850 T5 "Whining noise"...

[chris.mapey]

I'm trying to help a friend who's got an 850T5 Auto that is making a "whining" noise when started from cold. Once it's been running for a few minutes, this fades away and the car sounds OK, and in all cases runs normally...

My suspicion is that its the water pump, but I'm not sure whether this is an issue that may be symptomatic of the car needing a new cambelt - it's done about 119k miles, and there is no details of when the 'belt was last changed...

I suppose I'm asking:

1) Is there anything else that could be making this sort of noise
2) What's the ideal cambelt change frequency on an 1996 850 T5
3) Is the whining symptomatic of something about to let go in an expensive fashion!

All assistance gratefully received!

Cheers in advance.

Edited by chris.mapey on Wednesday 14th April 15:29

[smack]

Cam belt frequency is 80k. Can't help with the rest.

[Quazzi]

Hi there, I own a 1996 850R and I'm getting the exact same problem as your friend...

I have my suspicions it's probably a Timing belt tensioner / pulley on its way out.

At the weekend though I'll be whipping off the auxiliary belt and starting the car briefly to diagnose if it's a problem with something on the aux belt.

If not, It's safe to assume its a tensioner / pulley issue.

Let me know how you get on, I hope this was of some use

[don kalmar union]

Well worth posting at www.t5d5.org where many well informed owners of these cars hang out.

Regards, Don.

[y2blade]

don kalmar union said:

Well worth posting at www.t5d5.org where many well informed owners of these cars hang out.

Regards, Don.

+1 for T5D5 it is one of the best performance Volvo forums with a lot of helpful and very knowledgeable members

[morgrp]

It's the cold map waste gate setting. It limits boost whilst warming up. They get noisy with age. Mine does it. As long as it goes after a few minutes there is nothing to worry about. Just go easy on it whilst it warms up (as you should with any turbo car)