Almost every cold morning (sub 30's) after I start my car and begin to drive off I hear this horrible moan coming from the engine compartment. So one morning I got out of the car and revved the engine by pulling on the accelerator cable (I guess that's what it's called) and I noticed that the sound is coming from underneath the timing belt cover. What could be causing this noise only in cold weather? It really sounds like a bearing has gone south, but once you drive for about 1/2 mile it stops and never comes back again unless the car has been sitting outside in really cold weather. 355 Volvo has already replaced the idler pulley because it was making a high pitch whine sound (it made the moan sound before and after they replaced the idler pulley). I originally thought the moan was the emergency brake sticking in the morning, because it was so loud and it would go away after a little bit of driving. Any thoughts?

Also update on the sludge in oil. I just got off the phone with 355 Volvo and they said there was absolutely nothing wrong and that the tech really didn't find any sludge. Oh, boy some one needs some glasses. So I have to go over there and show them where it is. I guess it really doesn't matter what they say anyway, I'm still sending the oil away to be tested. I don't trust any mechanic who still can't find and fix a suspension clunk even after the forth visit AND I've replicated the sound with the tech in the car.

Thanks in advance

Scott

PS – 4000 miles left on VIP, hopefully everything wrong will get fixed!

I know the problem. I just fixed it myself. The belt tensioner sits right next to the Timing Belt Cover. You can do an easy fix and spray some WD40 into it. It will take the cold morning moan away for a little. Or you could replace the whole tensioner like I did and the noise will never come back. Ask around. The tensioner is a common noise maker.

4 visits and they still can't trace a suspension clunk?? Oh man, consider finding a new service garage for your beloved 850! The indie garage found and silenced my suspension clunk on the first visit--sway bar end link crapped out. If they still haven't fixed this for you ask them to check those. If not, could also be any of the shock/strut mounts. How many miles/kilometres do you have on your car? Could the moan be coming from an ailing timing belt?

Good luck with it all.

Bit confused - is the noise coming from the engine or the right front suspension?

If it is the right front strut the strut tower spring retainer cup may be "shot" - this is a common failure.

Just had mine replaced- part was $26 from the dealer plus labor (your or theirs).

Good Luck

Sorry, you must have read my post out of context. I was just replying to another's post who had two problems with his 850--an engine "moan" and a suspension clunk that the dealer could not diagnose after 4 visits/complaints. My clunk was the sway bar end link and so far I have yet to experience any new suspension noises. By the way, out of curiousity, what noises/clunks did you hear coming from your suspension before you had the strut mount replaced?

The noise was a "clunking" noise eminatting from the fopnt passenger side strut. I initially believed that the strut had failed. Instead, it was the Spring Retainer Cup - the dealer returned to me the damaged part which was clearly broken.

Apparently, I am told, this is a fairly common problem. It is further exasperated when you switch to the more firmer bilstein strut (or so I am told).

Anyhow it is fixed and all is back to normal.

Scott,

I hate to turn anyone away from a Volvo dealer, but leave 355 and don't look back. I will gladly buy parts from them, but that is it. I hear horror stories about these monkeys every time I see a Volvo owner around town! I do most of my own service, but I have heard from very reliable sources that Annapolis Volvo is a great dealer for service. There are also some good inde shops in Rockville and Gaithersburg.

Oddly, I had the same exact problem with my Honda accord a few years ago. The sound came from beneath the timing cover so I opted to diagnose the problem myself. I removed the serp. belt and ran the car...noise was still there. Pulled timing cover and saw Honda’s abortion and figured that they should replace all 3 timing belts. (Also their recommendation after diagnosing the same problem.) $1000 later, new t-belts, pulleys, tensioner, water pump, crank bolt (mechanic stripped the head), and other assortment of goodies...result= noise still there! Aaarrrrgggghhh! Pissed, as one should be after spending a grand to fix a problem and still having it there, I took the car home. Drove it for a week and then Bosch came out with those new platinum +4 plugs. I figured that the car was due for some TLC anyhow. I replaced the plugs and the noise was gone!? Found a pinhole leak in the porcelain of #2 sparkplug. Case and point...maybe you should replace the plugs first. This had me stumped, as well as several DOZEN other mechanics. We all thought that it was a belt related problem, the sound made perfect sense. (3 Honda dealers, 2 Honda hop-up shops, and my old NASCAR buddies shop.)

Good luck!

Prospero