through 2000 engines be they turbo or N/A. I'm not sure that the mechanical tensioner will actually fit behind the early style covers.

There are links to a virtual machine version of VIDA in this thread:

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... it=VM+Ware

The beauty of the virtual machine version is that it will run on about any operating system and it circumvents many of the installation problems that people seem to have. The other options for VIDA are the P2P sites or eBay where you can buy DVDs that someone else downloaded from the P2P sites. If you buy DVDs be aware that they are double layer DVDs that require a double layer reader.

...Lee

[cn90]

If you post a few photos of your setup, then we can help you pick the correct parts.
This is b/c 1998 was a "transitional" year in terms of engine design etc.

For cyl head tool, I think this is the "forum favorite", correct me if I am wrong:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Timing-Locking- ... 1423558064

[s70_Joe_Tx]

Apologize for the long absence. Life got in the way, volvo went to the back burner. Now it is time to tackle it.

Tool just arrived, few parts have been ordered. Still finalizing the list. May have the timing belt cover thing figured out, although I will still take the pictures as previously asked. Outer pieces definitely look like older familiar 850/s70 pieces. Confusion lied in so many different superseded part numbers.

Want to have the experts double check the part numbers/vendors, in case I missed something. Most parts are from semi-local dealer unless otherwise noted.

Timing

Code: Select all

30758261 timing belt 117.21
985504 "sems screw" (tensioner bolt) 2.65
9146795 metal belt cover 5.75
9458049 front cover 45.17
9135040 rear cover 38.96
985151 water pump bolts (7) 1.60ea
WPV800 water pump (aisin rockauto) 57.79

PCV

Code: Select all

1271988 oil trap 29.04
8653339 hose 6.42
1271654 21.00
1271653 8.90
5/8" fuel/vapor hose
clamps

Gaskets/Seals/Misc

Code: Select all

11809 rear cam seal (skf-rockauto) (2) 5.24ea
17806 front cam seal (skf-pepboys) (2) 10.99ea
9463274 therm hsng gasket 4.90
8642450 turbo gasket 3.68
9146266 intake gasket 14.04
9135990 throttle body gasket 3.94
1161059 sealant 31.69
8699467 one-piece exhaust manifold gasket 9.17
54570 headgasket (reinz-fcp) 28.99
B45618 valvestem seal (reinz-fcp) (20) 0.99ea
xxxxx sparkplug tube orings (reinz-fcp) (5) 0.79ea
GS33486 cyl head bolts (reinz-advance) (12) 3.18ea
30713305 turbo coolant line 6.16
6842190 turbo coolant line 8.21

Serpentine

Code: Select all

1275380 tensioner 57.95
272136 pulley 28.21
INA-5320191100 idlers (ina-fcp) 33.99

I know there are a few other incidentals. Does this list sound roughly correct?

[rspi]

Did you figure out what threw the serpentine belt?

[cn90]

1+,

Find out EXACTLY why the serp belt went south. Otherwise, it will be futile effort fixing the cyl head.
Back in your original post, you used new Gates belt and it failed in 2 weeks. So my theory is:

- Idler pulley
- Tensioner pulley
- Alternator pulley wobbling (is the bearing OK?)
- AC pulley wobbling (is the bearing OK?)
- The PS Pump: is almost bullet-proof because the bearing is bathed in ATF all the time.
So the PS Pump is unlikely to be the root cause.