the other day I started my 96 960 and was checking the tire pressure when it stalled. I thought this was odd so I got in to restart it but spuddered a little but would not start. Had heard this kind of spuddering before on a van the the timing had gone on that we had to junk because it tore up the engine so I did not try again. Upon removing the cover for the timing belt I can see that the tensioner has lost all of its bearings. the question is how do I remove this tensioner with out messing up the timing anymore then it is now and does anyone have the proper instructions to fix this so that I can get back on the road. is it worth the time as the engine might be toast

PS I think that the tensioner had been gone for awhile as the cover had a groove in it where the belt rides to the point that in one spot it wore completely thru

thanks in advance for the help

I am not sure if you can tbh ... It depends how it was running before and if it was sounding horrid, like major horrid, you may have bashed the valves, only way is to take the head off, which would mean a new cam belt anyway ...

sorry to be a bearer of bad news (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

M

Agreed with the above, you definitely need to look at an upper engine service. Odds are that Valves hit cylinders.

Was the cover making a whining or rubbing sound for a while? My mechanic has totally trained me to be listening for whines from under the timing belt cover, particularly when revving from idle to 2000 rpm or so.

Seems that this is one of the serious 960 aging problems.

Good luck with that 960--I have a '95 940 with 106K--I don't believe the timing belt on mine has ever been done--fortunatly there is a Mechanic "volvo specialist" in the next town-I'm going to get a price from him on changing the timing belt--it looks totally do-able--i'm not sure how to check the valve lash-that's why I want to take it to a mechanic-I got my hands full with my motorcycle and Tahoe -so don't have the time--I'll let you guys know what he quotes--Someone out there must have had it done by a mechanic-Any ball park figures would help--Thanx (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif)