The timing belt was not ready to be replaced again, but on my way to the stop light driving about 30 mph to stop I had a problem.

When I was near my full stop, it sounded like I ran over a lot of aluminum trash cans crushing them under my hood.

I had the car towed home. The car has 125k on odometer, and had the timing belt replaced before 100k. Anyway, I'm talking timing belt because upon further inspection I noticed in daylite I noticed the timing belt poking thru in several place the plastic cover.

The dealer has done ALL of the maintaining of this car. My question is two part I guess.

Would the dealer be at all responsible for this?

And what kind of damage should I expect? The cover is pushed to the side so I'm sure it is not good, and the actual belt is poking thru in seceral places.

I'm having it towed to an independant shop (Volvo's only) for a diagnosis in the morning.

Volvo dealer did the work, I beleive they warranty for 12mo/12k miles. My buddys 98 S70 failed EXACTLY like yours at 75K, only 5K after his T-belt change! He had to fight hard but the dealer picked up the $3500 repair bill!
Hydraulic tensioner failure!

I've heard of the serpentine belt failing and taking out the TB cover and the TB, the tensioners for either TB or serp belt failing and taking out the TB. Or the idler pulley or water pump seizing.

If you have a "late" '98 with the 105k mile belt it has a "new" mechanical tensioner which is supposed to be replaced at the same time as the belt. At least according to Volvo. The "early" '98s with the 70k belts have the old-style hydraulic tensioner, it's generally replaced at the second belt change.

-Punx

Yes it had a strange noise the day before at idle and the day of at idle. The noise sounded like a bird chirping. I'm almost positive it is tensioner related.

I know after the last service at the dealer, that the car had, in the mornings only, a belt related noise. being that they just replaced what I believe was the accessory belt, I blew it off as new belt meets old pulleys. It stopped just after a couple of days.

The car is completly dead. Just being in traffic and the temp insanity of the situation, I tried to restart immediately. It cranked over what seemed freely but nothing near starting.

I am hope-ing and praying that all that noise was just in the timing belt area and not the valves banging the pistons!

Any one have a similiar noise and situation?

thanks.................

nmi

Independent shop says this veru often happens. So much so that he is going to recommned tensioner change with timing belt change. His cost head and labor $3200.

Funny, all 4 volvo dealers had a price ready. his must be a pretty common problem.

Corporate vovlo said they know about it, but not many have complained. If enough people write letters to Volvo and dept of transportation, it is possible for us all to refunded or taken care of by volvo if we can get recalled.

somebody needs to create volvo s70 timing tensionor web site!

i guess because i was driving slowly - minimum damage.

head to head shop - new water pump, belt, tensioner, all gaskets and seals

total damage: $2430 at Volvo's Only in bellaire Texas

Damage was light because I was driving so slow at the time.

Moral of this story: Change your belt tensioner at same time of your belt!! Well worth the extra $60 bucks!!