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.
(electric)impact
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
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