So our car broke in NOVA. I need a tow/advice.
 

Anybody with a trailer heading south from NOVA to Central Va? :D

Last weekend we were driving up to Alexandria for our anniversary when my wife's accessory belt snapped. Volvo v60 2015. It got caught up in the timing belt, so there you go. The timing belt has jumped some cogs, but the engine still turns and gets compression, so it might not be destroyed just yet. The electronic valve timing is doing it's best to keep it running, but it ain't making the trip under power.


Fortunately, we were able to tow it to her sister's house in Vienna, Va. Turning lemons into lemonade (as best possible), we got to spend a great night with her sister/brother in law, who are fun as usual. Even more fortunately, they are moving from NOVA back down to our hometown in Charlottesville, so they needed a driver to take an extra car back (another volvo) home, so that got us some good steak, wine, lodging, and a free car to drive home. We packed up their car with moving stuff (a convertible volvo btw) and we drove back. It was planes, trains and automobiles stuff with all the stuff in the back.

Bad news is my wife's car is still up there. I need it towed from Vienna-Charlottesville (Afton). I've got two neighbors who have double axle trailers, and one has already offered to help, but he's older and I don't want to bother him (even with money.)

The route is 120 miles approximately. I'm wondering if there is a better way. I don't even want to see that d#$% car for the next week or two. :D

Picard voice- I need options number one!

Aaa?

I did. I think I got schnookered. Perhaps not. We were outside and it was hard to hear on the phone. They said 5 miles and then something per mile. That was the AAA agent. The tow truck driver was contractor with very poor english. At the time, I hadn't used it for ages, and need to look and see if we had basic or high end plan. Even before looking though, today I saw some fine print that they will only tow it once per breakdown, so even if true, I've already shot that magic bullet. This was a very stressful moment as we were stuck in a busy parking deck holding up traffic. The tow truck couldn't clear under the low overhang, so the tow guy and I were pushing frantically to get the car out of the parking deck, while getting honked at by all of Washington DC. I was in a bit of a survival mode. To make matters worse, he wanted to try to start the car, which would have jumped the timing more because the accessory belt was still in the timing gear, I wouldn't let him, he didn't trust me, so a lot was going on.

Can you get it fixed near where it is?

I could, but need to look into it. Basically, I'd be looking at a dealership timing belt replacement, but if the valves are damaged, then it get's expensive. If I decided to bring it home to do it myself, then I'd be towing anyway, and I'd have to decide quick to avoid storage fees.


What I did was tow it to Matt's house/ then the next morning I unwrapped the accessory belt out of the timing housing, and attempted to inspect the timing to insure I was sill aligned at TDC. This model has a very difficult to read crankshaft TDC indicator, so I was not able to confirm, but from my best guess it's off and retarded but the cams are trying to compensate. It did spin over like a normal engine though, building compression, and releasing it with no catches, but it's not running smooth.

I got nothing except to say I'm sorry your weekend in Alexandria didn't turn out as planned (and that your car is "t's" up). At least you made the most of it.

Charlottesville is a really pretty part of Virginia.

Yeah! We were super bummed. We had made reservations from the suggestions here, and were going to hit a bunch of the places for snacks/lunch. We decided to stop in Tysons? to get our daughters christmas shopping done, and thats when it took a dump.

In retrospect, I am sooooooo glad this didn't happen on the beltway (no pun intended :) ). That would have been waay worse. We would have gotten killed. The engine would have surely torn itself up. I was at least able to stop it in the parking deck fairly quick.

That's a bummer, sorry this messed up your trip.

Thanks, yeah, total bummer. When my wife and I got back into town, we agreed we needed to go out somewhere before picking up our daughter. We needed to do at least something. We chose an old mexican place we like. Got there- and were closed. They had just started a "closed on Sunday" work hours.

It really became a matter of let's just get home safe and push on. My arms are all cut and bruised from trying to reach up under the car with limited access tools. It's kicking in today. oh yeah!!! ;)

I went into work today on empty. I think I'm better now... let me check... nope!
Still on empty.

