How to find out if your car has a timing chain or belt? (Volvo s40 specific example)

Freeson

Ok, so i have done the following to no avail:

Googled 'Volvo s40 2005 timing chain', 'volvo s40 1.8 petrol timing chain' and a million other combinations
Tried to buy a timing chain or belt on-line
Downloaded the volvo user manual
Looked at the maintenance book (no reference to either which i thought surprising)
Looked for technical details of the engine - seems to give everything but the obvious!
Checked volvo forums to no avail (1.8 petrol is not sold in america so limited info)
Looked for technical details of ford focus 1.8 engine to no avail

So am i bad at this, is there an obvious resource i am overlooking or what? i plan on buying one in the coming week, a couple of the places i rang that are trying to sell them didnt have a clue or were adamant it was a chain or adamant it was a belt! given that if it is a belt i want to make sure it is not end of life you would think this important info would be available for buyers!

I had this problem before with a car i was looking to buy but it was easier to find info on a VW engine for some reason (more common i suppose?)

thereitisgone

Try google with `Volvo s40 2005 timing belt replacement´ and a lot of hits come up, and it is a timing belt not a chain.

Freeson

That helped a bit but i didn't find anything definitive again - nearly everything linked is the 2.4 base engine available in the states, if you have a specific link that would be great!

Freeson

actually i ended up digging up a boards thread:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=66691439

Where someone says the 1.8 petrol is a chain since 2004! thats the problem, i would like to see a source if i could but that might be wishful thinking!

thereitisgone

Ok i apologise i was too hasty in my answer, looks like the 1.8 actually does have a chain, i have found these two sources first this
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=96074
and then this
http://www.247spares.co.uk/browse/engines?s=1&stt=0&vrmdialog=0#top
if you manually put in 1.8 2005 it comes up as a chain. Very surprising was sure it was a belt:o

Freeson

thanks! those uk Volvo forums are much better than what google was throwing out for me

bazz26

If still unsure best thing to do is ring a dealer and hear it from the horse's mouth.

mickdw

bazz26 wrote: »

If still unsure best thing to do is ring a dealer and hear it from the horse's mouth.

Yes but if you just get the person at the service desk, you might very well get the wrong answer too specially if they changed from belt to chain around that time.

WHip off the cover and have a peak would be the best way.

kazul

Or phone a Volvo garage and ask?

Nissan doctor

An 05 volvo s40 1.8 uses a timing chain. If your car has a timing belt your service book would give you the replacement intervals.