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

friendly Volvo parts dealer if he can get them in a reasonable time. I suggest you take the car to
the dealer and ask him to set the timing and be sure to tell them to make sure they line up the
marks so you won't have this problem next time.
960 Serpentine Belt Installation. [Inquiry:] My son's 960 needs a new serpentine belt and I
planned to install it. Has anyone had this experience and how difficult is it? [Response: Bruce]
It is not difficult to install. You can remove the three top screws holding the electrical fan into the
top of the radiator. Pick the fan assembly up and place it along side the exhaust manifold. This
gives more room when replacing the belt. Take a good look or write down how the belt travels
around all of the pulleys first. You will need a 3/4" or a 3/8" wrench to move the belt tensioner.
Depends on the year of the car. The tensioner has a 3/8" hole for a 3/8" ratchet to be inserted
and move the tensioner assembly as to release the belt tension. There will be a small hole to
insert a 1/8" or 3/16" cotter pin in to hold the tensioner in the released position. Remember how
the old belt is routed. It can be installed in different configurations but only one will be correct
and fit properly. Remove the old belt and install the new belt. Release the tensioner and you are
all done. [Response 2: J. Charger] a smart guy could "unload" the spring loaded tensioner with a
very large set of channel lock pliers, then change the belt, with out special tools. on the other
hand, the adapter tool needed is probably less than $10, from Volvo, to adapt a 1/2" drive
ratchet to the tensioner.
960 Rear Cam Seal Repair. See 960 Rear Cam Seal Repair.
B234 Series Engines:
B234 Timing Belt Replacement Procedures. See Dave Stevens' excellent supplement
describing and illustrating the B234 belt and tensioner change procedures.
B234 Timing Belt Cautionary Tales. [Editor] If you have a B234 16-valve interference
engine, you MUST maintain the entire timing end of the engine rigorously. This means
new timing and balance belts and a new oil pump bolt every 50k miles, and replacement
timing belt covers, new tensioner, and shaft seals on a regular schedule. See Buying a
Used GLE with B234F for more details, along with the notes below. If you don't do this, you will
join the ranks of ex-B234 owners whose valve trains self-destructed from belt failure.
Parts. Note that some engines have manual belt tensioners and some hydraulic tensioners.
These cars use different length belts (the latter is longer), so don't buy the incorrect length.