Main dealer cambelt change and major service cost

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Tizwoz

I use Quinton Hazell and couldn't see any difference between the original Volvo branded pump and the QH replacement. The same applied to the belt, tensioner and idler. The waterpump looked like it came out of the same factory.


Many parts on the V60 are Ford branded.

I have decades more experience than you and seen it all before .

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Tizwoz

Many parts on the V60 are Ford branded.

Some suspension and minor electrical and the odd cap but not engine parts...

[Ulrikas PA]

I bought a Ford Focus diesel fuel tunnel for adding some Miller's cetane booster / cleaner the other week. The same site was selling the (exact, same) V60 part for 40% more which I did chuckle at.

Works beautifully by the way on opening the fuel neck securing plate thing !

[RDesign4Life]

Originally Posted by Clan

You highly underestimate Volvos engineering and parts quality ... Its not a "normal" car .. thats why you bought one right? Obviously a water pump failure is an engine wrecker so that is why they chose the very best components available on it .
I have been working on volvos professionally since before these water pumps were introduced in 1990 in the 960 , I have not heard of or seen one water pump failure irrespective of mileage .. These pumps continue on the current engines . The only water pumps I change are those non volvo ones which some back street garage fitted previously whilst throwing the perfectly good high quality volvo pump in the bin ! The non volvo pumps have a very short life span just like a "normal" car ....

Would the water pump not show signs before failing outright and wrecking the engine?

Maybe leak from the shaft seal or start whining from the bearings?

I'd hope it wouldn't be an engine wrecking scenario like a snapped belt.

As it happens I'm looking to change to an auto D5 but if I end up keeping the car for more than a year I'll consider getting the cambelt and water pump done again with genuine Volvo parts for peace of mind. I just thought that Gates were a well respected manufacturer of OEM quality parts so hadn't paid it much attention until you gave me something to worry about.

[Seanl82]

Ok not strictly service related, but on Monday gone I had to call for recovery from work as my right rear caliper parking brake wouldn't release. Recovery guy took off the motor, wound the caliper back and sent me on my way. Got a quote from Waylands In Bristol (where I work) for part only at £270.60 for exchange!!!!!!!

It's a TRW caliper, so I got one from carparts4less for £96 exchange. The irony is, the Volvo stamp is still visible where they've ground it back!. Fitted and bled in less than an hour on the driveway.

[RDesign4Life]

Originally Posted by Seanl82

Ok not strictly service related, but on Monday gone I had to call for recovery from work as my right rear caliper parking brake wouldn't release. Recovery guy took off the motor, wound the caliper back and sent me on my way. Got a quote from Waylands In Bristol (where I work) for part only at £270.60 for exchange!!!!!!!

It's a TRW caliper, so I got one from carparts4less for £96 exchange. The irony is, the Volvo stamp is still visible where they've ground it back!. Fitted and bled in less than an hour on the driveway.

Yeah that's what I thought too - that the like s of Gates and others made water pumps and other components for various Manufacturers and sold excess stock with serial nos ground off. So the quality is the same as long as you select supplier carefully.

[Tizwoz]

The original cambelt tensioner I removed were manufactured by INA. The 'Volvo' water pump was manufactured by AISIN. The timing belt still had VOVO branding legible despite the idler and tensioner running on it. Belt wear was very slight.


Antiroll bar links are produced by miriad manufacturers to varying standards. Cheap ones don't last due to cutting quality.

[pont]

For those new to this forum or volvo, may I as a long time reader and volvo owner suggest your best bet is to believe everything Clan writes and be very grateful for his input.

First thing I did years ago was read all his posts relative to my then volvo.

As an aside, I have been amazed recently to find my main volvo dealer doing some major jobs at half price. Volvo parts, volvo receipts. New discs and pads all round cost me £550 inc. Vat. Worcester volvo. Thats the sort of thing that will keep me buying volvos.

[ltec]

Originally Posted by RDesign4Life

Would the water pump not show signs before failing outright and wrecking the engine?

Maybe leak from the shaft seal or start whining from the bearings?

I'd hope it wouldn't be an engine wrecking scenario like a snapped belt.

As it happens I'm looking to change to an auto D5 but if I end up keeping the car for more than a year I'll consider getting the cambelt and water pump done again with genuine Volvo parts for peace of mind. I just thought that Gates were a well respected manufacturer of OEM quality parts so hadn't paid it much attention until you gave me something to worry about.

You are correct gates is the best belt money can buy and anything more expensive is money wasted. As for pumps, I've never seen any aftermarket pump fail between timing belt changes.
As for experience I fitted thousands. A lot of comments from people who have no experience of fitting aftermarket parts and have more money than sense.
As for volvo engineering. Its a bit of joke on some things. Especially their parkbrake on an xc90. It really is the worst park brake produced on any car ever build. And the amount of years they continued with it.
A fan belt that fails and then wrecks the engine really is engineering at its best.

[ltec]

Originally Posted by Clan

I have decades more experience than you and seen it all before .

What experience have you with quinton Hazel?