V70: Suspension How would the aux belt snap?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Norsetrx

A few days ago I noticed two bolts on the front subframe were loose (about 10mm of thread showing), no idea how but tightened them and checked the other side and they were missing!! Replaced these yesterday (pink circled ones) with the car on ramps. Got back in the car and no power steering and turned out the aux belt had snapped and sheared laterally rather than logitunally. Coincidence or not? Happy to admit to a schoolboy error...

The belt is only 10 months old and all pulleys appear to spin freely.

2009 V70 D5

you have been very lucky , very often the belt gets pulled into the cambelt and wrecks the engine .
Volvo had problems from 2007 to 2012 with 3 modifications to fix this .

What has happened is proof that anything other than the volvo specification belt is unwise to use . Volvo had increased its specifications of the belt and tensioner the Belt MUST be changed every 54000 miles . This is more mileage than years ..

You should get a new tensioner and belt from a volvo dealer and fit that , be very careful that you torque the tensioner retaining Torx bolt correctly and use a new one .

Why did it beak ? Because It's not a volvo specification one .

It broke due to the tremendous acceleration of the crank pulley when the engine initially fires , a massive tug if you like and with a 5 cylinder you get a second power stroke very shortly after the first so the belt is still stretched and has not sprung back before it gets a second massive tug .... Volvo have kevlar reinforcement in the belts they specify .

[griston64]

Originally Posted by Norsetrx

Why do you assume that? It was done by a garage.

Only asking as I've dealt with unscrupulous garages who have charged for work that was never carried out.

Not suggesting that is the case but it does happen

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Clan

you have been very lucky , very often the belt gets pulled into the cambelt and wrecks the engine .
Volvo had problems from 2007 to 2012 with 3 modifications to fix this .

What has happened is proof that anything other than the volvo specification belt is unwise to use . Volvo had increased its specifications of the belt and tensioner the Belt MUST be changed every 54000 miles . This is more mileage than years ..

You should get a new tensioner and belt from a volvo dealer and fit that , be very careful that you torque the tensioner retaining Torx bolt correctly and use a new one .

Why did it beak ? Because It's not a volvo specification one .

It broke due to the tremendous acceleration of the crank pulley when the engine initially fires , a massive tug if you like and with a 5 cylinder you get a second power stroke very shortly after the first so the belt is still stretched and has not sprung back before it gets a second massive tug .... Volvo have kevlar reinforcement in the belts they specify .

Gates (Name of the belt that snapped) isn't a cheap brand. Lets not forget, Volvo ones snap too!

By Volvo 'increasing' their specifications, this proves more so that even their belts are prone to failure. Simply advising to change it at 54k covers their back because they can turn around & say, "Well, the recommended interval for replacement is 54k & you left it"... Tough cookie basically.

Another thing to consider, do Volvo actually manufacture the aux belts? For all we know, it could be a Gates belt with a Volvo badge on it.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

Gates (Name of the belt that snapped) isn't a cheap brand. Lets not forget, Volvo ones snap too!

By Volvo 'increasing' their specifications, this proves more so that even their belts are prone to failure. Simply advising to change it at 54k covers their back because they can turn around & say, "Well, the recommended interval for replacement is 54k & you left it"... Tough cookie basically.

Another thing to consider, do Volvo actually manufacture the aux belts? For all we know, it could be a Gates belt with a Volvo badge on it.

Obviously is a proprietary company that makes them ( continemtal) but volvo parts are not off their shelves they have to meet volvo's own specifications , this has been the case for the last 50 years at least .

[CarlW]

Originally Posted by Clan

you have been very lucky , very often the belt gets pulled into the cambelt and wrecks the engine .
Volvo had problems from 2007 to 2012 with 3 modifications to fix this .

Are the modifications included with a new tensioner, belt & torx bolt? I'm thinking this is a job on my short term list as mine is a gates and has about 37K on it.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Clan

Obviously is a proprietary company that makes them ( continemtal) but volvo parts are not off their shelves they have to meet volvo's own specifications , this has been the case for the last 50 years at least .

You get what you pay for I suppose. Although, Volvo know that the aux belt is prone to fail, hence the relatively low 54k replacement intervals.

Its certainly cheaper to replace a belt than a new engine, that's for sure.

Originally Posted by CarlW

Are the modifications included with a new tensioner, belt & torx bolt? I'm thinking this is a job on my short term list as mine is a gates and has about 37K on it.

Yes, the parts themselves have had design tweaks & you'll be using the parts that have been redesigned on your car if you purchase Volvo parts.

The tensioner is recommended to be replaced with the cambelt on the 108k/10 year service (Whichever comes first) on the D5 engine. Aux belt recommended replacement is every 54k or five years (Whichever comes first).

Just a pointer, if you buy an auxiliary belt from Volvo, then that's all you get (So you won't get a tensioner & new torx bolt by just ordering an aux belt). If you want a tensioner & new torx bolt, then they come in their own box, but have to be ordered separably to the aux belt for an additional cost.

There's also another belt for the air conditioning, which basically fits very snug around the air conditioning compressor under its own tension (No tensioner required for the a/c belt). You may as well replace the air con belt at the same time as replacing the other main aux belt though, in my opinion. Again, this is a separate item for an additional cost.

Personally, I opt to replace the aux belt, a/c belt & tensioner all at the same time every five years or 54k (Whichever comes sooner). I know the tensioner doesn't need replacing every five years (Its every 10 years or 108k), but its approx a £60 part at the end of the day. That equates to £12 per year, but I'd rather pay it for peace of mind. Plus, it makes sense whilst you or a garage are working in the belt area to stick a new tensioner on, in my opinion anyway.

The aux belt, a/c belt & a new tensioner including a new torx bolt is around £120 (That's for Volvo parts, plus labour if a garage is doing it for you).

[CarlW]

Just found a big thread on this - https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showt...=154476&page=3

[green van man]

I also change the tensioner every aux belt, it was the original weak point in the system and volvo have had 3 goes at getting it right..

Peace of mind is worth every penny of £60.

Paul.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by CarlW

Are the modifications included with a new tensioner, belt & torx bolt? I'm thinking this is a job on my short term list as mine is a gates and has about 37K on it.

yes all the current parts are right . I dont suppose you have the hydraulic tesnsioner from 2011 ish? that needs a workshop visit to fit the old type mechanical tensioner , that was a free fix by volvo for a few years .

[CarlW]

Seems mine didn't need the recall apparently but I can't see an aux tensioner in the service history at all so it's past due - and will be done shortly!