I suppose it's possible. Part of the problem I have is that the tensioner for early 98 is unique to that half model year. Not a lot of people are familiar with it. I'm trying to decide if I should consider this some fault in the dealer's servicing of the belt, a poor tensioner design or servcing specs, or what.

Early cars, I understand you replace the tensioner as SOP; the late'98s/99s you replace the tensioner as SOP; apparently with 94-97 you "might" replace the tensioner but you always replace the white plastic thing. With early 98's there is no plastic thing, and you might repalce the tensioner, but I have no idea how a tech arrives at that decision. In this case it was clearly the wrong call. Was it forseeable? Does the Volvo 12 month warranty on dealer service apply? That's the real question.