Engine: D5244: Drive Belt Snapped Causing Serious Engine Damage

[StephenO]

Hello. I need some advice - and many thanks to all who reply.

I have a 2008 V70 D5, 88,000 on the clock. The car was bought second hand in March 2011 and serviced in March 2012.

On Christmas Eve the drive belt snapped causing serious engine damage. The car is still under warranty. Unfortunately, the warranty does not cover drive belts - it covers timing belts, but not drive belts and the warranty company are saying that as the drive belt is the cause of the damage (confirmed by my garage) I am not covered.

What can be done in this circumstance? Is it worth going to Volvo itself - it is clearly an engine failure (I had no warning lights).

The garage are saying it is likely to be very expensive to fix, whether they attempt to repair or fit a new engine (much more so, of course, if a new engine is required).

Any help gratefully received. At present I am feeling not just unlucky but desperate as the family needs the car and it is not at an age when one could anticipate such almighty engine trouble.

[doingitsideways]

So, did the auxiliary belt snap, taking the timing belt with it?

If so, was the belt overdue for changing?

Maybe the belt tensioner seized, causing the belt to go, that may re-validate the warranty??

Steve

P.s, hope you manage to get it sorted

[Clan]

Originally Posted by StephenO

Hello. I need some advice - and many thanks to all who reply.

I have a 2008 V70 D5, 88,000 on the clock. The car was bought second hand in March 2011 and serviced in March 2012.

On Christmas Eve the drive belt snapped causing serious engine damage. The car is still under warranty. Unfortunately, the warranty does not cover drive belts - it covers timing belts, but not drive belts and the warranty company are saying that as the drive belt is the cause of the damage (confirmed by my garage) I am not covered.

What can be done in this circumstance? Is it worth going to Volvo itself - it is clearly an engine failure (I had no warning lights).

The garage are saying it is likely to be very expensive to fix, whether they attempt to repair or fit a new engine (much more so, of course, if a new engine is required).

Any help gratefully received. At present I am feeling not just unlucky but desperate as the family needs the car and it is not at an age when one could anticipate such almighty engine trouble.

So ... it had the 72000 mile service whilst you had it? who did it ? The aux belt and it's tensioner are to be changed on the 72000 service IF yours is a volvo 2008 model year .... and it should have had a recall for this too some time ago .. have you got the VIN to determine the model year?

[StephenO]

The RAC man called it a "rib belt", the garage prefers "drive belt". Its the one that turns the alternator and is connected to the timing belt.
I will look into tensioners. Thanks for the reply.

[StephenO]

Can't find VIN number and car is at the garage. In answer to your other questions, I acquired the car with 69,725 on the clock and did the next service at 78,552, so yes I was the owner at the 72,000 service. The service was done at Triangle Volvo on the north circular in London.

Looking back through the service notes there is no record of an auxiliary belt or timing belt change.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by StephenO

Can't find VIN number and car is at the garage. In answer to your other questions, I acquired the car with 69,725 on the clock and did the next service at 78,552, so yes I was the owner at the 72,000 service. The service was done at Triangle Volvo on the north circular in London.

Looking back through the service notes there is no record of an auxiliary belt or timing belt change.

I think your first move is ask them for a copy of the service checklist so that you can see for yourself that the belt and tensioner should have been changed . Then find out if your car is indeed a 2008 volvo model year because things are different for a 2007 and 2009 ... just post the chassis number if you like the last 6 numbers of VIN

[Marty Dolomite]

Originally Posted by StephenO

The RAC man called it a "rib belt", the garage prefers "drive belt". Its the one that turns the alternator and is connected to the timing belt.
I will look into tensioners. Thanks for the reply.

Just different names for the same belt, some still call them fan belts.
The chassis number is on a plate on dash visable from the passengers side lower windscreen and on the V5C log book.

[rasputin]

Quick question for Clan - does the requirement to change auxillary belt and tensioner at 72K miles apply to all 08 D5's? - I have an 08 model V50 D5 that is approaching this service and forewarned is forearmed.

Cheers

[Backhill1]

Yes i am a little concerned now also, My XC70D5 is an 08.

I thought the aux belt and tensioner was at 54 and again at 108 etc with the Timing belt.

So should this be done at 72K? my understanding was that the 3rd and 6th were the critcial ones.

Also i just had my 56V70d5 serviced at Volvo Aberdeen and it was half way due on mileage but they done a Volvo essential service this doesnt appear to actually cover much oil and filter etc and a lot of checks, but to be fair it wasnt expensive is this just like an interim until you hit the mileage then book it back in?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by rasputin

Quick question for Clan - does the requirement to change auxillary belt and tensioner at 72K miles apply to all 08 D5's? - I have an 08 model V50 D5 that is approaching this service and forewarned is forearmed.

Cheers

No , your 2008 D5 has a completely different aux belt arrangment , it is all changed with the cambelt at 108000 miles or 10 years which ever comes first ..