Going on my 2nd timing belt tensioner from different major parts houses for my B230FT.
They all whine loud when cold, little less when at operating temperature, despite being brand new out of the box.
Timing belt is fresh and noise is present, even with all 3 drive belts removed (read: Not a power steering pump, water pump, or alternator issue).
Do I bite the bullet and go OEM Volvo or is there a quality after-market type timing belt tensioner available?

I doubt that you would make this mistake but is there any chance you have a round toothed belt running on square toothed pulleys, or vice versa?
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Current rides: 2005 Volvo S80 2.5T, 2003 Volvo V70 2.4NA, 1973 Volvo 1800ES (getting ever closer to road worthiness)

Dear Townshend Act,

Hope you're well. In which country - and by which company - were made the noisy timing belt tensioners?

I've had no problems with tensioners made by INA, regardless of ambient temperatures.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Have you tried checking the timing tensioner bearing itself before installing? Any undue play sideways? Usually the tensioner doesn't spins freely when new.

That being said I always use INA tensioner when doing timing works. Even Volvo blue box had INA (OE priced). All these years virtually no issue except once while doing belt retensioning at 600 miles I saw splattered bearing grease inside timing cover. Even then there was never any bearing noise. FCP replaced it with another good part.


(Photo from the web)

Regards,
Amarin.

The bearing that should not spin freely when new and INA, are two salient facts I had not considered.
The two previously purchased were MTC(?) and whined immediately. I will follow the INA suggestion and many thanks to all for the rapid responses.

ContiTech (Continental) offers a kit with the Continental timing belt and (six years ago, last I looked) an INA brand tensioner.

https://www.ipdusa.com/products/7029/114060-timing-belt-kit-with-tensioner-seals-200-700-900



These kits now appear to include the front engine oil seals and maybe a water pump and seals.

FCP Euro

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-timing-belt-kit-and-water-pump-kit-comprehensive-tbkit032wp



Older type oil seals there.

I'm unsure whether INA in them kits.

Not ever known a new tensioner to whine in the cold.
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