Volvo with broken timing belt, anyone familiar with Volvo interference engines?

[engatwork]

Got a 08 Volvo C30 (T5 engine) in with a bad timing belt & tensioner. All 10 of the intake valves are bent and there are indications that the exhaust valves hit the pistons too. My contact at the local MB/Volvo dealer said that they typically replace the engines. If it is only a cylinder head job then I don't see the necessity but if it has bent rods then it could open up another can of worms. My source also said that typically the heads are junk after this issue but keep in mind that she is representing the local Volvo dealer. The owner wants to get car running to be able to get anything out of it towards a trade in without junking it.

Engine from a reputable source is around $1700. The bill to go through the head and re-install it is going to run more.

Has anyone had any experience with one of these? Let me know what y'all think.

tia

[panZZer]

Yes the timing belt snapped, and the valves hit the pistons.


Kaput.

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by engatwork

Got a 08 Volvo C30 (T5 engine) in with a bad timing belt & tensioner. All 10 of the intake valves are bent and there are indications that the exhaust valves hit the pistons too. My contact at the local MB/Volvo dealer said that they typically replace the engines. If it is only a cylinder head job then I don't see the necessity but if it has bent rods then it could open up another can of worms. My source also said that typically the heads are junk after this issue but keep in mind that she is representing the local Volvo dealer. The owner wants to get car running to be able to get anything out of it towards a trade in without junking it.

Engine from a reputable source is around $1700. The bill to go through the head and re-install it is going to run more.

Has anyone had any experience with one of these? Let me know what y'all think.

tia

I have done 2 timing chains on these since January. Still own both. Not difficult but less room in the 5 cyl with turbo than the NA 6 cyl.

Sadly, the only way you'll find out how much damage was done is to pop the head. All depends how fast the engine was turning when the belt snapped.

Really STUPID to let this go. The belt is 35.00 and no special tools required, tho you need a couple of Torx bits. 50-70 000 between intervals.
Did the first one in 5 hours just to show you how easy it is, plus volvo websites have lots of pics

Maybe the accessories can be salvaged and or resold or re-used.

[engatwork]

Yea head is on the bench. The belt did not actually break. It looks like the tensioner wore out allowing the belt to slip in relation to cam gears and it boogered up some of the teeth on the belt. All of the intake valves are bent so at least the intake cam continued to turn some.

I've found a good, used engine for ~$1700 I'm thinking about picking up to put in it.

[tbomachines]

How many miles, out of.curiosity? We have a 2014 s60 t5 (and love it btw!).

[engatwork]

It is right at 100k miles showing on the odo.

[engatwork]

Got everything buttoned back up this evening and when I went to start it up found out the battery was dead. Should get it going tomorrow evening. Will let y'all know how it turns out. Including the head going to the machine shop to get checked out and repaired it is going to come in right at $2400 if anyone is curious.

[cmac2012]

Wait, you mean you repaired the 'belt slipped' engine? I could see some attractiveness to that. Less to take out and put back in.

I've had two E30s for daily drivers for years and the busted belt/interference thing has always been a point of caution. I have a morbid curiosity about what a break sounds like. Maybe someone will accidentally record the sound of it someday.

[engatwork]

Looks like the head shop did not set the valve clearance so now I've got to do that. There is not enough compression for it to run.

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by engatwork

It is right at 100k miles showing on the odo.

At 70,000 the timing belt tensioner which gave should have been replaced. That's why it went, no more tension.

[engatwork]

That is about what I've figured out because the timing belt was not broken. There were some teeth on the timing belt that were somewhat boogered up and that was it.

[tbomachines]

Volvo recommends 120k/10years as interval for belt and tensioner btw

[cmac2012]

When I bought my second E30 it had 208 K, this in '14. I figured it had sat for a while, it ran well enough, but the tires look new and were date stamped '08.

The POs were elderly, maybe deceased for all I know (bought it at an auction - prior to auction, my shop is next door, I think they may have done me a favor, never met the PO at any rate). I opened it up to put on a new T belt and the tensioner had been left in the locked open position! There is a nut to lock it open for ease in changing the belt. You then slack the nut, rotate it numerous times by hand and retighten. Miraculously, the teeth were new enough and big enough so that the tension from the pull alone was enough to keep it from popping off. But that engine dodged a bullet. Ran great until I was rear ended and totaled. Looking for cheap chassis with blown engine at this point.

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Volvo recommends 120k/10years as interval for belt and tensioner btw

I own a 960 and my Volvo owner's manual maintenance says replacement of both at 70,000 max. The 1994 model with thinner belt recommended changing both at 50,000


All I can tell you is what Volvo said at the time.

[engatwork]

The owners manual in this application stated 70k too. 90k was a little too much.