The timing marks on the 1996 Volvo 2.9 960 engine are located on the front of the engine block, just below the head gasket. There are two marks, one for the crankshaft and one for the camshaft.
Crankshaft timing mark
The crankshaft timing mark is a small notch in the crankshaft pulley. It is located at the 12 o'clock position when the engine is at Top Dead Center (TDC).
Camshaft timing mark
The camshaft timing mark is a small bump on the camshaft sprocket. It is located at the 3 o'clock position when the engine is at TDC.
To align the timing marks, follow these steps:
1. Disconnect the battery ground cable.
2. Set the parking brake.
3. Jack up the front of the vehicle and support it on jack stands.
4. Remove the air cleaner cover.
5. Remove the valve cover.
6. Rotate the crankshaft until the piston in cylinder #1 is at TDC. This can be done by turning the crankshaft pulley bolt with a wrench.
7. Once the piston is at TDC, check that both the crankshaft and camshaft timing marks are aligned.
If the timing marks are not aligned, you will need to adjust the timing belt.
NOTE: Before adjusting the timing belt, be sure to read the instructions in the Volvo 960 service manual. This will give you more specific instructions on how to correctly adjust the timing belt.
