Help with aligning cam

iRenaissanceMan · Post by **iRenaissanceMan** » 13 Jan 2016, 23:45

Hi,

I've been trying to align my 2004 XC90 2.5L FWD's CAM for the past hour or so without luck. I've turned the crank (clockwise) at least 3 or 4 times at this point and still can't seem to get the marks to align. Here are a couple of pictures:

There were 3 flat surfaces on each of the gears. However, one had 0 marks on it, one had 4 dots and one had 5 dots. It looked like the one with 5 dots should be the one to try to align to so i put white-out on it to make it easy to see its center. Maybe I chose incorrectly? Should I have put white-out on the other surface and try to align them?

Anyhow, I've turned and turned the crank and can't get it to align. The car is new to me. The belt is volvo and I think it's 100% original. I don't believe it has been replaced in the past.

Please let me know if there's any help you can provide. Thanks!

iRenaissanceMan · Post by **iRenaissanceMan** » 14 Jan 2016, 08:18

i"ve uploaded more pics showing the current state of the hubs:

The exhaust cam position relative to the plastic timing mark

The intake cam position relative to the plastic timing mark

Post by **cn90** » 14 Jan 2016, 08:44

Turn the crank to "O" position.
Go CW 90-degrees further.
Now go CCW back to "O" position.

The above procedure releases the "preload" on the VVT sprockets.

Now remove the TB and reset the VVT sprockets manually.
Then re-install the TB.

http://www.justanswer.com/volvo/869v1-v ... #re.v/456/

iRenaissanceMan · Post by **iRenaissanceMan** » 14 Jan 2016, 21:49

Interesting read! I just read the justanswer.com and saw the pics. It looks like the timing may not be the "preprinted" marks on the gears?!?! I'm so confused. I saw these 2 images on the website and thought... is this right?!?! Would you please let me know if it's possible that someone would not use the pre-marked volvo timing marks? Thanks! Now I'm headed into my engine to check for those non-standard marks. BTW the white-out on my gears were made by me on the "pre-printed" marks.

iRenaissanceMan · Post by **iRenaissanceMan** » 14 Jan 2016, 23:51

Well, I went back to my car and found this. I think my CAMs are aligned properly. I had no idea the alignment marks was possibly just randomly on the gear itself.

My white-out marks were totally wrong. I'm glad I quadrupled check before removing the timing belt!

Post by **cn90** » 15 Jan 2016, 08:15

Start the engine and report back...lol.

iRenaissanceMan · Post by **iRenaissanceMan** » 15 Jan 2016, 14:48

Work hasn't performed. I plan on making the locking tool today and hopefully locking the cam today and pulling off the timing belt and hubs.

Post by **cn90** » 16 Jan 2016, 15:02

Buy the cam tool on ebay for $55-$60.
People who makes the tool regret it takes so much time to make it.
Once done, you can keep it or resell it on ebay.

Many years ago, this tool used to cost some $160-$200. Now it is $55-$60.

iRenaissanceMan · Post by **iRenaissanceMan** » 18 Jan 2016, 18:48

cn90 wrote:Buy the cam tool on ebay for $55-$60.
People who makes the tool regret it takes so much time to make it.
Once done, you can keep it or resell it on ebay.

Many years ago, this tool used to cost some $160-$200. Now it is $55-$60.

Yeah, I totally agree. There should be a sticky on the XC90 forum that simply states: "Stop: JUST BUY THE CAM LOCK TOOL... you're welcome"

I wasted so much time (3-4hrs) and in the end.. the damn thing slipped! I'm now waiting for one to be shipped via ebay.