1993 Volvo 960. 2.9L inline-6. 159.5k miles. Car runs fine but timing belt was last changed 5-6 yrs ago, so I just want to change it since rubber degrades. I want to get one of the kits which come with the belt, tensioner, and idler pulley. Some of the kits I've found across various sites come with a hydraulic timing belt actuator, such as this one, marked as OEM on the site: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-timing-belt-kit-minor-oem-parts-tbkit217-oem . Others such as this Genuine Volvo one don't: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-timing-belt-kit-960-s90-v90-30758266 . Here is a hydraulic timing belt actuator by itself: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=2560896&cc=1289134&pt=11999&jsn=14344&jsn=14344 . So what exactly is that and should I change it while I have the engine apart?
Btw for anyone else who might see this in the future, I compared the pictures and realized that the hydraulic timing belt actuator is just the tensioner without the pulley. The kits that come with it just have the pulley separated. Also note that the timing belt interval very short at 30k miles on this car, so don’t think you can go 100k like Scotty says in the video.
Video answer at 5:46
Thanks! Btw for anyone else who might see this in the future, I compared the pictures and realized that the hydraulic timing belt actuator is just the tensioner without the pulley. The kits that come with it just have the pulley separated. Also note that the timing belt interval very short at 30k miles on this car, so don’t think you can go 100k like Scotty says in the video.
You're welcome and thanks for your information.
the hydraulic timing belt actuator is just the tensioner without the pulley. The kits that come with it just have the pulley separated
Good to know. I've wondered since your OP if Volvo's were somehow unique. So a "Hydraulic timing belt actuator" is the fancy name for the tensioner, lol.
Yes, you want to change the tensioner it has to hold it in place and that's an old vehicle. You definitely would want to change it
But what is a hydraulic timing belt actuator? The kits come with the tensioner and idler pullley, but some also come with a hydraulic timing belt actuator