cam belt

ash · Oct 8th, 2004, 12:27

at what intervals should you change a cambelt?? do you rely on the mileage of a car or the age?? and how easy is it to change a cam belt? could it be done at home by someone who knows a bit bout cars???
my car is a 1996 T5 CD estate auto with a/c!! 60,000 miles... so am considering a cam belt change...
would it be prudent to also change the tensioners?? i remember my last T5 had a cam belt changed and the guy at the garage had it done within half an hour!!!!

Oct 8th, 2004, 13:13

Bit similar to my question..

Except My car has 187k on it..

TT

cootuk · Oct 8th, 2004, 18:08

http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/850_70_service.htm

The service schedule is here....1994 onwards cambelt should be 80000 miles (or eight years?).
I've been told the tensioner change depends whether it is automatic or not?
Some people also say to change the water pump at the same time, others say leave it....

Davef · Oct 8th, 2004, 20:35

What ever you decide remember that cambelt failure due to either the belt breaking or tensioner and or water pump failure (which would cause the cambelt to break) could end up costing a new engine! I've changed mine every couple of years (cambelt and tensioner)and always check the water pump for signs of play and leaking. (I've changed the water pump twice in eight years and 130,000 miles).

Dave

sholtby · Oct 8th, 2004, 21:19

The cambelt is easy to change on our cars mostly because you dont have to remove the crankshaft pulley, the bolt that holds this on can be a pig to remove as I have found on other makes of cars. Then you may need to use a puller to remove the pulley.
With an 850 you just slacken and remove the tensioner and thread the new belt on.
I changed my belt recently and from what I can remember the things that caused slight problems were
1. Refitting the small shield that goes under the crank pulley was a bit fiddley.

2. The accessories belt is a bit tricky to refit.

3. The timing mark on the crank pulley is difficult to see.

A reasonably competant person who perhaps services their own car and can change brake pads and disks with ease shouldnt have any problems.
Its all covered in the Haynes manual so read through the procedure and decide for yourself.
Changing the water pump and tensioner is extra piece of mind. Only buy genuine or OEM items though.

Simon

Oct 8th, 2004, 12:27	#1
ash Junior Member Last Online: May 12th, 2012 23:35 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: brum	cam belt at what intervals should you change a cambelt?? do you rely on the mileage of a car or the age?? and how easy is it to change a cam belt? could it be done at home by someone who knows a bit bout cars??? my car is a 1996 T5 CD estate auto with a/c!! 60,000 miles... so am considering a cam belt change... would it be prudent to also change the tensioners?? i remember my last T5 had a cam belt changed and the guy at the garage had it done within half an hour!!!!

Oct 8th, 2004, 13:13	#2
twinturbo Guest Location:	RE: cam belt Bit similar to my question.. Except My car has 187k on it.. TT

Oct 8th, 2004, 18:08	#3
cootuk Premier Member Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2013 20:52 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: bradford	RE: cam belt http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/850_70_service.htm The service schedule is here....1994 onwards cambelt should be 80000 miles (or eight years?). I've been told the tensioner change depends whether it is automatic or not? Some people also say to change the water pump at the same time, others say leave it....

Oct 8th, 2004, 20:35	#4
Davef VOC Member Last Online: Aug 4th, 2017 17:00 Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: Uffculme, Devon View Photos By: Davef	RE: cam belt What ever you decide remember that cambelt failure due to either the belt breaking or tensioner and or water pump failure (which would cause the cambelt to break) could end up costing a new engine! I've changed mine every couple of years (cambelt and tensioner)and always check the water pump for signs of play and leaking. (I've changed the water pump twice in eight years and 130,000 miles). Dave

Oct 8th, 2004, 21:19	#5
sholtby Premier Member Last Online: May 26th, 2010 20:17 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: north east	RE: cam belt The cambelt is easy to change on our cars mostly because you dont have to remove the crankshaft pulley, the bolt that holds this on can be a pig to remove as I have found on other makes of cars. Then you may need to use a puller to remove the pulley. With an 850 you just slacken and remove the tensioner and thread the new belt on. I changed my belt recently and from what I can remember the things that caused slight problems were 1. Refitting the small shield that goes under the crank pulley was a bit fiddley. 2. The accessories belt is a bit tricky to refit. 3. The timing mark on the crank pulley is difficult to see. A reasonably competant person who perhaps services their own car and can change brake pads and disks with ease shouldnt have any problems. Its all covered in the Haynes manual so read through the procedure and decide for yourself. Changing the water pump and tensioner is extra piece of mind. Only buy genuine or OEM items though. Simon

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