I am wanting to change the cam belt on my volvo 960. straight six 3litre 24valve. The problem is I cannot find the 3 reference marks (1 on the crankshaft and the 1 on each camshaft pulley).

at the dealer can help you

Need help with what Thanks Viper

At #1 TDC both cam pulleys will have a mark that lines up with marks on the top of the Timing belt cover. They will point straight up.

just align the cam and crank marks with the marks on the covers. the timing marks WILL NOT ALIGN with the number one piston on TDC. just align the marks and the car will run ok. that's the correct way to do it.

First, your belt should have marks on it. they line up to the marks on the cam and the mark on the crank. If you don't have marks, check the old belt. If it has marks, transfer them to the new one. They are important and make the job 10 times easier. Your crank should be on tdc, on it's mark, and your cams also, on their marks. Once there, the cams can be clamped so they don't spring. If you have to move the engine, pull some spark plugs to take off the compression. Turn it over with a big socket on the crank shaft. Don't forget the pistons will hit the valves if they are not moving with the crank, so do the cams first, to get them out of the way, they only spring a little, 1/4 turn at the most. Get it lined up, get the belt lined up, pull the pin on the tensioner, you should be all set. Hope this helps.

I have run into this before . Volvo wants you to buy a special tool to properly set these cam's in time since the cam-drive pulleys are oil advanced . That's fine if you have up to $300.00 for the tool . I made 1 for under $20.00 . Here's How - Buy a 2in. by 7in. by 1/4in. piece of flat steel . 1 - Measure & mark 2in from each end (Length wise) . 2 - Measure & mark from the previous marks 3/4 in. towards center (Width Wise) . 3 - cut out space between marks (Finished product will look like a flat horse-shoe) . 4 - Put (flat horse-shoe) in a vise length wise (TABS UP) . 5 - bend each tab 1/8in.out from straight in line oposite directions (When done if you look straight down the lenght of the tool the tabs will make it apear the 1/4in piece of metal twice as thick)(1/2in.) 6 - Pull valve cover and look at the fire-wall side of the cam-shafts 1 side will be small half moon up(slots in cam will give the apearence of a small & large half moon) 1 small up and the other cam small half moon down . 7 - slightly turn the cams left or right to be able to fit tool in slots . 8 - With tool in place re-install cam-drive belt w/# 1 piston at TDC . 9 - adjust tensioner with very little tension against belt ( grab belt w/ tensioner tight above and below tensioner you should only be able to twist belt no more tha 1/2in. either way ) Bolt her down put her back together ( remove tool ) put valve cover back on & fire it up . GOOD LUCK!!! hope this helps you out .

IF U BROKE THIS BELT WHILE DRIVING U HAVE BENT THE VALVES IN THE ENGINE, THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED AN INTERFERENCE DESIGN ENGINE, THAT MEANS WHEN THE TIMING BELT BREAKS THE PISTONS HIT THE ENGINES VALVES

error definitely some issues with the early six-cylinder timing belts. There were some updates, including a dampener for one of the cams. See if you can get copies of the service bulletins for your engine. I think the belt may also be somewhat wider on the later engines. DO NOT use the later interval.

Hi,
The 3L 24V straight 6 engine has timing marks on the crankshaft pulley & on the camshaft pulleys. The crankshaft pulley aligns with a mark on the front of the block, the camshafts align with two marks on the plastic cover on the top. The ignition timing, the fuel/air mixture & the valve timing are not adjustable. The 3L engine is known as an "Interference" engine, in other words, if the cam belt breaks or is not set up correctly, the pistons 'meet' the valves, with dire consequences!!!!!

you do 14 foot pounds then 45 foot pounds then a 120 degree turn.if aluminum heads are what you have