03 C-70, How much damage is too much - valves hit piston

Plova25 · Post by **Plova25** » 18 Oct 2017, 12:34

Hello All,

I think this is my first post here. Timing belt jumped on my son's 03 C70 due to a seized water pump and I have pulled the cylinder head. A number of the valves have hit the pistons (in 4 of the 5 pistons) and I am considering whether I can still have the head rebuilt. I am attaching pictures of the cylinders. I have a shop lined up to do the job and will ask them but I wanted another opinion.

Also, it seems this car has a head gasket. In a few videos I have seen an anaerobic sealer being used (I know this is used for the cam cover) but maybe this was for a different model.

Thanks,

Jeff

Post by **oragex** » 18 Oct 2017, 15:29

Sad but not uncommon aftermarket water pump failure, I'd only put Aisin or Volvo in place. As for the valves, they hit the piston quite hard, not sure if replacing only the valves will do?

Post by **misha** » 18 Oct 2017, 16:03

Just rebuild the head or put in a used one and new head gasket.Victor Reinz or oem Volvo are the ones you need.
Anaerobic sealer is used for cam cover for all models...also make sure that is Victor Reinz or oem Volvo.

Post by **scot850** » 18 Oct 2017, 17:39

From what I have read, and following on from what misha says too, mostly the damage is to the valves/head (and usually just the valves). The pistons may not look pretty, but they are fairly robust.

Other option is to buy a used motor and just swap it all out if you are worried about damage.

Neil.

Plova25 · Post by **Plova25** » 19 Oct 2017, 10:14

Thanks all for the info. I am taking the head over to the shop today after recommendation from IPD and another Volvo specialist. I am a bit lucky as IPD is only 20 minutes from me. Spoke with the shop manager and he stated that they have rebuilt heads on Volvos when the belt went at highway speeds. My son was at a stop light went the belt slipped so just starting to accelerate slowly. The fellow at the shop mentioned the concern with the piston contact would be the effect on the rods and not so much the piston head surface and that the valves are softer. Valves made contact but none drastically bent. I will be having all the valves that made contact (even the slightest bit) replaced. They will look at everything.

Frustrating part was that I had the new pump (it is an Aisin) with the timing belt kit I picked up and was going to do the change the next morning. It would have been done earlier but I had to change out a drive shaft on a Touareg that I picked up for my daughter ! The previous owner had the timing belt changed previously so it had only 24K miles on it. I can confirm it was changed as the belt was a Gates but I don't know about the water pump so I will find out when I pull it. The pump seized quite fast after beginning to leak. If it was replaced when the belt was then it was probably a cheap pump.

Best,

Jeff

Post by **misha** » 19 Oct 2017, 11:05

Gates belts are total cr*p!
I doubt that your water pump was the culprit.

Post by **FLXC90** » 19 Oct 2017, 13:14

The damage to the piston tops should just be blended out. File of the edges of the depressions with a file or die grinder. once that's done try to smooth the edges. Just like bondo, only different!

Edit-this should be done to prevent heat risers, or hot spots on the piston tops causing them to prematurely burn through.

Post by **kallekula** » 19 Oct 2017, 14:21

I have done quite a few jobs where the pistons have come in contact with the valves. It has always been because the water pump seized up. Never had any problem after the machine shop looked over the head and replaced the bent valves.

Post by **kallekula** » 19 Oct 2017, 14:23

oragex wrote: ↑18 Oct 2017, 15:29 Sad but not uncommon aftermarket water pump failure, I'd only put Aisin or Volvo in place. As for the valves, they hit the piston quite hard, not sure if replacing only the valves will do?

Isnt Aisin Volvo original?

Post by **misha** » 19 Oct 2017, 14:40

Yes it is...that's why i said this:

misha wrote: ↑19 Oct 2017, 11:05 Gates belts are total cr*p!
I doubt that your water pump was the culprit.

I had Gates belt on hydraulic pump on my XM which failed in a few months...also a serpentine(PK) belt which is few years old and factory one which i replaced with Gates looks better than this piece of s*it.Gates is full of tiny little cracks like it have 100k+ on it.

I also heard that VW drivers have a lots of problems with Gates timing belts which fail prematurely in 20-40k km interval...and Gates is OEM for VW!

Oem Volvo serpentine PK belt installed back in 2009 looks like i installed it yesterday.