Why do the aux belts fail early?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by ripstandem

I don't know if that is right or not.
The belt has been changed last three services at a Volvo garage and checking on Volvo Service Price Indicator it is listed as a service item.
Where would I find a definitive service schedule.

The original service life was 108000 miles , then they reduced it to 54000 miles around 2012 . It is certainly not every service . The dealer's VIDA lists the current service schedule items . It look like they are doing this off their own back , all good for business .
I've just looked at the online service price indicator and it doesn't list aux belt on any service except 54000 and 108000 mile . what it did list was tensioner too at 54000 that is wrong also , that gets changed at the 108000 mile service only.

[ripstandem]

Just checked Service Price Indicator, format has changed recently and service items not now listed.
I have no access to VIDA.
Conflict of information, the curse of the internet.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by ripstandem

Just checked Service Price Indicator, format has changed recently and service items not now listed.
I have no access to VIDA.
Conflict of information, the curse of the internet.

All they need to do now is correct the tensioner being changed at 54000 miles !

Only the dealer has access to VIDA which is updated on a daily basis they will advise on any queries ..

[Peter86]

I have just looked at the services and the first 3 were volvo and last 3 before I got the car an external garage. I had only done 4000 miles in the car from purchase before the belt snapped. In this short time of owning it, it had been in volvo on a few occasions to get a few jobs done under warranty paid from the non volvo dealer I got it from as they couldn't fix them in house. Volvo had never mentioned anything about any recall on the belt or tensioner and when I got the car there were no recall notices on the either as I checked myself online.
Think I was lucky but I will and would advise anyone if they notice any cracks on any belts to get it changed ASAP and as for the aux tensioner I will be doing it every 50,000 miles as precaution with the belt.

[Teilo1979]

Is the aux belt issue only on the D5?
What about 2.0l D3, D4 are these not essentially the same engine but
With shorter stroke, maps, turbos?

Thanks,

Terry.

[seanc]

Originally Posted by Clan

All they need to do now is correct the tensioner being changed at 54000 miles !

Only the dealer has access to VIDA which is updated on a daily basis they will advise on any queries ..

Mine was changed at 56k by the previous owner because the belt/tensioner were making a noise/failing.
I had (at least) the belt done again at 92k when I had the cambelt done.
I queried Volvo a couple of weeks ago and apparently going forward when it's next due they just change the aux belt, not the tensioner, is that correct?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by seanc

Mine was changed at 56k by the previous owner because the belt/tensioner were making a noise/failing.
I had (at least) the belt done again at 92k when I had the cambelt done.
I queried Volvo a couple of weeks ago and apparently going forward when it's next due they just change the aux belt, not the tensioner, is that correct?

Yes , the aux belt only is changed at 54000 miles and next at 108000 miles with the tensioner too complete with the cambelt and tensioner .

If the belt flaps around it is usually a seized one way clutch in the alternator pulley .
The Genuine belt won't show any signs of cracks , what happens is the tremendous tug when the engine first fires is sometimes just over the breaking tension of a used belt .

[Peter86]

My belt on the grooved side was full of cracks everywhere, maybe a faulty one I had. I'm surprised they don't make these as strong as the timing belts so they last till a full timing belt change.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Peter86

My belt on the grooved side was full of cracks everywhere, maybe a faulty one I had. I'm surprised they don't make these as strong as the timing belts so they last till a full timing belt change.

That used to be the case with the early multgroove belts on the 1700 340 series back in the 80's and 90's , the cracks didn't matter as the strength was in the outer layer …
However I have never seen cracks in any modern volvo multigroove Aux belts, even those which have done 108000 miles .. Maybe yours was a non genuine one .

These belts were never a problem until around 2007 when the thickness and width was reduced .