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so about two months ago my friend since '94 died while driving home from work. Initially I thought it was just the fuel pump. like most with too little time i entrusted the trouble shooting to my local volvo dealer. the first call was to inform me the fuel pumps checked out fine but the relay needed to replace. sweet, a cheap part and an easy fix, should have been able to pick the car up that night. fast forward 4 hours and another phone call informing the car still won't start, they think the cap and rotor have gone bad. no worries, i just had both replaced with oem parts and were under warranty. fast forward again to the next evening and another phone call, nope - it isn't the cap and rotor the reason the car is only firing on one cylinder- the cam isn't turning... they checked the timing belt and found several teeth from the belt had sheered off... upon trying to turn the cam by hand they found it was was being blocked by a valve.
Not sure how that is even possible, since i was driving when the car died, but that's beside the point.
I inspected with the mechanic and agreed, the cam was not turning as the intake valve on number 4 was for whatever reason not returning to the full upright, locked position and allowing the cam to turn.
so here's the crux, do i donate my friend of 20+ years to a charity, or do I find someone with the tools, time, and knowledge to rebuild? I had hoped to pass the o'l car on to my son as a first car, and to be honest, up until the event, the car was the perfect daily driver.
Is there a third option? another engine perhaps? I'd still have to pay someone to install it.
Appreciate any thoughts or mechanic recommendations.
- disappointed NoVA Dad
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