The 1986 Volvo 240 is equipped with an interference engine. This means that if the timing belt breaks, the pistons will come into contact with the open valves, causing damage to the engine. The extent of the damage will depend on the engine speed at the time of the belt failure. At high engine speeds, the damage can be severe and may require a complete engine rebuild. At lower engine speeds, the damage may be limited to bent valves and damaged pistons.
Regardless of the extent of the damage, a broken timing belt on a 1986 Volvo 240 will always result in costly repairs. It is therefore important to replace the timing belt at the recommended intervals to avoid this type of failure.
