CAMBELT **** UP 940 d24tic

[tricksum]

Could one of you kind people help.
Booked my new to me 95 d24tic 185k with no history in for cam belt water pump tensioner change.The garage promotes itself as specialists.The car ran with out a fault during the 1000 miles since purchase.
I turned up at the garage to book it in and the owner had a quick look under the bonnet,I mentioned that the pump belt was a little slack and he immeadiatley stated that it was a bit of a so and so to adjust it and he said that if it did go it would not damage the engine.I thought the statement was a little negative.
Any way I booked her in and left the car with them on the Wednesday morning I phoned Wednesday,Thursday and Friday the car was still not ready till Saturday morning and they said they did have a problem with a pulley and had to fit a second hand one from a 740 which they had to adapt because it was slightly different.
When I collected the car they adviced that there was a slight misfire on number 5 cylider and it was not reaching temprature and it was over choking on start up.I handed over the £462 in hard earnt cash.
I now have blue smoke which I never had before.Performance appears good.On giving 1/2 - 1 second blipp on throttle there is a slight misfire pop and a lot of blue smoke.
When I looked under the bonnet I was supprised to see that the pump belt had been changed which was not agreed on but would of been welcomed if there was not blue smoke.I sniff a rat,why did it take so long what have they done I am absolutley gutted.Please find image of invoice attatched which I cant understand.

Thank you signed GUTTED

[craig8661]

if the pump belt goes not to bad but to have a new belt on the back too and loads of smoke sounds as if they have really messed the timing up also i think they have well over charged you as i was only looking at £70 from a garage if i suplied belts you need to get it to a diesel specalist also they could have bent the valves on the engine if they didnt kno what they was doing i would say stop driving it get it looked at asap

[stevo48]

Sounds to me like you have been stitched up like a kipper.
The "specialist" garage may have caused some serious damage to your previously perfect runner, hopefully it is just the timing they have cocked up but as craig8661 said I wouldn't drive it other than to take it to a proper Volvo specialist to get it sorted.
Get a genuine mechanical report done on it, make sure you get a copy of the report, go to the citizens advice, present the 1st bill with the engineers report, take advice, then approach original garage armed to the teeth with legal documents and advice not forgetting to mention the dreaded trading standards authority.................demand reimbursement!

[jor]

Did they explain what happened to the pulley or give you back the old one? The only way to break one that I can think of is to hit it hard with a hammer. There is no difference between pulleys on the 7 and 9 series.
If the belt tension has changed on the pump belt this indicates that the pump has been moved, which would alter the timing. Incorrect adjustment would then lead to poor running but would not lead to engine damage of itself. Had the new belt been improperly fitted such damage would be possible, but as the engine appears to be working well this is not likely.
The invoice mentions a cam kit but does not indicate whether or not a new tensioner has been fitted.
If you can afford to take it elsewhere to get it checked then do that. If not perhaps Clan or some other technically literate person will be at the Ace next week and would have a look at the car.

jor

[tricksum]

Thanks for your replys.
This is the 3rd d24 tic I have possesed and I have obviously become aware of there little oddities regarding the engine.I have always carried out most of my own maintainace over the last 35 years.Including engine changes and so on.
After I purchased this latest 940 I covered about 1500 faultless and economical miles before I decided to get the belts done but even then I asked the muppet (specealist) mechanic if he thought it would be a good idea to have a compression test before throwing best part of £500 pounds at her.He replied not much point if it drives as well as you say.
I started the car this morning from cold for the fist time since collecting and I almost cried it hardley ran and the amount of smoke was unbelievable.It was missing badley but it improved alot when hot.
Before it was perfect started and ran very smoothly with just the briefest puff of grey smoke which disappeared straight away.
Looking down between the Rad and the front of the block there is a alluminium casing behind a pully,this has been replaced with a very dirty one that now has 740 td painted on it.
When I think about it now he was laying down plenty of smoke screen when I picked the car up.He placed the advisory note regarding slight miss on number 5 five but not once suggested it could be a bent valve or somthing else.
Thank you very much for listening to my badluck story.
Best regards Richard

[chow]

agree with other posters ,however why the hell did you accept/pay for the car after they admitted that the car which was running perfectly ok before they got their mitts on it was now running like a bag of pooh?

[tricksum]

I trusted them they were "specialist" and they said the slight misfire was detectable with there infrared equipment and that I would probably not notice it and I was in a hurry for a appointment.
Thanks for your support

[chow]

Originally Posted by tricksum

I trusted them they were "specialist" and they said the slight misfire was detectable with there infrared equipment and that I would probably not notice it and I was in a hurry for a appointment.
Thanks for your support

infrared ffs, they sound a right bloody outfit, id get some legal advice

[titan]

Sounds to me like they have got the timing wrong, bent a valve and then when they realised they have tried to put it right but failed miserably so after a few days of messing and scratching heads they have come up with a **** and bull story.
Cowboys like this shouldn't be in business. They sound like those wallys who run the garage in Spain that have the program on Discovery!

[jor]

Not that I am any good at 'plans of action' but one could:
1. Check that the timing is right. If you have not got the tools you are welcome to a loan of same - only problem is that I'm in Wembley, but perhaps there is someone a bit closer.
2. If the timing is correct then assume some damage and either go back to the garagiste and invite him to rectify the assumed problem telling him that if he won't you will have a proper inspection/repair done which he will probably end up paying for, or bite the bullet and go straight to a reputable garage and ask them to do the work.
I think it is important to do step 1 as if there is no mechanical damage at inspection it would be more difficult to win at a small claims court.

jor