Looks like you have an interference engine. Hopefully the valves are just a little out of time and nothing's bent.

Even the AAA Platinum membership only covers 100 miles.

Your car insurance may have tow assist, worth a call to see if you can get it reimbursed.

:D



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1633997241.jpg

Repeat 1000x

"Never EVER let me buy a volvo without first consulting Steve and his volvo insurance" (if your still doing that) :)

Good to know both. Thanks.

Heck..that "older" neighbor might even welcome a road trip. 'Specially if you do most of the driving & buy the gas.

I've had those days. Tomorrow the sun comes up again and so do we.

I'm thinking your right. I just feel really bad about subjecting him to that NOVA driving!

So far he's the best bet. He custom built an overbuilt trailer with homemade winches and a fat duallie to pull it by. He's prolly got a rolling coal option on his diesel.

I love him already.

I still need to talk to my next store neighbor, younger (well, mid 40's), and perhaps more eager for short term day work.

My head was so bonkers this weekend, I completely forgot I have neighbors with larger trailers. Took a day for that to come back to me. Give me 24 more hrs, I'll give you a winning lottery number.

I do love living in the country!

That's the truth. I was just talking to my wife, I think it brought us together a little bit, and that's cool. It's just a car. My wife joked when we were in the garage, a couple was fighting over setting up a baby stroller.

Im going to go out on a limb, and say , if it is still running, then you did not bend valves, Usually , when a tb jumps, or breaks, and the piston makes contact with valves, it will uniformly bend valves in all the cylinders equally, and you will effectively have zero compression , therefore a no start . I have seen a few times , where only one or two valves were bent , but that is pretty rare, the motor has to be almost at idle when the belt breaks to get that lucky
Id try to find a good euro indy near the car. That job is not too awful terrible to do .
Either that, or rent a u haul dolly , and a truck if you have to ?

Also, will share another story-
(energy slowly coming back)

Kind man offered to help me fix the car in the garage. "I know a little something about cars, need some help? That's a BMW right?" He wasn't kidding.

"Yup, we're good" replied I in my best deadpan Chevy Chase. :D

Make sure your neighbor keeps his eyes on the road, when he starts rolling coal, we don't need another thread like that .
Best of luck .

This is good feedback. The car runs, but not like cars with burnt valves or bent valves (ask me how I know). It wants to run, but can't. bad Actually it can, it just sounds like it has bad lifters, and cannot run consistently / evenly with changes in revs. Pulling it through a cycle with the wrench, it feels normal as can be. It's just very loud, like a semi collapsed 944 lifters or bad injectors type noise, but not missing compression noise.

Perhaps researching an nova indie would be wise.
I will also need to diagnose the cause of the breaking accessory belts. This is a deeper story for another night, BUT, something ain't right, and let's just say, the last time I used and indie to diagnose the same car for the same problem, and insisted whatever was trashing the accessory belt get fixed, well- it didn't happen.

Folks, this b#$% sucked in an accessory belt last January and trashed the whole thing. This is a new head that just got retrashed.

(story thickens...):rolleyes: Fool me twice. Shame on me.

Sounds like a doubly super dooper vacation is now due.

Man, Id be spitting nails . Ill consult the auto repair gods tomorrow, and beg for some good luck for you

LOL- Thanks! At this point, all I want is to have that POS in my garage, with my tools, letting the cool fall breeze waft in and deal with it in peace. So I fix the second head. I've done this before in past lives. I don't see how something DIDNT bend, but it's running pretty darn good for something with a bent valve.

The past mechanic had such a hard time with it, I am not going to bother him. He paid his dues. I shall not drag him down. This is my white whale.

Now that you mention it, I remember that thread where you were replacing the head. Hey, the second time is always easier !

Rent a u-haul one way? Tow it.

rjp

My guess is if you get the valve timing set correctly, it will run fine. Hopefully!

