I recently noticed what sounded like a belt related noise coming from the timing cover on my 1997 850 T5. Touching the timing cover could increase or decrease the noise depending on where and how I touched it. I took off the timing cover and the noise stopped, but the belt was hanging about a quarter inch off the edge of the cam sprockets (away from the engine side), which explains the rubbing. That doesn't look good!

The car now has 193,000 miles on it and the belt was last replaced at 158,000 miles - but from the invoice it doesn't look like the tensioner was replaced. Neither was it replaced on the previous belt change at 108,000 miles. Does this seem like a tensioner problem?

Either way, will the cover prevent the belt from walking off the sprockets completely, or would it make more sense not to drive the car until I get this fixed?

Thanks

Rod

You might thank your cover for alerting the problem to you. Soon, the cover will be worn through and so will the Tbelt.

Replace the tensioner? Sure, it is time anyway. What needs to be done is measure the angles of the other rollers also. In fact, I would replace the tensioner and all rollers, just to be safe. If the Tbelt slips off, it will cost about $2K to fix things. A new belt and rollers are cheap.

Also a good time to inspect the water pump, they usually go bad around the 200K mark.

BTW, get an OEM belt. They cost a little bit more than the continental belts but fit better and last longer.

If this fix is too expensive for you, I am in the market for a really good 850 :)

Klaus

--
Volvoless. Sold the R. There is now a void...

If you keep driving the car like this, you will be walking or using public transportation soon. Dealers charge 400.00 dollars to change the belt and tensioner....maybe your shop would charge less, but the tensioners are a couple hundred bucks alone at the dealer.