Auxiliary belt life query

[Nogbad the Bad]

Hi

I've got a 1999 S80 2.4 petrol non turbo.

The auxiliary belt has a life of 60,000 miles according to the Volvo user manual.

Its done 10,000 over that, and it still looks brand new.

It isn't frayed on the sides or showing any signs of wear. It has no cracks going across the belt, or running along it that I can see. I keep checking for where the join must be (I figure it must have one), but again it looks perfect.

I'm not trying to be a total cheapskate, but it seems in such good condition I don't see the point.

Am I missing something? Any advice gratefully received.

[ASt85]

In some models of S80 '98-'06 / S60 '00-'09 / V70 & XC70 '00-'07, notably the D5 engined ones, when the auxiliary belt breaks it ends up taking out the cam belt with resulting catastrophic damage to the engine which frequently proves uneconomic to repair.

Saving £30 to £50 so you can spend a thousand or thereabouts on a engine makes no sense.

The problem isn't limited to the years codes above - various years were subject to recall
eg ( https://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/apps/rec...257C320039D5D6 )
Vehicle Details
Reference : R/2013/140
Manufacturer Ref : R29424
Make: VOLVO CAR
Model : S60, V60, XC60, V70, XC70 & S80
Launch Date : 28/11/2013
Numbers Involved : 3134
Build Start Date :
Build End Date :
Recall Details
Concern : LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE
Description : The auxiliary drive belt tensioner can suffer from premature wear, which may cause it to fail. This can lead to loss of steering power assistance and a slight possibility of loss of drive, should the drive belt or tensioner invade the cambelt area.
Remedial Action : Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected to replace the auxiliary drive belt and tensioner.
Vehicle Id : 000194 to 015058
001068 to 004929
094101 to 102873
134101 to 141673
135123 to 168101
167101 to 186553



Other Volvo recalls are shown at


https://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/apps/rec...arch=newsearch

[AndyV7o]

It might well be perfectly good tbh, but its whats occurring inside with the cords that you cant see which is the question... Everything has a fatigue life, you dont know how many of the belt fibres have broken over time, gradually weakening it.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Nogbad the Bad

Hi

I've got a 1999 S80 2.4 petrol non turbo.

The auxiliary belt has a life of 60,000 miles according to the Volvo user manual.

Its done 10,000 over that, and it still looks brand new.

It isn't frayed on the sides or showing any signs of wear. It has no cracks going across the belt, or running along it that I can see. I keep checking for where the join must be (I figure it must have one), but again it looks perfect.

I'm not trying to be a total cheapskate, but it seems in such good condition I don't see the point.

Am I missing something? Any advice gratefully received.

It's changed at 90000 miles or 10 years which ever comes first together with the cambelt and tensioner .. The post above applies more to the engines after 2007 when the Aux belt used is thinner and narrower , The older ones like yours are very good.

you would have had it changed in 2009 as it was 10 years old then , change it next year with the cambelt again .