XC70 Engine write off due to Aux Belt/Timing Belt Failure

[Old Keswickian]

I have a 2010 XC70 D5 which is without doubt the best car I've ever had and until this week drove like new. I've always serviced it at a main dealer and adhered to the schedule. It was last serviced at 90k and due another at 108k when the belts were due for replacement.
This week the aux belt tensioner failed on the motorway at 105,000 miles wrapping the aux belt around the timing belt and trashing the engine completely.
The dealers have quoted repair over £9k for a new engine and offered a "contribution" from them and Volvo of just over £2k leaving me with a bill for £6,800 which is approx the value of the car.
Help needed. Has anybody got experience of trying to claim back the costs from Volvo and/or the servicing dealer?

[kenny]

I feel so sorry for you. This nearly happened to me, My wife got home to tell me the aircon stopped working in Glasgoow 60 miles away. The compressor failed and snapped the belt. I opened the bonnet to find the belt jammed up around the cam cover. How it didn't take out the cam belt I have no idea. I got away with £450 for a new compressor.

Sadly your story is becoming to regular for my liking even on cars with the updated tensioner changed at the right mileage. This was the reason I sold my D5.
Your car is worth very little without an engine you might get a couple of grand on eBay on the right day or a second hand engine will cost £3 grand ish plus fitting. Your only other options is take the good will offer. With you being out of your are lucky to be offered.
Good luck what ever way you go.

[RM955I]

I cannot for the life of me understand why there isn't a retrofit guard/pulley guard to help stop this happening. It's such an obvious thing to do.

A chap on here seems to have obtained such an item, or at least a pulley guard, but seems reluctant to share where he got it from.

I have just bought a D5 and this is my biggest worry...I think I'll be looking at checking the pulleys each time I service it rather than relying on service schedules.

[Model flyer]

bad luck . Its very poor of volvo not to have made a retro fit guard to stop this happening. Perhaps they think it will boost their sales of spares or repairs for their dealers . I will seriously look at other make when the time comes to change as volvo obviously don't give a damn about the users of older cars but still customers .

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Old Keswickian

I have a 2010 XC70 D5 which is without doubt the best car I've ever had and until this week drove like new. I've always serviced it at a main dealer and adhered to the schedule. It was last serviced at 90k and due another at 108k when the belts were due for replacement.
This week the aux belt tensioner failed on the motorway at 105,000 miles wrapping the aux belt around the timing belt and trashing the engine completely.
The dealers have quoted repair over £9k for a new engine and offered a "contribution" from them and Volvo of just over £2k leaving me with a bill for £6,800 which is approx the value of the car.
Help needed. Has anybody got experience of trying to claim back the costs from Volvo and/or the servicing dealer?

You might find it only needs a head .. It is very rare the bottom end needs attention when this happens ...

so where were you regarding recalls , service policies and which type of tensioner did you have ? When was it and the belt last changed ?

[Scooser]

Really bad luck Old Keswickian. I really feel for you. I think it's a poor design that allows the aux belt to interfere with the cam belt, and almost mostly seems to wreck the engine head if the aux belt fails.

In fact I started a thread on it given many folk find this forum for the first time when this happens

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=218776

[Old Keswickian]

Thanks for your reply. We thought it might just be the cylinder head but they took it apart and found the bottom half of the engine was in fact damaged. Well out of warranty but I've asked Volvo if the vehicle was ever subject of recall and whether the work was done. I've had it for 4yrs and hasn't been done in that time. Not sure what type of tensioner it was (other than a broken one).

[RM955I]

I'm afraid it doesn't help you but yes, there was a recall for the aux belt and tensioner (or at least the tensioner as far as I know) with the service interval being reduced to 54k.

I have just bought my D5, 1 owner from new (whom I happen to know) but I still made a point of going to the main dealer and asking them to check if there were any outstanding recalls. Mine is going in tomorrow for belts, tensioners etc and I had already planned to ask them to check alternator freewheel and aircon clutch if possible.

The guys at FRF tell me there is no specified service interval for the alternator free wheel despite someone on another forum saying it should be 80k or so (and trust me, having got to the bottom of what ATF my gearbox should use, there's a LOT of misinformation out there). These items are really 'check and replace as appropriate'.

You may just have been very unlucky but I can't help but wonder if your recall was missed.

[volvoid]

I wonder how much a used engine costs, change all belts etc while its on a pallet, local garage to fit it ?

[Scooser]

Originally Posted by Old Keswickian

Thanks for your reply. We thought it might just be the cylinder head but they took it apart and found the bottom half of the engine was in fact damaged. Well out of warranty but I've asked Volvo if the vehicle was ever subject of recall and whether the work was done. I've had it for 4yrs and hasn't been done in that time. Not sure what type of tensioner it was (other than a broken one).

I may be wrong, but if I recount my conversation with the dealer correctly the recall changed the tensioner from hydraulic to mechanical.

My 2009 D5 was recalled at its second service in 2011 to have the aux belt and tensioner replaced.