Greetings Bricksters...just wanted to share with you my stroke of luck today... The wife was in her 964, in town, talking on her cell phone while driving(a sin I am trying to break her of, she totaled her second 240 while doing this) she heard something thumping under the hood and thought she had run over something and was dragging it. My wife is a second grade elementary teacher and is about as mechanically inclined as the Easter Bunny. She opened the hood and the serpentine belt was coming apart. The outer rib was off and wrapped up in the AC Compressor magnetic pulley. She called me. I got there and was happy to see no real damage and she had shut it down before it ate up the timing cover and kicked the timing belt and causing mass destruction as I have read of this happening. I purchased a new belt locally and installed it in only a few minutes... She was back on the road in no time... WOW, what a stroke of luck!

Watch that serpentine!

My serp broke in a blizzard the first week in December. After replacing it, I thought all was well 'til today when I took it to the shop for a warm A/C and to have my new VOV installed. Turns out that the serp had slashed in half the wire from the A/C compressor to the clutch. Because the space is too cramped (3/4" max) to do a splice to the remaining 1/8" wire stub, I'll have to pay to have both pulled and to attempt a splice. My mechanic is hesitant to even try a splice due probable failure from vibration in that location. If that doesn't work, either the clutch or the compressor (or BOTH) might have to get replaced because not only is that wire is not a separate part but we don't even know if either works.

The labor to pull the compressor/clutch is at least four hours. Could possibly cost me $800+ - Just for parts.

My paranoia has returned with a vengence.
--
Natalie, 1993 960 Wagon, 'Fang' - Paranoia is Standard Equipment on Every Volvo 960

I would recheck tension after a week and retighten

The 960s have a spring loaded automatic tensioner. Nice except when it fails.
--
'96 965 with 16' wheels at 101K. Had '85 745 Turbo Diesel for 200K.

I know the feeling: my wife has ZERO mechanical skills. After many arguments (like after the time she passed the large puddle of green while getting in the car and driving off, only to blow the headgasket within four miles) she has now been fully trained in driveway mechanics and "what the lights mean". She is now good about STOPPING and calling me if something goes wrong. I told her that she has a choice: either treat the car responsibly or ride the Raleigh three-speed in the garage. The latter is tough in Iowa in January. So she is motivated.

Always inspect the serp belt for cracks in the groves. A few per inch is OK, many is bad and can lead to total engine failure on these beloved beasts. I have a spare in each car and the tool from IPD in the storage bins in the 965. My tensioner pulley has the 3/4" hole so the IPD tool works well.

I recently changed the serp belt on the V70 and it was a royal PITA, unlike the 965.

--
Warren Bain - '99 V70GLT G-Valve > 70K mi, '96 965 >110Kmi Wifemobile near Manassas Va.. Check the 700/900 FAQ via the 'features' pull down menu.

Congratulations on your good fortune.
--
89 244 (130K); 97 964 (95k)