Need Help Changing TIMING Belt on Volvo 740

I am trying to save some money by changing the timing belt on my Volvo 740
GL 4 cyl my self or at least not at the shop. However, since it is a key
part of the car I am a little nervous to do it myself. I am willing to pay
a resonable amount for your help. I will supply parts but I do not really
have any tools however I am willing to buy those. I live in the
Alexandria, VA area.

 

The Haynes manual for your car has a good description. If you have a friend
who has done medium-level car repairs to help, you can get it done in half a
day - but allow a full day to ward off evil spirits. The good news is that
once the radiator is removed there is lots of room to work.

The hardest part is getting the crank bolt loose. A rented (electric)impact
wrench makes it easy, although some people use the trick of putting a socket
on the bolt and resting the socket handle on a jackstand while they bump the
starter. I get images of the handle jumping off the stand, so I avoid that
method. Note - use only black impact rated sockets with impact wrenches,
since chrome sockets are brittle and can explode (I'm told.) The method I
used the first time (when the bolt is gawd-awful tight) was to have a friend
jam a screwdriver into the flywheel - the way Haynes describes - while I put
the socket handle on a floor jack and jacked it up until the bolt came
loose. The front wheels were nearly off the ground at that point, so there
is some risk to the engine mounts.

The next hard part is getting the harmonic damper - the pulley assembly -
off the crankshaft. Don't use a puller on the belt grooves, because it is
likely the outer part will shear away at the rubber bond and a new damper is
over $100 US. Since there are no threaded holes in the damper, I've had to
get smaller bolts through the slots and put washers and nuts on the back
side. The damper goes back on easily.

The best news is that the engine is "non-interference" - no matter what
happens to the timing belt, the engine will not be damaged. For that reason,
you don't need to be too nervous about putting it off - the only added
expenses if it fails would be a towing bill and having the car out of
service when you wanted to use it. Many other cars suffer serious engine
damage if the belt fails or is put on wrong. The Gates website lists the
engine as interference, but that has been hashed out at length here in the
past - it is safe.

Mike

 

You're absolutely right in that changing the timing belt on the
Volvo B23x engines is not difficult. However, not all B23x engines
are non-interference. The B234 (which may have been used in later
model-year 740s) was interference.

 

I wedge a big ratchet against the water pump and bump the starter, been
doing it that way for years, never had a problem. You only have to bump the
starter very briefly, just enough to break loose the bolt, don't sit there
cranking it.

 

I'm guessing that the 740 is essentially the same as my 240, which has been
the easiest car I've ever owned when it comes to working on the engine! Lots
of room! I've changed the timing belt twice since buying it 4 years ago,
both times VERY easy. I don't remove the radiator, since there's plenty of
room once the shroud and fan are out. I do use an impact wrench to break the
crankshaft bolt free, and have never had to use a puller to get the
crankshaft pulley free, it just slips off. Whole job takes maybe 2 hours,
since I work slowly. Wish all cars were this easy!

m9876c at yahoo dot com