Snapped Auxiliary belt

[jamie1131]

Mrs Jamie called me today in a flap, she said the car was really angry. It was showing a warning message saying "Charging system failure, service urgent".

I got to her a few minutes before the AA and found the aux belt had snapped. now the weird thing is that the none of the tensioners/pulleys had seized but when I pulled the snapped belt out it was kind of fixed in the position it would have been if it were still on the car i.e. it was obvious from looking at the belt exactly how a new one needed to be re-fitted, as if it had been stationary in that position for many years.

The car is a v60, 2012 with the 163bhp D3 engine. Its done 73,000 miles. Weirdly enough, it was booked in next week to have the aux and timing belt changed at Volvo in Winchester. The AA took it to the nearest garage whow checked all the pulleys againg (with me watching) and fitted a new belt in less than 30 minutes.

The belt was really badly cracked and hard, I'm quite surprised how bad it was on a 7 year old car to be honest. I know it should have been changed at 54,000 miles last year but we never got round to it!

Anyways, it'll be in Volvo on Monday to have a new timing belt, if thats cracked as badly as the aux belt it needs changing asap!

[richhodgetts]

This happened to me on my V60 D3 at about the same mileage. Unfortunately it also took out the cam belt which resulted in a new cylinder head!

[Fimac]

This happened on my daughters car. The aircon unit seized up and broke the belt, so changing the belt did not resolve the issue for her.

[AndyJudge]

Lucky escape

[double99]

I can offer timing belt protector for 2007-2012 made year.
In case a generator belt is torn, which is a common “illness” for the current generation’s VOLVO brand cars, the protective element decreases a possibility of it being dragged into the engine’s timing belt.
Protector will fit to V70,S60,S80,XC60,XC70.
for more info my email is double99@inbox.lv
Delivery all over the world.
Price 50,00 EUR + delivery costs. (Paypal/Revolut)

[jamie1131]

No idea how the aux belt could take out the cambelt on this engine? The aux belt is completely separate and the timing belt is protected inside a plastic cover.

[double99]

expereince shows that plastic protector don`t help.. need to use metal.

[megastef]

Originally Posted by double99

expereince shows that plastic protector don`t help.. need to use metal.

Had my car towed after a snapped aux belt around 110.000km(I had skipped the 90.000 replacement). The volvo service guy was very clear we've been lucky it didn't get through the timing belt.

Now, I have an independent shop, and I schedule aux belt (and pulley) replacement every 60.000km.

[GMcL]

4 years or 54,000 miles max for these ancillary belts.
You'll find your timing belt is absolutely fine, I had one changed on my previous D5 there were no signs of ageing on it. Preventative maintenance, rather change a healthy belt than a broken engine.

[megastef]

Originally Posted by GMcL

4 years or 54,000 miles max for these ancillary belts.
You'll find your timing belt is absolutely fine, I had one changed on my previous D5 there were no signs of ageing on it. Preventative maintenance, rather change a healthy belt than a broken engine.

Belts are said to be able to cope with a much higher mileage.

Unfortunately, pulleys and tensioners don't.

They're the actual weak points.