Timing Cover/Accessory Pulley Decoupler Seal 3.0 3.2 6 Cylinder

On Volvo's 3.2i and 3.0 T6 engines (as found in P3 cars and the P2 XC90), the accessory belt drive has been relocated from the end of the engine to above the transmission, with a belt drive behind it driving the water pump and A/C compressor, and a smaller pulley along the front of the engine driving the alternator.

Both of these two parts of the accessory drive have one-way, freewheeling clutches in the pulleys, allowing the belts and accessories to spin down gradually when RPMs drop off. The accessories spinning down allows them to keep working under their own inertia, saving a bit of fuel while also subjecting the belts to gentler shock loads.

If you're hearing pulley bearing failure noises like squeaks or rattles or grinds, and especially if those noises are slightly delayed after revving the engine, these pulleys are worth replacing; when replacing the accessory drive belt pulley, we suggest checking for any oil leaks along the accessory drive unit and installing this replacement pulley shaft seal by Mahle to go with your new pulley.

The seal includes a plastic cone, which both protects the inner part of the seal during transit and aids in installation: remove the cone, put it on to the bare accessory drive shaft, press in the seal, and pull the cone out (which ensures the inner "lip" of the seal is facing the right direction and not crimped or folded).

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