XC90 - Broken Cam Belt - What now?

[dom8984]

Hi everyone,

I've a 2004 XC90 D5 with 119000 miles on the clock. Purchased a year ago and all has been running well until last week. Driving home from Scotland at 60mph on the A9 near Perth suddenly the 'Urgent Engine Service Required' warning appeared and less than 30 seconds later the engine cut out. Limped to the next lay-by and had the AA come out to confirm the cam-belt had failed. According to the service history this was changed less than 3 years and only 40,000 miles ago so it came as quite a shock.

My AA policy only covers the tow to the nearest garage, so having the car repatriated back home to Hampshire would mean a huge expense. The garage in Scotland would like to first spend a few hours investigating any possible damage (at a cost of £250), but suspect that a new cylinder head will be needed (at a cost of around £3000 fitted).

I've checked with my local Volvo specialist and main dealer who both thought that fitting a new head would be pointless and a new engine would be needed, at a cost of around £6500 if I went for a reconditioned one from Volvo.

Given the age of the car it's a finely balanced decision as to whether to cut my losses and run or pursue a repair. If we could get away with the new head it might just be worth it, but I'd be a bit concerned that some other problem may emerge down the line. The conflicting advice from the 3 garages isn't making the decision making process any easier!

Has anyone had any experience of a cam belt failure in the D5 engine? I'd be interested to hear as to what damage occurred and whether those pursuing repairs went for the new head or full engine - or walked away. Any advice is most welcome! If I should really be expecting the worse perhaps I shouldn't even bother getting them to take the head off and save myself the £250.

Thanks,

Dominic

[adieu]

Ummmm, try eBay.

Supplied and fitted D5 engines for between £2000 and £3000.


I'm sure you could get it even cheaper if you bought a 2nd hand engine yourself.

But I would pay the £250 to get the head off and investigate damage 1st.

[jayhl7]

Morning If you intend to have the car moved to somewhere else join another breakdown service asap with the correct cover it normally takes a couple of days to come into effect, Huddersfield Volvo breakers can supply and fit for £1000 through Ebay . P.s. If the engine is stripped down by the garage the chance's are you wont be able to have the vehicle recovered by the second breakdown service, and you might have to mislead the second breakdown service as to the condition of your vehicle, I worked for the AA as a recovery driver and lots of people would do this to get home from holiday after breaking down with the wrong cover level! Cheers Jay

[Clan]

Originally Posted by dom8984

Hi everyone,

I've a 2004 XC90 D5 with 119000 miles on the clock. Purchased a year ago and all has been running well until last week. Driving home from Scotland at 60mph on the A9 near Perth suddenly the 'Urgent Engine Service Required' warning appeared and less than 30 seconds later the engine cut out. Limped to the next lay-by and had the AA come out to confirm the cam-belt had failed. According to the service history this was changed less than 3 years and only 40,000 miles ago so it came as quite a shock.

My AA policy only covers the tow to the nearest garage, so having the car repatriated back home to Hampshire would mean a huge expense. The garage in Scotland would like to first spend a few hours investigating any possible damage (at a cost of £250), but suspect that a new cylinder head will be needed (at a cost of around £3000 fitted).

I've checked with my local Volvo specialist and main dealer who both thought that fitting a new head would be pointless and a new engine would be needed, at a cost of around £6500 if I went for a reconditioned one from Volvo.

Given the age of the car it's a finely balanced decision as to whether to cut my losses and run or pursue a repair. If we could get away with the new head it might just be worth it, but I'd be a bit concerned that some other problem may emerge down the line. The conflicting advice from the 3 garages isn't making the decision making process any easier!

Has anyone had any experience of a cam belt failure in the D5 engine? I'd be interested to hear as to what damage occurred and whether those pursuing repairs went for the new head or full engine - or walked away. Any advice is most welcome! If I should really be expecting the worse perhaps I shouldn't even bother getting them to take the head off and save myself the £250.

Thanks,

Dominic

Firstly , it is unlikely the cambelt failed by itself if genuine parts were used , more likely is teh Aux. belt or tensioner failed and wrapped itself around the crankshaft pulley allowing the belt to jump a few teeth and damage the engine ..
You have to be clear what caused the damage first before deciding what to do , going back to who you bought it from , but unlikely they will help .

Secondly you can usualy get away with just a head when this happens , very rare you need a whole engine .. the cam rockers are a deliberate weak point and they break first , but you may find the hydralic lifters have split their bores in the head and also the camshaft bearing caps are broken ,ruining the head .

[Rooster]

My XC90 the idler pully failed due to vibration from a seized freewheel pully on alternator,

The aux belt then wrapped itself round the cambelt and jumped a few teeth then snapped the cambelt tensioner off the side of the block, once that happens the engine is scrap,

Get the garage to check the cambelt tensioner mounting point, if thats ok then it will most likly just be a new head which is alot easier and cheaper job than a new engine,

It cost me around 1500 quid to fix mine including engine and parts but i did it myself so no labour costs

[dom8984]

Thanks to all who've replied with some good advice. I will get the garage to check items suggested.

Somewhat reassuring that I'll probably get away with a new head. I was looking on eBay also but I want to be fairly confident that I'll be able to rely on running the car without further engine problems if spending big money on the car right now. I don't want to do another 2000 miles then hit a problem again - my missus will kill me!

A car breaker has just offered £1400 for the car as is so at least that's much improved on the £120 I was offered for scrap.

Thanks again,

Dominic

[Danielpsmith]

I had to have a new head on my s60 d5 it cost me £375 for the head a £1000 in parts using genuine parts cambelt kit two injectors as they were damaged getting them out plus the labour I think it was about £2000 in the end looking at it should of probably put an engine in it