2000 V70 Timing Belt Change

jamesbeat · Post by **jamesbeat** » 28 Jul 2016, 08:25

I have a 2000 Volvo V70 5 Cylinder NA with 185,000 miles.

There is no evidence that the timing belt has ever been changed, and as you can imagine, I'm extremely nervous about driving it!

I have the parts kit which includes the belt, tensioners and water pump.

I have a reasonably good tool set; socket set with 3/8' and 1/2" ratchets, torque wrench etc.
From looking at tutorials, it seems that the only things I am missing are the 30mm socket and the serpentine belt tool. I can buy the socket and make the tool easily enough.

I haven't done much work on cars, but I have done a little. I replaced my front suspension, coil packs, spark plugs, do my own oil changes etc.
I am reasonably mechanically adept - I have taught myself to stick weld (badly) and how to use a metal lathe by watching videos and reading tutorials.

I have watched several videos and spent hours reading tutorials on the timing belt change, and I was feeling as though I could do it.
However, when I looked at my parts kit, I realized that one of the parts, the tensioner, is different from those shown in the tutorials and videos.

I checked, and it does seem like I ordered the correct kit - you have to go by the serial number on the sticker on the timing belt cover. I guess 2000 was the year that they changed over to the new style tensioner.

I have now lost some of my confidence about doing this job

The ones in the tutorials look like this:

But mine looks like this:

I don't know if I'm using the wrong search terms or something, but I'm having trouble finding the correct tutorial for this style of tensioner.

Could someone point me in the right direction?

PS78 · Post by **PS78** » 28 Jul 2016, 08:49

Here you go,

PS78 · Post by **PS78** » 28 Jul 2016, 08:56

Read this post pertaining to the cvvt as well
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=76158

Post by **abscate** » 28 Jul 2016, 09:22

James - the switch happened in 1999 with the ME7 and CVVT system coming in, too.

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 28 Jul 2016, 10:11

James, whatever you do, do not think you have to touch or remove the lower timing belt cover. I made the mistake of thinking that and broke my cover! It's pretty straightforward, good luck!!!

jamesbeat · Post by **jamesbeat** » 28 Jul 2016, 10:15

Thanks for the links.
Robert DIY is a hero. I love his videos, and his video of the timing belt change has been the one I have been watching most while trying to wrap my head around this.

I see that they pertain only to the tensioner - does this mean that the tensioner is the only difference, and that I can follow the other tutorials for the rest of the components?

jamesbeat · Post by **jamesbeat** » 28 Jul 2016, 10:22

theWIFES_S70 wrote:James, whatever you do, do not think you have to touch or remove the lower timing belt cover. I made the mistake of thinking that and broke my cover! It's pretty straightforward, good luck!!!

Thanks for the tip!

I have to admit I'm pretty nervous about doing this.
If I had the money, I would definitely pay a shop to do it, but I don't have it right now so it is what it is.

I was nervous about replacing my front suspension too, but that turned out to be ok, so I'm hoping this will be a similarly rewarding experience.

From what I have read, as long as I have all the marks lined up and the tensioner correctly adjusted, I can't really go wrong.
Is this correct, or am I being naive?

Are there any pitfalls or gotchas that I may not have gleaned from reading tutorials and watching videos?

I don't have much experience, but I am mechanically inclined and I am able to follow instructions methodically.

The thing that is holding me back a little is the fact that this is my only car, and I'm in trouble if I can't get it all back together over a weekend.

Post by **abscate** » 28 Jul 2016, 10:36

You have to pretension the CVVT on the 1999+ cars but this is not a big deal. See the threads.

Once you have the belt on, everyone I know turns the engine over and watches all the marks line up. If you do that, you are golden.

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 28 Jul 2016, 10:40

As long as your marks are lined up, you're good to go. You'll know if you don't line something up right.

I think if you approach this job thinking it's a 20 min job and go to turn on the engine without cranking it over by hand, you're asking for trouble.

Take your time. The first time I did this, it took be 5/6 hrs. I could probably do it in half that time now. Especially if I'm not touching the water pump. I think taking off the water pump and cleaning the mating surfaces took the bulk of my time.

The only trouble I could see you running into is that you might encounter a mystery hard line near the crankshaft. (You know that point in the tutorial where you have to remove the two bolts holding the timing belt bracket, near the crankshaft?) In some cars there's a hard line there. Some say it necessitates removing the crankshaft pulley. Some say if you take your time, you can finesse the timing belt in there. I don't know, it's a battle of the big guys on here: one camp of respected guys says that the pulley must be removed; another camp of respected guys says you can do it with the pulley still on. I can't comment because I did not have that hard line there.

Good luck!

obayha · Post by **obayha** » 28 Jul 2016, 12:10

I mark my old belt and new belt with a white marker, and as long as they line up, things should go smooth. I have noticed every time I have done mine, that the exhaust side moves a little and scares the heck out of me, when I try putting the new belt back on. That is why I mark both belts. I have only done four TB changes, but all have gone well. Hand crank before starting.
Good luck.
Shane