XC70: Engine S29451 hydraulic belt tensioner

[simboc2004]

I wrote about this issue a while ago on here -search for V70 D3/4 163bhp 2011 aux belt tensioner A while after buying my 2011 2 litre 5 cylinder D3 I discovered that it hadn't had the hydraulic tensioner replaced - I think because it had been out of the Volvo service chain. The replacement tensioner was fitted originally as a "service re-work", not a general recall - so it was only done if you knew about it and it went in for a service with Volvo - and within a certain time span (3 years I think). This meant it didn't show up in an official recall check (which I did before buying it). It is impossible to buy the old style tensioner - well, why would you stock something that had been deemed unreliable - so you have to get the proper job done at an official Volvo service agent. I bit the bullet and paid for the drilling, etc. It should have cost about £1000, I seem to remember, however I got a good discount from Volvo "in good faith" and the dealer then had delays on the original quoted time and gave me a further discount, so it ended up costing £600ish. Not cheap, but done and now I can replace the aux belt when i need to.