Hi all, thank you for replying to my previous post about the timing belt. I had a mechanic (friend of family) over and redo the belt. The problem was the crankshaft gear belt alignment.

After burning 16 hours my valuable time, I have few comments about this whole Volvo timing belt alignment design.

First, the problem started when the plastic timing belt cover clumbled into piles of garbage when I undo the screws. What the heck where the Volvo engine designers smoking when they decided to use plastic cover for the alignment marks! I did timing belt job in several cars, all had timing mark on the engine block or metal cover. Is there any reason as why volvo decided to use plastic cover?

Then, what is with the 11 oclock crankshaft alignment position? All other engine designers where smart enough to put the mark on 6 oclock position so that alignment can be checked afterward. Anyone know of any specific reason as why the crankshaft timing alignment mark is at 11 oclock position?