posted by
someone claiming to be jackieb
on
Wed Apr 7 08:39 CST 2004 [ RELATED]
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Well, I just had the timing belt change done on my 98 V70R Wagon AWD with fixed mechanical tensioner at 102K miles and the old belt still looked dam good. This only confirms that the 70K belt change interval is nothing more than a SERVICE REVENUE GENERATOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a bunch of crap and I knew it. Being in the office product industry we also do the same to generate revenue!!!! So for those of you thinking the belt will self explode after 70,001 miles---relax!! Or then again, bend over and let Volvo stick it to ya!!!!!!
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posted by
someone claiming to be Vic
on
Sat Apr 10 02:48 CST 2004 [ RELATED]
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Most older 70K interval T-belts don't look good at 80K miles (NOR do the newer 105K interval T-belts which ALL have outer visable cracks at 60K miles) so perhaps yours was previously changed once before (used car maybe)?
As for it being "BS", think again. I just replaced a cylinder head with a Volvo reman because a serp belt shreaded (100K miles) and wrapped around the lower t-belt pulley, t-belt thus slipped a few teeth and all 20 valves hit pistons. The customers bill was about $3K total. Don't ignore serp belts either.
So.....new t-belt for $40 plus labor (PLUS peace of mind) or $3K in repairs? Hmmmmmm!
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posted by
someone claiming to be Ray N.
on
Wed Apr 7 17:55 CST 2004 [ RELATED]
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The problem I have with this is your car is one sample.
It just means yours was OK. It does not mean all of them
would be ok. To reach your conclusion you need a larger
sample size.
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I agree with you 200%.
The late '98 70 series with the mechanical tensioner, should go to the 105K miles interval like the '99 and newer volvos.
The KEY here is that the t-belt should be inspected at 70K miles and if it looks worned and with a few cracks, then replace, BUT if the belt looks good, inspect every 10K miles and replace accordingly.
I plan on replacing mine at 95K miles. An inspection will be done at 85K in the next 3K miles and I'll replace then if in doubt.
--
'88 240, '92 745, '98 v70 John, Tampa Bay
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posted by
someone claiming to be masher
on
Thu Apr 8 09:49 CST 2004 [ RELATED]
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at 70K before deciding to go the full 100K and it looked great at the time with no obvious cracks or fatigue!
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Masher,
that's the way to handle this issue, BUT the naysayers will comeback and scare you to death.......
Inspecting the t-belt every 5 to 10K miles, beginning at 70K, seems appropriate and reasonable to me and I will take mine to 95K-100K miles before replacing.
Cheers buddy,
--
'92 740, '98 v70 John, Tampa Bay
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posted by
someone claiming to be Eddie W. in FL
on
Thu Apr 8 14:20 CST 2004 [ RELATED]
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Not to disagree with you, John, but it seems that some belt fatigue can't be visually inspected. I had a Toyota that was supposed to have the T-belt changed at 60K but went to 100K before I traded the car to a dealer without any problems but I was nervous for the last 40K miles and I don't think I would do that again. If you are checking the belt every 10K then you must be concerned also. Is it worth taking the chance?
regards,
Eddie W. in FL
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Eddie, not to be argumentative, but my '98 V70 was built 7/98(late built), just before the 8/98 built of the '99 models.
Anyway, I took my car to the dealer to have the t-belt replaced at 75K miles. The dealer told me that I had the mechanical tensioner and the belt looked like new and volvo recommended the interval to go to 105K miles.
So my point was, if you know you have a late '98 with the mechanical tensioner then treat the car like a '99 model, and do routine inspections every 10K miles until you get to 100K miles, and then replace.
My comment was not for early '98 models with the hydraulic tensioner. I have read stories about belts braking at 50K miles anyhow, so if the belt is defective it would go sooner than later.
By the way, Eddie where about in Florida are you?. I am down in the Bradenton/Sarasota area.
Cheers
--
'88 240, '92 745, '98 v70 John, Tampa Bay
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posted by
someone claiming to be Eddie W. in FL
on
Fri Apr 9 05:24 CST 2004 [ RELATED]
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John,
I owned an early '98 S70GLT and traded for an S80 @ 50K (no experience changing the T-belt). I now have a '01 S60 2.4T and the interval is 105K. Most T-belt intervals are at least 100K for most cars now across the board.
BTW I am about 30 miles north of Tampa.
Regards,
Eddie W. in FL
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posted by
someone claiming to be Eddie W. in FL
on
Wed Apr 7 11:57 CST 2004 [ RELATED]
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Volvo has been extending the timing belt change intervals (now up to 105K miles) but I understand that the belts themselves have changed as well (maybe wider, thicker, etc.) I follow the manufacturer's recommendation on all my cars. Like the previous poster said I also wouldn't take the chance with an interference engine. Volvo engines are very expensive to repair or replace. If you can't afford to change the T-belt at 70K think of the expense when the T-belt breaks. I'd rather spend a little now than a lot later. Some belts have been known to break before 70K but that is extremely rare.
Regards,
Eddie W. in FL
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Well, congratulations! You have just won the following bet:
Timing belt replacement - $400 (probably less)
Engine repair if timing belt breaks - $4,000 (probably more)
Not bad, it's 10 to 1. I wouldn't play this game myslef and bend right over :) I guess your stomach is stronger than mine as far as risk is concerned. The fact that the belt interval of 70K miles is on the conservative side doesn't suprpise me at all. In fact, being an engineer myself, I would be surprised if this wasn't the case. However, I as a consumer would not bet 10 to 1 to find out just when the belt would snap. Not on the interference engine such as the one in our 850-based cars. The fact the belt LOOKED good means absolutely nothing as belts mot often do not show signs of wear - they fatugue on the inside where you can't see. So, youmay feel good as you should because you won a 10 to 1 bet, but I would not advise my fellow bricksters to do the same unless a $4,000 repair and serious down time doesn't bother them.
Here's the savings if you keep the car for 1,000,000 miles:
following the 70K mile interval you would need 14 T-belt changes - that adds up to $5,600
If you extend to 120K miles (SCARY!), you would need 8 T-belt changes - that adds up to $3,200 for the grand total of $2,400 saving over 1 million miles! Now, if one of those times your belt does go, well you are out a lot! Not for me, I'll spend the extra money for the peace of mind.
So, BS or not, it is still good policy to follow recomended intervals for major maintanace, even if they are on a revenue-generating (read: conservative) side. The savings aren't worth it IMO. Otherwise none of us would buy any kind of insurance, since that's PURE BS if nothing happens :)
Again, congrats, but please, be aware of the numbers when you are pushing the timing belt. It is just not worth the risk.
Cheers!
--
Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual - his, '93 945 - hers,
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