Originally Posted by Zebster (Post 2770632)

Yes, I guess that's a fairly common view. However I've seen no forum reports of VEA belt failures, other than where the belt has been replaced! Plenty of comments though where owners have belatedly realised that they're well over the revised replacement threshold (was originally 144k miles), a situation not helped by dealers still getting confused about the interval; at the dealer service in January I was told it was 108k.

The replacement interval was originally set at 144k miles, so I wonder what incidents or assessment led to the significant reduction to 90k?

Originally Posted by Clan (Post 2770742)

It was initially for Emergency service Vehicles , then went to the rest of the range for simplicity I guess.

Originally Posted by Zebster (Post 2770744)

Maybe. Makes them look less attractive as a new car though.

Have you ever heard of a failed VEA cambelt?

Originally Posted by Clan (Post 2770747)

No the belts are far more robust than the old 5 cylinder as is the tensioner.

Originally Posted by Easington (Post 2770973)

Does that imply you've seen belts fail on the 5 cylinder engines Clan?

Originally Posted by Clan (Post 2771073)

The cam belts are robust enough , it's the aux belt from 2008 when they reduced the width and thickness... that then wraps around the cam belt gear and that comes off too . Only in very rare cases but can happen , volvo reduced the change frequency to 54000 miles around 2012 after 3 attempts to modify the Aux belt tensioner .

Originally Posted by Easington (Post 2771170)

Thanks I have seen a few threads about this. Does it affect all 5 cylinder diesels or only up to a certain age?

Originally Posted by Clan (Post 2771245)

All from late 2007 until 2012 when they did the final mod of removing the hydraulic tensioner* and replacing it with the original mechanical one and reduced the change interval to 54000 MILES ( not time )

*= The hydraulic tensioner was a modification done in the factory around late 2010 the mounting holes are not compatible with the previous mechanical tensioner..