Technically it's 120K or....................................7 years
I would figure on one soon enough.

Check the tensioner, that's what fails more than the belt itself

 

IMO on P2 cars, 10 years or 105k miles (whichever comes first) is fine. If the belt looks bad or you're hearing noises from the tensioner then replace immediately.

 

Does Volvo recommend a timed interval or is it just "word of mouth"?

What to look for when checking the tensioner? Just looking for wobble or play?

 

IMO, don't wait 10 years. At 88k miles my belt started hitting my timing cover (noticed stress cracks in my carbon fiber and realized it was the belt smacking it), meaning my tensioner was failing, and car was only 7 years then. Prior to changing my timing belt I did a lot of searching on this forum and saw MANY hits about the timing belt change being done ahead of schedule.

Your car is 7 years old but less than 120k, as JRL pointed out (and so would your car maintenance manual sheet) that it is time to change timing belt, tensioner, idler pulley. It is your call if you want to change the water pump, but its one of those sayings "while you're in there..." kind of thing.

 

With no signs of anything going awry, it's not a major concern at 7 years. You (OP) aren't having the slapping issue (not from how good that belt looks) and if the idler/tensioners aren't making noise, I wouldn't get in a hurry to change them.

Volvo does indeed recommend replacement at 105k according to my owners manual. I am due both on miles and on time, and it's getting done asap. I don't have any noise issues nor any slap issues either, but I sure don't plan on tempting fate.

Again, your car, your choice, but honestly, if it were mine, I'd go a while longer.

 

The timed interval is not WOM. For the P80 cars Volvo recommended a 7year timed interval and upped it to 10 years on the P2 cars and maybe the 99+ P80s.

For whatever reason Volvo omitted the timed interval in some of the later model year P2 manuals and went strictly by mileage.

Time tends to do just as much if not more damage than mileage, so it's always best to follow which ever comes first.

 

It does look in good shape. No noise from the idler wheel. I may just push off to 10 years and keep a close ear on it. It sounds like for our specific model, 10 years is Volvo's recommended time interval.

Thanks for the help. Obviously not something I wanted to have weighing on my mind.

 

Mine appears fine for being on an 06 with 83k miles but seeing as how I am doing alot of work to my R and hearing / reading horror stories on hear about changing it at 70k and tensioners failing I figured for 225.00 in parts to change out both belts, both tensioners and the idler pulley why not?

 

I had mine done. I'm only at 48k but I had the cams replaced with Y21's and had them do belt, water pump and all that stuff while it was apart. Belt looked ok.

 

Volvo has released updated timing belt intervals in VolvoTechinfo.com This is what the dealers will go by.

Here is what they don't tell you. Your belt wasn't made when the car was. In a lot of cases it was sitting in a parts bin for months or longer.

10 years is gracious. I'd do it before then. i'll be doing that entire job next year and mine is an 06.

$600 or $6000.....easy math.

 

Volvo has released updated timing belt intervals in VolvoTechinfo.com This is what the dealers will go by.

Here is what they don't tell you. Your belt wasn't made when the car was. In a lot of cases it was sitting in a parts bin for months or longer.

10 years is gracious. I'd do it before then. i'll be doing that entire job next year and mine is an 06.

$600 or $6000.....easy math.

Very easy math indeed!

 

I do know of one member on here who had a failure around 70k and Volvo sent him a new engine. That is very YMMV though.

 

LOL! I know even though I have 83k like many on here my R is so far beyond stock that the most I would get would get would be a condolence letter and a bill.