2003 V40 1.9D timing belt, clutch & flywheel

[Dirty Diesel]

Morning all.

In the near future, my 1.9D is going to need a timing belt kit replacement, and at some point a new clutch & flywheel. I'm up for having a go at both jobs myself, providing that they can be done by myself on the drive.

I have my own tool kit and have worked on both my V40's a fair bit. I was wondering whether there was any special tools I'll need or procedures I should follow for either job.

All told, the clutch & flywheel are gonna floor me financially, but they are the main things right now that need doing. I have considered just buying a clutch kit and wait till the flywheel actually dies... but something is telling me I should buy both. The car is on 78k but was owned by some clutch ridding old biddy. Would it be worth replacing the flywheel?

TIA!

[P156KWJ]

My DMF on the 1.9 gave up around June last year and I got my local independent Volvo specialist to do the work but it wasn't cheap, around the top end of the 800s... obviously that was including a clutch kit as well.

Even though I'd been driving it as normal up until it went one day (horrendous rattling on idle which went away when pressing the clutch, vibrations when in lower gears, slipping, you name it), the car felt much better afterwards to drive with a new clutch so it was worth the expenditure in my eyes as for the same price I could have got another car with the same problem or worse.

So in conclusion myself I'd say get them done but it's a lot of money... less so if you do it yourself but it's not something I'd personally take on!

[lynns hubby]

Neither are difficult jobs. You just need to feel confident to tackle the cam belt. The clutch is not difficult but time consuming (hence labour charges).
Need to remove a lot of bits to get to it and large heavy lump of gearbox to be removed. I would agree with the advice to change the DMF at the same as its a lot of work to go through again if it fails before the next clutch.
You will be looking between £400 and £500 for the kit.

[Dirty Diesel]

Originally Posted by lynns hubby

Neither are difficult jobs. You just need to feel confident to tackle the cam belt. The clutch is not difficult but time consuming (hence labour charges).
Need to remove a lot of bits to get to it and large heavy lump of gearbox to be removed. I would agree with the advice to change the DMF at the same as its a lot of work to go through again if it fails before the next clutch.
You will be looking between £400 and £500 for the kit.

Thanks for the advice. I think I will replace both when I do the job.

I've been quoted a couple of prices from EuroCarParts for both an LUK DMF and an LUK 3 piece clutch kit. For both without their famous discount codes, it's almost 800 quid, but with their discount code applied, it's around 520. Is this a reasonable price? I am in the trade so I could get parts a little cheaper if I rung my local reputable parts supplier. Would ringing Volvo be a good bet? I've heard from some owners that they're actually not bad on parts prices

[P156KWJ]

Originally Posted by Dirty Diesel

Thanks for the advice. I think I will replace both when I do the job.

I've been quoted a couple of prices from EuroCarParts for both an LUK DMF and an LUK 3 piece clutch kit. For both without their famous discount codes, it's almost 800 quid, but with their discount code applied, it's around 520. Is this a reasonable price? I am in the trade so I could get parts a little cheaper if I rung my local reputable parts supplier. Would ringing Volvo be a good bet? I've heard from some owners that they're actually not bad on parts prices

Can't do any harm trying, they can be competitive on many parts that are genuine, although I believe LUK are a very good brand as well. Personally for the extra couple of hundred quid I'd get a garage to do it just to save the hassle but I know it's not exactly pocket money.

[Austin160]

Are ECP generally the cheapest option when you apply their ‘ever available’ discount codes?
I’m my opinion -No.
Knocking 50% off sounds great, but is meaningless unless you compare the before-discount prices.
It’s not uncommon (usual?) to find competitors offering the same components at prices below ECP’s discounted prices, so why are they so popular (even to the point of always being the first - and often the last- port of call) with on line buyers?
LUK clutch components would be the only (in caps) aftermarket clutches I would use if not using dealer parts.

[TeamG]

I had to do both on my V70 1.6 drive. The prospect of lifting a 6 speed manual box out from under the car just on axle stands prompted taking it to a local garage. DMF fell out in bits when they separated the box. DMF, clutch kit plus slave/release bearing ended up costing £850 incl. labour, but that took the garage 7 hours and they had the luxury of a lift and the right adjuster setting tools.

I’m doing the belts, tensioners and idlers on the next dry weekend. £101 all in from Autodoc app (comes from Germany).

Clutch kit was Sachs. Belt kits from Gates. Both reputable aftermarket.

[Dirty Diesel]

Originally Posted by Austin160

Are ECP generally the cheapest option when you apply their ‘ever available’ discount codes?
I’m my opinion -No.
Knocking 50% off sounds great, but is meaningless unless you compare the before-discount prices.
It’s not uncommon (usual?) to find competitors offering the same components at prices below ECP’s discounted prices, so why are they so popular (even to the point of always being the first - and often the last- port of call) with on line buyers?
LUK clutch components would be the only (in caps) aftermarket clutches I would use if not using dealer parts.

I think it's because ECP is the main one where you can price up parts online. I'm going to ring a few other parts places around and see what price I can get a clutch kit and flywheel for.

Yes LUK is generally well received by the mechanics I know and work with. I do have a Volvo dealership just over 10 miles away so I might ring them and see what deal they could fix me up with

[Dirty Diesel]

Originally Posted by TeamG

I had to do both on my V70 1.6 drive. The prospect of lifting a 6 speed manual box out from under the car just on axle stands prompted taking it to a local garage. DMF fell out in bits when they separated the box. DMF, clutch kit plus slave/release bearing ended up costing £850 incl. labour, but that took the garage 7 hours and they had the luxury of a lift and the right adjuster setting tools.

I’m doing the belts, tensioners and idlers on the next dry weekend. £101 all in from Autodoc app (comes from Germany).

Clutch kit was Sachs. Belt kits from Gates. Both reputable aftermarket.

I've used Sachs before for suspension components and they've held up well so far. I too plan to get a Gates timing belt kit for my V40. I must admit, like yourself, the thought of removing the box is quite something. Can't afford that kind of garage bill though...

[P156KWJ]

Originally Posted by Austin160

Are ECP generally the cheapest option when you apply their ‘ever available’ discount codes?
I’m my opinion -No.
Knocking 50% off sounds great, but is meaningless unless you compare the before-discount prices.
It’s not uncommon (usual?) to find competitors offering the same components at prices below ECP’s discounted prices, so why are they so popular (even to the point of always being the first - and often the last- port of call) with on line buyers?
LUK clutch components would be the only (in caps) aftermarket clutches I would use if not using dealer parts.

I've tried to tell people at work this before, and the same with GSF who always offer '60% off' and people go 'wow that's amazing' without thinking maybe the parts are priced 60% over the odds in the first place!