Good day Everyone,

Where can you buy a replacement (or rebuilt) engine or transmission?

I'm currently not a Volvo owner, but I looking for rear-wheel drive wagon. Since these engines can get damaged, for the lack of timing belt replacement-I'm looking at all my options to obtain wagon.

One more thing, good online source for replace parts. I currently get my import parts from http://www.autohausaz.com/ any other sources?

Thank you,

Martin

Afternoon MAVA,

I just had to replace the engine in my ride. Timing Belt :(

Unless your willing to drop a few bucks forget about the rebuilt engine. My used motor (100K - thats what I was told though I do trust my mechanic) cost me $2,700 US installed.

My advise, search for a reputable volvo-only mechanic. They will have the connections and knowledge to get you good parts if needed. I got lucky and found a veteran. Gotta say the man knows how to tune a brick...

ggreen,

Ouch...$2700, last engine I remember buying was a long-block Ford 302 for about $700, and I'm not that old...

Wow.. my 325,000 mile Taurus is looking very good-engine has not been cracked open for nothing-runs(it has a timing chain) fine, but just very worn-out, but all my other cars are rear wheel driven cars.

I like the Volvos because they are a little classier, but the timing belt thing is not cool if it snaps. I may have to look at the Mercedes or BMW wagons-they have timing chains.

What do people do if the belt snaps on them - time for a new engine? Does anyone rebuild the their own heads?-put new guides and valves.

Any other alternatives? I'm very confident DIY mechanic. Rebuilt a few engines and painted a dozen or so cars.

Thanks,

Martin

it depends if the engine is interference or not. Interference means where the valve heads sit under the heads and require pits machined into the piston heads and non interference is where the valves do not sit below and do not sit in the cylinder.

if you have an interference engine and your timing belt goes then say goodbye to your valves and cams. though generally if your looking to buy a volvo with 100k+ on it, i would get the belt changed ... as i did, and he old belt was right on its limits.

Matt

How much would the timing belt replacement normally cost?

I have 96 960 wagon.

Should I go to a dealer?

Don't you have to change it every 60,000 miles?

well i don't know on the inline 6 engines, but on the BXX and BXXX series engines, the cam belt teeth were square and tended to wear, and then they learnt they're lesson and changed to round teeth. i wouldn't know about the i6's though i would imagine they are round teeth being a newer motor.

in the uk we tend to do 50-80k miles on it, though the first cam belt i had changed was on m 740 and that was at 153k miles and they said it was a tiny bit worn ...

Someone else will have to answer the cost, but a good mechanic can do the belt for you. you dont have to go to the dealer.

Matt

Replacing the timing belt is pretty strightforward for a DIY mechanic, should take a couple of hours being very careful and double checking everything. Watch out for worn pulleys bearings, including the water pump - in my case the belt had jumped because the tendioner pulley bearing spewed its balls all over the place.

If you happen to miss something and you do have the belt slip, providing it doesn't damage the bottom end, the most a DIY mechanic should be out is $1K. I'm in the middle of this very job and that is my grand total for parts:

Rebuilt head with cams on ebay $500
Tensioner pulley, idler pulley, water pump, belts, gasket set, covers to replace broken ones: $500

It is a bit of a job to do, but with the help available on these forums it is quite feasible even without the special tools.

My advice would be to get one that runs, change the belt yourself and with the money you saved on labor, be pre-emptive with changing the pulleys at the same time.

David

water pump is also a good thing to do at the same time. nothing more annoying than completing it, few miles down the road and your pump seals wear out cos you have jarred it a bit....

Matt

Is the water pump driven by the timing belt? Is the water pump in the timing belt area?

Does anyone have pictures timing belt exposed on the engine?

Thanks

Martin

On The Volvo White Block Four Five And Six Cylinder Engines the water pump is driven by the timing belt and to replace the water pump you have to remove the timing belt and if it leaks the timing belt could get soaked with coolant to.

What mileage interval is everyone replacing the timing belt?

Thanks,

Martin

hello,
I have price quotes for the timing belt replacement service from two dealers.

One dealer that charges 999.99 dollars plus tax will perform
-replace timing belt
-inspect timing belt tensioner
-scope and set timing
-inspect associated components and seals
-replace water pump
-flush coolant system
-road test

The other dealer that charges 579.00 plus tax will perform
-replace timing belt
-replace tensioner
The service guy also said that if the idler pulley needes to be replaced, it will be addtional 89.00 in parts plus tax.
Do you guys recommend replacing idler pulley at the same time?
I asked him how much it would cost to replace water pump as well and I'm still waiting for his answer.

My alternative is to just buy the volvo parts and just pay for the labor at the dealer. I have never worked on timing belt so I'm sort of skeptical to do it myself.