XC60 D5 auxiliary belt failure

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

Aux belt often doesn't take out the cambelt, as previous posts indicate. Inconvenient only.

I've never heard of a cambelt snapping on a D5. Have you or any others?

That discussion aside, wtaf is going on with these multiple failures at low mileage - again the first time I have heard of this. Tensioner issues?

I haven’t personally. I think the aux belt is more prone to fail, or the aux belt tensioner. Either of those derails the cam belt usually.

Its a very poor design. Belts should not be failing at such low mileage.

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

I haven’t personally. I think the aux belt is more prone to fail, or the aux belt tensioner. Either of those derails the cam belt usually.

Its a very poor design. Belts should not be failing at such low mileage.

Only once out of 5 breakages according to the two primary posters on the thread. Surprised me too, since I have been brought up on the notion that it's almost every time.

Something's badly amiss if there are low mileage breakages happening, but again I wonder how prevalent that is?

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

Only once out of 5 breakages according to the two primary posters on the thread. Surprised me too, since I have been brought up on the notion that it's almost every time.

Something's badly amiss if there are low mileage breakages happening, but again I wonder how prevalent that is?

I think the three belt design on the newer models was a stupid idea (timing belt, aux belt and a/c belt all next to each other). Space is limited in that area... a snapped belt has no where to go really, apart from tangle itself with another. The thicker 2 belt design was better (1 cam belt and 1 aux belt) on the older models.
If one of the belts simply snaps and doesn’t tangle with the others, that’s very lucky.

I’m not sure how often its happening. Luckily, we don’t see many posts on here. Although, not all Volvo owners will be on this forum. Maybe Dayco parts are no good? OE supplier to Volvo.

[Lancee]

Might beg the question, why did Volvo move to a 3 belt system ? Was the 2 belt not up to the extra demands of stop/start "technology" ?

[RDesign4Life]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

Maybe Dayco parts are no good? OE supplier to Volvo.

Does make me wonder if this is one occasion when the Forum stock advice of always use original Volvo parts is worthy of re-consideration in favour of a Gates aux belt?

These reinforced belts should really never fail catastrophically by simply snapping. They should really show visual signs and give fair warning before letting go out of the blue.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Lancee

Might beg the question, why did Volvo move to a 3 belt system ? Was the 2 belt not up to the extra demands of stop/start "technology" ?

I'm not so sure why they did it.

Although, my car has 3 belts and doesn't have stop start! I think its a Ford thing, as the older models when Ford weren't involved (P2 chassis) didn't have 3 belts.

Originally Posted by RDesign4Life

Does make me wonder if this is one occasion when the Forum stock advice of always use original Volvo parts is worthy of re-consideration in favour of a Gates aux belt?

These reinforced belts should really never fail catastrophically by simply snapping. They should really show visual signs and give fair warning before letting go out of the blue.

Could be well worth considering. Gates and Contitech are good belt manufacturer's.

[RDesign4Life]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

my car has 3 belts and doesn't have stop start! I think its a Ford thing, as the older models when Ford weren't involved (P2 chassis) didn't have 3 belts.

Maybe Ford did it to save money on cars without aircon (one less belt) or maybe the change meant they could use aux and stretch belts on the D5 that they already produced and stocked from other Ford models at a lower cost.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by RDesign4Life

Maybe Ford did it to save money on cars without aircon (one less belt) or maybe the change meant they could use aux and stretch belts on the D5 that they already produced and stocked from other Ford models at a lower cost.

That's likely it. I think cost cutting was a factor somewhere.

[GMcL]

Geely have had 14 years to change it if they thought it was an issue.

[RDesign4Life]

Originally Posted by GMcL

Geely have had 14 years to change it if they thought it was an issue.

Bit random. What on earth does that mean?

Edit - I see the context - Chinese owner of Volvo brand. Well which of these would you normally associate with Chinese companies?...

1. High quality products developed for longevity and and robustly tested to ensure reliability

or

2. Cheap mass produced products often copied designs and brought rapidly to market to achieve high volume sales.