There's a very strong Porsche community in that area and tons of independent Euro car shops. I mean tons, like think coastal CA numbers. If I put my thinking cap on, I might be able to remember a few. I haven't lived there in 13 yrs. The local Porsche BBS is dorkiphus.net and those guys know everything and everyone in the area.

Thanks for all the advice guys. Today, I'm getting some energy back. Since my inlaws are heading our way, I might just look into this getup to see if it will help them. Still looking at options, all options, including nova indie shops. I'd take indie all day over dealership.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1634079413.jpg

They've got a house full of stuff and could benefit from cleaning it out a bit before showing it on the market. I'm going to research prices and talk to them. (They've also got a harley that needs to come down somehow.)

Also mentally trying to figure the accessory belt problem (it always seems too tight and looked to be visibly canting the pulley orientation when I put the new belt on Sunday due to excess tension)-This will need to be addressed no matter what, by me, and my neurotic self.

And of course I looked at a newish v60 and v90 on the lot today. Fun to dream, and I was impressed with the touch screen controls (I thought I'd hate them). I will probably wimp out and fix this car though. Junk is my DESTINY!!! :D

Are you a Facebook member of any of the Volvo Groups? You could always post on there your location and request for recommendations of indy mechanics.

People complain about FB all the time but I guess they may not use it as a resource like I do.....

That's another good idea. I was just on FB looking at shoes, model railroads, porsches, long distance bike touring, bike derailluers, cameras, and FB even suggested a forum for people who liked to look at pictures of cool clouds. :)

Adding a volvo site makes sense.
Where I'd really pick their brain is the proper tightness of the belt. From what I've read, it's tight, but this is beyond tight. This is where I need experienced feedback.

I'm a member of three groups:

1) Volvo Owners of North America

2) Florida Volvo Community

3) San Diego Volvo Sports America


You'd get everything you wanted if you hooked up with one of them. There should be one based in Virginia, I bet, if you looked. The Florida one has this state covered!

Try #1 above...Volvo Owners of North America

You know it's a freaking cult when they post stuff like this.....:D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1634083757.jpg

Ha! I know that dash! That's the same lighting scheme I use "performance mode". Also guessing that model car is earlier series than the dash, but someone updated the rim size on it. Def R sized toy rims! (with a spare in the back) :)

Hey, is that the groups spambot entrance exam? :D

Edit- My wife claims she can get a u-haul truck and car trailer for $240 for the mileage. That seems cheap. If this checks, we can load up the Car, their Harley, AND their Vespa scooter, and a bunch of other random garage stuff/ bikes/skis/ tools/etc. I'm going to call U-haul tomorrow to check into this.

Reminds me of a joke a taxi cab driving school in NYC used in regards to U-haul for their new taxi driving students.
"When's the last time that driver drove a U-haul?- NEVER!!!! Stay away from them!!!!"

In my case- I actually have driven a U-haul through manhattan. That experience transfers. I could do this. :)

You should join the group anyway:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/704439616407239

I think I will. I could use the feedback. If for no other reason, I appreciate seeing people crazier than I am to justify my own niche habits. Gives me a sense of normalcy.

So many resources on FB.

Arcade games (I have an Asteroids machine), Hawk (I have a 250), Mako (I have a '79 19'), the Volvo, Australian Cattle Dogs, Surfing, Bicycles, and more......all have been very helpful for me.....

I broke a timing belt on my Accord a few weeks ago. It will run and idle fine, until warmed up. It has a few bent valves, but is still drive-able. Revs fine, until it has a load put on the engine.

Cross your fingers, and check the timing marks.

Hopefully your issue has to do with voltage being down because the accessory belt got lunched. Good vibes sent your way from here.SmileWavy

I could probably find out for you. Didn't you say there was an alignment issue, too? Post a picture and your questions and I'll run it by a good Volvo tech.

Yes we know
facebook told us