Volvo Maintenance Hints for 7xx/9xx - Bill Garland's Nuclear ...

● The outer air conditioning compressor belt requires two fixing nuts on the two curved
mounting arms (one in front and one in back) to be loosened. Use a flashight to see them.
These can be done from above, or below with the car on ramps and the plastic belly pan
removed for easy access. The rear bolt can be difficult to reach: it is right in the middle of
everything. Don't confuse it with the inboard mounting bolt near the engine block.
Loosening the 10mm adjuster bolt and the bottom pivot bolt (easiest from below) then
allows the unit to swing up after loosening the tensioner bolt (anti-clockwise to loosen).
● The middle alternator requires two nuts to be loosened (not removed) other than the
adjusting tensioner bolt. One is at the back of the long top fixing bolt; the other is at the
bottom in front. The tensioner bolt is beneath on the side. Turn the tensioner screw
counter-clockwise to move the unit toward the engine and loosen the belt. You should
check the three rubber alternator bushings when you replace this belt. They can be
pressed out and replaced by hand.
● The inner power steering pump belt requires that you loosen the 13mm lock nut at the
front of the power steering pump bracket (just above the pulley) and loosen the tensioner
bolt (anti-clockwise to loosen). You may also need to loosen the nut and bolt through the
bottom of the pump (best reached from below). To get enough slack to remove the belt,
remove the bolt that tightens the pump against the adjustment bracket. WIth this bolt
present, the pump will not move freely through the entire adjustment range. You will need
to replace the bolt after you put the new belt on. If the pulley is misaligned, see the
Steering section for information about the pump bracket.
● In the case of the compressor and power steering pulleys, you may need to lever the belt
over the edge of the pulley to install it.
Belt Tension. [Tips: Steve Ringlee/Jay Simkin] When you adjust the belt tension, take a look at
how the adjuster mechanism works before you go at it. Loosen the 13mm or 12mm lock nuts on
the belt side of the mechanism (two in the case of the compressor). This unlocks the alternator
or compressor and allows you to adjust tension with the long 10mm bolt parallel to the belt. This
latter bolt is only used to position the alternator. Once you have set belt tension (3/16 to 5/16
inch or 5-10mm deflection) with the long bolt, lock the position with the 12 or 13mm bolt and
back off a turn on the positioning bolt to unload it. Don't forget to lock the main nut/bolt or your
belt tension will eventually fracture the adjusting bolt. [Paul Spasske] The Krikit 1 belt tension
tool (available at NAPA online, part number NBHKR1, US$10) is useful to test belt tension.
Contitech recommends the following drive belt tension settings
for Volvo B2XX engines:
● Narrow 11.9 mm belt used for alternator, power steering,
and some air conditioning applications: New: 40kg; Used:
25-30 kg after 50,000km in service
● Wide 13 mm belt used for later (>1992) air conditioning
applications: New: 55 kg; Used: 40-45 kg after 50,000km
in service
960 Serpentine Belt.
Krikit Belt Tool for 15-70 kg
tension range
Changing the Belt. [Jim Bowers] Use a 3/4" square adapter in the tensioner hole to remove