D4192T2 V40 1999-2000 Direct injection - timing belt snapped

Dear colleagues I may have the only v40 diesel in Australia, a private import, unfortunately Volvo has only just started to bring diesel engines in. A poor showing for all diesel passenger cars in this country, actually. This is the Direct Injection, not the Common Rail. My timing belt snapped the other day. It was a great day. Not. The week I was going to replace it. The perils of not knowing the service history on a second hand car. I understand it is a renault based engine (F9Q code), according to a breaker yard in the UK. My local mechanic here cannot tell if this engine is a "valve-bender". My wife was driving it and she cannot say what it sounded like when it stopped, and hence thinking it was another problem the starter motor was turned over. On the starter motor now there is no great noise that suggest banging valves on pistons. Even if it is "valve-bender" is there any position of the cam shaft that across all four cylinders that miraculously a piston may not hit them? As you know, taking off the head and reinstallation will cost here at least 800-1000 quid plus (GBP), so internal investigation is out of the question. My only other option is to install a new timing belt and see what happens. Thanks in advance, guys. I am away for a day or two off the net, but will get back. regards Philip

It didn't bend a valve! 

This is the 1st time I've seen your post, well done getting her sorted, I had a similar experience with a 440 petrol, snaped a belt while starting one morning and hadn't done damage. Those Renault engines are not only valve benders, they are known piston breakers, cam shaft snappers, and general severely sh1te themselves, so you got off very lucky!! Have you played the lotto yet lol

Funny you should mention this. The mechanic and I went 50/50 on Lotto tickets, feeling as lucky as we were, but to no avail... dang!

Hi, sounds like you did damage a couple of valves, and welding then grinding them back to normal clearance is a pretty good compromise, it will however mean that a couple of your valves are probably not seating properly due to the stems having been bent but if your car appears to be running ok and you are happy then fine. I thought you guys down under were big Holden fans?

From memory the valves on these engines are directly over the pistons, this is why they put holes in pistons and break cams, probably just gave the stem a slight squash lol