I’m 120 miles from home, visiting my wife’s side of the family in the middle of Michigan (below freezing at night, above freezing during the days this week). Our 2004 XC90 with the B6294T started making a soft tapping sound from the timing cover and I found the timing belt has a slice across it that spans about 1/3 of the belt material, and about an inch is tearing off (creating the soft tapping inside the plastic housing when it rounds the pulley). There were no prior signs the belt was worn or in danger of failing and it was on our preventative maintenance list to get done soon.
I was planning to do the full T-belt, water pump, tensioners, serpentine, etc project this coming March or April and have acquired most of the parts already (with me in the trunk, including the belt). I have been reading the walkthrough from Swedespeed at: T6 Timing Belt Change and also watching the Russian video (the only one I can find): Are there any other walkthroughs or videos out there for this engine for the T-belt operation that you are aware of?
Can anyone in this group advise me of the minimum amount of work and tools required to just change only the t-belt on this 6-cylinder engine? The local O’Rileys auto parts is getting a cam gear locking tool (#67092) onsite tomorrow at 10 am should I decide to tackle this project in the driveway of my in-laws house. I have most tools needed onsite and can buy what I might be missing if you can advise me on what tools I need here and now, and which ones are only needed for the full service. I’ve been maintaining a fleet of 240 / 740 / 940 cars since 2001 (including engine swaps, clutch replacements, etc) and feel quite capable, but this is a new animal for me. I can not determine how much of the steps and tools can be skipped in the excellent walkthrough linked above. I will find out if I have access to an impact wrench in the morning, but would like to avoid pulling the crank pulley if possible. Any help, advice, etc is appreciated. I do not have an ECU removal tool available and would like to leave that housing in place if possible (as shown in the Russian video). The thermostat housing nipple poking through the timing cover is brass and attaches to the hose with a standard clamp (assuming it was upgraded at the time of transmission replacement two owners ago at an unknown mileage).
Fallback plan: Towing it home via conventional means is a $983.50 towing bill that I can not afford since my insurance only covers the first 15 miles. If doing a T-belt replacement here up north is deemed too difficult to undertake onsite, I am attempting to coordinate a flat-bed trailer via friends to tow it home. That does bring it to my own house and tools, but there is no mechanic in my area that I am aware of that is willing to work on this engine at a price that I can afford. The local Volvo indy mechanics do not work on the V8 or T6 vehicles. I will still have to do the work, also in an un-heated environment, so any advice is still welcome, but please qualify it with “do these procedures at home,” etc.
Thanks for any advice you can offer. I hope your New Years plans with your families are going better than mine. God bless, Fitz Fitzgerald in Holland, Michigan, USA.
Quick history: Car has about 225k miles currently. We got it in 2019 with about 185k miles on it after it was in an accident. Replaced the necessary parts (bumper, radiator, etc), caught up on a lot of neglected maintenance items, fluids, filters, etc. At some point in its history the 4T65 transmission was replaced, more than two owners ago, at an unknown mileage. I replaced the filter and flushed the trans when we got it, bought undersized diameter tires to reduce torque load on the clutch packs, and we drive it very gently. It has been serving as my wife’s daily driver and we plan to take it on a long distance trip to an out-of-state reunion in a few months.