So I haven't had to change a Volvo B230 timing belt on my 944T yet. But I just picked up a 765T with very little mileage. When I step on the gas above 3000rpm I hear a sound like a blender full marbles and rocks coming from timing belt area. I took the upper timing cover off today and found a 2 inch piece of belt and this metal "collar" loose near the middle gear. can someone tell me what that noise is? What is this metal piece? what am I gonna find when I get the fan and lower cover off? SEE PIC Below of Metal bit

The noise may be the belt tensioner. CAREFULLY place a stethoscope-type tool (like a long screw driver) against the tensioner nut and put your ear to the other end. A bad tensioner bearing will be obvious.

Note, be darn careful around the rotating fan, pulleys, etc,

Hi Chris. "Haven't had to change your timing belt yet"? What ya waiting for? These aren't interference motors but still relatively straight forward. Not much in there to make a racket except if the belt tensioner crapped out. Very few people pay attention to adjusting the belt tensioner during the life of the cam belt. Volvo put a rubber plug on the T cover for a reason. Every other oil change I pop the plug, loosen the adjuster bolt and then simply retighten it. This insure the adjuster is doing its job. Sounds to me like you will need a new one...but who knows what you'll find in there?
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When Volvos are outlawed, only outlaws will have Volvos!!

Not that I don't want to change one...I have another 50K miles to go! I can see the tensioner and it looks and appears to be working fine. the noise is coming from down below...

Can't tell you just what the noise is but the metal tube is likely to be the spacer for the timing cover center bolt. Originally it would have been encased in the timing cover plastic. -- Dave