Volvo s60 2.4t Cam timing & head gasket question?

[Blazerguy1983]

I am going to attempt to do a Head Gasket job on a 2001 Volvo 2.4t S60 next week with a buddy. I have never gone this deep into a Volvo engine before. I have only done head gaskets on GM’s that is way easier. I have a couple of questions I am hoping someone can give me some advice on. I am concerned about the removal of the upper portion of the head containing the cams. I understand that they are loaded via the valve springs. First question is where can I get a tool to bolt in on the driver side of the cams to keep them from spinning? Second question is do I have to remove the timing pulley’s on the cams to pull the upper cam head? I am sure I will have to remove the pulley’s at some point though to replace the cam seals I could only find one good video on this and it looks really complicated and it’s very intimidating looking. Here are two links to some videos I have been watching on how to do all of this.

Topic

[college man]

see if this helps any further.

Step-by-step Tutorial Replacing Head Gasket: Volvo 5-cyl

[Ethan]

I bought my Volvo cam tool set on ebay for about $70. It was well worth the money, and you really can’t do the job properly without it. Also, ONLY!!!use the Volvo anerobic sealant on the valve cover.

[Blazerguy1983]

I am super excited to inform everyone that I have fixed the Volvo S60 with the misfire, rough idle, stalling, and exhaust leak with smoke coming up from behind the engine problems. The O2 Sensor on the rear of the engine that screws into the corresponding pipe to the flex pipe on the side of the Turbo was missing. Yep, Missing! It was dangling from it’s wire off to the side leaving the threaded hole it screws into wide open. Apparently last summer when the “Non-Volvo” mechanic installed this engine, he must have hand tightened the sensor into the exhaust and forgot to go back with a wrench to snug it down. Over the past year my buddy has been complaining about an exhaust smell under the hood and inside the car that is now gone. It must have worked it’s way lose from engine vibration and finally came completely out. We pulled the car up onto the ramps last night and I rolled under the car and in less that a minute I discovered the issue. We cleared the check engine codes with our fancy Volvo diagnostics tool he bought on eBay that can read ALL the Volvo codes and reset them. The car is running perfect now with no misfire, rough idle or exhaust leak.

I will admit that I am very angry at the garage he took it to that quoted him $2,000 to replace the “blown turbo” and a “blown head gasket”! How can someone miss something so stupid like this?? I’m not a mechanic and just work on cars in my driveway for fun and i figured it out. Well no more of my complaining. I just wanted to update all my EricTheCarGuy friends out there! Thanks again everyone!

[Author]

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