Is the D5 Aux belt issue really that common?

[19jacobob93]

Hi everyone,

I have a couple of D5 powered Volvos on my shopping list, and I really like the look and sound of them.

I'm not familiar at all with the D5 engine, having never owned one, so all I know is what I've read and watched online.

I have read a LOT about the most common serious issue, which is of course, the aux belt and tensioner failures. I have read of this happening 3x within 100k miles to one unlucky owner (lucky that none hit the timing belt though), yet I've also seen these engines with around 500k miles still running mint!

I generally keep my cars for a very long time (usually until someone drives into me and writes it off) and I do a lot of driving (700 miles weekly).

Are there any tricks to preventing this from occurring, other than frequent belt and tensioner replacements? What causes this issue to occur and are there any updated or upgraded parts now?

Apologies if this topic has been flogged to death on this forum already!

Cheers

[Phil Croxley]

I think the trick is just to replace the belt and tensioner at the correct intervals using genuine parts. I did mine last year, not a difficult job, using Volvo supplied parts for less than £100. In fact, because the parts aren't expensive and the job is easy, I'm happy to do mine every 25-30k or so.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by 19jacobob93

Hi everyone,

I have a couple of D5 powered Volvos on my shopping list, and I really like the look and sound of them.

I'm not familiar at all with the D5 engine, having never owned one, so all I know is what I've read and watched online.

I have read a LOT about the most common serious issue, which is of course, the aux belt and tensioner failures. I have read of this happening 3x within 100k miles to one unlucky owner (lucky that none hit the timing belt though), yet I've also seen these engines with around 500k miles still running mint!

I generally keep my cars for a very long time (usually until someone drives into me and writes it off) and I do a lot of driving (700 miles weekly).

Are there any tricks to preventing this from occurring, other than frequent belt and tensioner replacements? What causes this issue to occur and are there any updated or upgraded parts now?

Apologies if this topic has been flogged to death on this forum already!

Cheers

No it is not common at all. If it does it is generally down to very poor maintenance on 5 Cylinder diesels after 2007. People don't bother changing the Aux belt as per volvos instructions or they use cheap non volvo belts. The main cause was the alternator pulley one way clutch seizing causing big vibrations in the Aux belt . so get someone to rev the engine whilst you watch the aux belt. It should all turn smoothly. The aux belt should be changed every 54000 miles, It's tensioner should be changed every 108000 miles together with the cam belt and it's tensioner.

Volvo made modifications to the tensioner in 2009-12 with recalls so make sure these have been done.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by 19jacobob93

Hi everyone,

I have a couple of D5 powered Volvos on my shopping list, and I really like the look and sound of them.

I'm not familiar at all with the D5 engine, having never owned one, so all I know is what I've read and watched online.

I have read a LOT about the most common serious issue, which is of course, the aux belt and tensioner failures. I have read of this happening 3x within 100k miles to one unlucky owner (lucky that none hit the timing belt though), yet I've also seen these engines with around 500k miles still running mint!

I generally keep my cars for a very long time (usually until someone drives into me and writes it off) and I do a lot of driving (700 miles weekly).

Are there any tricks to preventing this from occurring, other than frequent belt and tensioner replacements? What causes this issue to occur and are there any updated or upgraded parts now?

Apologies if this topic has been flogged to death on this forum already!

Cheers

Its not common as in its a major flaw that's writing engines off all the time, but it does and has happened. Its the "achilles heel" of the D5 engine. Every engine has a weak point.

Use genuine Volvo belts, follow the service schedule (54k for the aux belt) and 10 years or 108k for the timing belt and all the tensioners - You shouldn't have a problem.

[emtor]

Aux belt/tensioner isn't the only possible cause of disaster.
Add the generator and the A/C compressor to the list too.
The AC compressor clutch on my D5 tore itself off and luckily the belt survived and caused no problem for either the aux belt or the cam belt.

[GrahamBrown1]

As mentioned it’s the alternator clutch pulleys that cause most the bother. Mine failed at 30k miles. First sign was squealing on cold start up. Pulled the little cap off the end and all the grease had come out. If it had been left it would probably caused belt failure. There was also signs of belt dusting around the pulley so worth keeping an eye for that.

I think the engine auxiliaries cause more problems than the belt itself but the belt is subject to massive forces when the engine is started. Some have had them shred on first start up and cause damage. I change the belt regular and Inspect all the pulleys. You can’t ignore any abnormal noise on them otherwise it can bite you.