Should I Change the Aux Belt and Tensioner Early?

[Scooser]

I have 58 plate (09 MY) V70 D5 R-Design. Given the catastrophic issue relating to aux belt failure, I'd be interested to know if the recommendation from those on the forum is to change the belt and tensioner early, given the following history of the car.

I had my aux belt and tensioner replaced under recall at the 2nd year service and 15k miles. It's soon approaching its 7 year service with 42k more on the clock.

Volvo recommend 10 years or 54k miles (whichever comes first) for aux belt and tensioner replacement, and given I've done such low miles I was going to wait until the 10 year service and have the cam belt and aux belt done together, given I'll still likely be well below the 54k miles (and 8 years) since the recall replacement work was done.

Is the advice from the forum that I should have the aux belt and tensioner done at the upcoming 7 year service and then again at the 10 year service?

[green van man]

On my MY10 D4 the interval is 56,000 or 5 years, while mine is only on 44,000 I had mine changed along with the aircon belt last service. From memory belts were £36 each and the tensioner£56 plus labour.
Cheap insurance in my view given the costs if they fail.
Along with the manual gearbox oil these will now be changed at 40 to 50 thousand mile intervals which in my case equates to roughly4 years, preventative maintenance is money well spent in my book.

Paul.

[I-S]

Do you intend to keep the car for more than another 10 years from now?

If not, then the chances are that you're going to have to replace the belt once more under your ownership, regardless of whether it's now or in a year or two's time. You could argue for peace of mind that you might as well have it done now. You could also argue that since you've had it done already then there's no more peace of mind to be had.

[Scooser]

So if I have the aux belt and tensioner replaced at the 7 year service, does it also have to be done at the 10 year service when the cam belt is done, or can the cam belt be done alone?

Seens like doing it 5 years and 27k miles after the recall is being very conservative given Volvos 10 year/54k miles advice. But as you say it is piece of mind.

[green van man]

Originally Posted by Scooser

So if I have the aux belt and tensioner replaced at the 7 year service, does it also have to be done at the 10 year service when the cam belt is done, or can the cam belt be done alone?

Seens like doing it 5 years and 27k miles after the recall is being very conservative given Volvos 10 year/54k miles advice. But as you say it is piece of mind.

I would say no but the aircon compressor belt is a one use stretch fit and if that comes off for the cam belt to be changed it should be renewed not refitted at that time also.
I believe the problem is the tensioner more than the aux belt itself that causes the problem. With the zircon belt its the fact that the zircon compressor siezes that throws the belt off and alows it to also get tangled in the cam belt.
Why Volvo have not redesigned the covers to prevent them coming into contact I have no idea.
On my 21 year old land rover the cam belt is safely behind a bolted on aluminium cover and there is zero chance of the aux or aircon belts getting tangled with it.

Paul.

[tt82]

You would need to remove the Aux belt & A/C belt to do the cambelt, so it would be madness to not refit new items.

[Scooser]

Originally Posted by tt82

You would need to remove the Aux belt & A/C belt to do the cambelt, so it would be madness to not refit new items.

Thanks - seems like a lot of expense (but I know nothing like the expense of a new engine) to replace the aux belt and tensioner at 7 year service and then at the 10 year service, especially at the time of the 7 year service the car will have only done 27k miles in 5 years since it was last done under recall. I have to balance risk with the cost, and do this given that I don't have any experience or judgement in this area.

Anyone else have any thoughts, experience or judgement?

[tt82]

I have a DIY thread for the Aux Belt and tensioner in the articles section. If your able to pick up a spanner without poking yourself in the eye, then you can do it at home.

[Scooser]

Originally Posted by tt82

I have a DIY thread for the Aux Belt and tensioner in the articles section. If your able to pick up a spanner without poking yourself in the eye, then you can do it at home.

I'd do far more damage to myself than just a poke in the eye!

[KFCKFC]

As you haven't had your cambelt changed since new, you have only 3 years of life left (in theory). Would you entertain the idea of changing both the cambelt and the aux belt now to mitigate the risk of either belts/tensioners failing.