Hi All,

I have a 1999 Volvo S70 and the owners manual says change the Timing Belt and tensioner at 105,000. Boy, this seems like a long long time. Local shops say do it earlier, and different Volvo dealers have said, yeah do it early or wait until 105,000

Is this a different belt than used on 98s?

Is there a reason there is a longer change interval?

Thanks a million.

99 S70 5 Speed 86,000
95 850 Wagon 5 speed 118,000

J-

Thank you all for the input on the 105,000 timing belt change. I do have an extended warraty from Volvo that covers it all until 100K so I will just keep a close eye on it.

I agree with one of the earlier posts that the 850 Tensioner should be replaced at 140K. I made Volvo do mine at 60K (tensioner and Timing Belt) before I bought the car. I can sleep better at night.

Best of luck to all.

J-

Volvo recommends 105,000 miles...why spend money earlier? If the belt went earlier and damage was caused to your engine, Volvo would be responsible...

Yes, starting with MY1999, both the timing belt and the prestensioner changed with more durable materials which results in the longer interval change.


Yannis
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2001 V70 T-5M SR, Classic Red/Graphite Lthr., ipd ME7 ECU Upgrade, iPd Sport Exhaust, K&N Air Filter, Cold Weather, Dolby Surr. Sound, Rear Spoiler, 17' 'Tethys' alloys

You're right BUT I have wondered about just how "responsible" Volvo would really be in that by then, the car is well beyond its warranty period and VCNA could easily wash their hands of it IMHO. The newer solid lifter valve adjusters are also suppose to be checked, adjusted if need be at 105K miles yet that's not warranty and would be a very costly, time consuming job if need be.

I've done a few 105K mile T-belts and yes, the belts made it. The tensioner is also replaced at that interval.

I think Volvo might arguably be "morally responsible" for out of warranty repairs (as they might be with, say, 960 engine blocks and 850 AC evaporators, and we all know what happened there) but I wouldn't expect them to be "legally responsible" even if the timing belt snapped at 50,001 miles. I read the fine print of my VIP warranty and it specifically excluded the TB and any "consequential" damage which would seem to let everyone but the owner off the hook, even with the 100k VIP warranty.

BTW, replacing the tensioner is specified with the 105k motors but not the earlier 70k motors. I'll be doing the 140k belt change in about a year or so, and I've been arguing with my Volvo service advisor about the need to replace the tensioner and water pump at the same time. My current plan is to do everything but let my indy Porsche shop do it, since the Volvo folks are fighting the idea. (The Porsche shop people are well versed in timing belt systems and interference motors from the 928-944-968 motors. I did the pump with my last 944 belt change. In fact ... I kinda wonder if that's the design input Porsche made on the 5244-5234T motor series) Any toughts about the tensioner and water pump on the earlier motors?

Thanks!

About 10 years ago Mitsubishi engines had problems with t-belts breaking before their 60K mile interval with serious engine damage as a result. They did not cover the engine damages either as the car was no longer technically under warranty, even though they knew they had belt problems (was a recall, t-belt replacement done prior to that when the cars were new). I've met many a older Mitsu car owner who experienced that and swore to never again buy another Mitsu product. Probably why ALL their newer ads are geared towards "kids" only, not one older person anywhere in sight.

Mitsubishi just did not pass the message about their defective timing belts.

I had a 1993 Eagle Talon and the timig belt was supposed to have been replaced at 60,000 miles. I was a stickler with its maintenance (as I have been with all my cars) and I made a mental note to change the belt at 55,000 miles (just in case). Guess what? One night (I had about 43,000 miles) I was just shifting from 3rd to 2nd gear and at a speed of about 15 mph, the engine stops. Timing belt broke and the top part of the engine was ruined. I was beyong myself. The closest dealer was a Chrysler-Plymouth-Jeep store and I had the car towed there. Although my warranty was expired, they replaced the timing belt for free because it is WARRANTED to last 60K. While I was waiting, there was another guy in the waiting room, he has a 1992 Plymouth Laser RS with 56,000 miles on the clock and he had the same problem. They also replaced his timing belt (along with new head like they did in my car) for free. I have heard, since, from more than ten people w/ similar problems and they did not have a penny.

I have been with Volvos since 1994 and only once I have heard of a customer whose timing belt on a 5-cylinder engine went before 70K and Volvo replaced the belt and the whole top part of the engine for absolutely no $$$.

The bumper to bumper warranty has nothing to do with the timing belt. The belts, now, are supposed to go 105K. If one brakes at 104,999 miles, the repairs are free.

Yannis
--
2001 V70 T-5M SR, Classic Red/Graphite Lthr., ipd ME7 ECU Upgrade, iPd Sport Exhaust, K&N Air Filter, Cold Weather, Dolby Surr. Sound, Rear Spoiler, 17' 'Tethys' alloys