If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)

Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Please note that it is not permitted to have referral links posted in your signature. Keep these links contained in the appropriate forum. Thank you.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules

Alfa 156 Question

Debyaka · 2005-09-02 03:16:03

Hey there, I'm gonna send my car in for a full service soon, There is 34K on the clock, should i get the timing belt done now? I need brake pads all round too any ideas whats all this might set me back at a independant dealers? Cheers for any help lad(ie)s

Options

02-09-2005 4:16am

#1

Debyaka

Closed Accounts Posts: 121 ✭✭

Join Date: March 2005

Posts: 110

Hey there,
I'm gonna send my car in for a full service soon,
There is 34K on the clock, should i get the timing belt done now?
I need brake pads all round too any ideas whats all this might set me back at a independant dealers?
Cheers for any help lad(ie)s

0

Comments

Options
#2 02-09-2005 9:35am
testicle

Closed Accounts Posts: 5,430 ✭✭✭

Join Date: April 2005

Posts: 5252

The belt should be done at 36k, if memory serves, no harm in getting it done slightly early.

0
Options
#3 02-09-2005 9:53am
ismynametoolong

Closed Accounts Posts: 271 ✭✭

Join Date: August 2005

Posts: 229

36 K for a timing belt change this seems very low mileage i though most cars now do 60K between belt changes . Although i would always recommend an early change especially with an Italian motor .If your going to an independent make sure the pads fitted are of good quality otherwise you will be plagued with a hard pedal squealing brakes and no confidence in the stopping ability .
I would recommed "Jurid" brake pads which are OE in many top brand vehicles and reboxed with the manufacturers name . Check with you local motor factors first for availability so you dont get fobbed off by the garage .

0
Options
#4 02-09-2005 10:21am
RicardoSmith

Closed Accounts Posts: 8,264 ✭✭✭

Join Date: August 2002

Posts: 7877

While I don't think you'll make the money back if you are selling it, it will help to sell it faster if the work is done.

0
Options
#5 02-09-2005 10:28am
gabgab

Registered Users Posts: 1,062 ✭✭✭

Join Date: August 2005

Posts: 961

My mate just had is 147 done, he got chgarged approxamitely €150 for plugging it into the computer. I aggree with the rest of the lads re timing belt and on alfa's it is around 36k

Also its worth buying the parts yourself, the garage just put a margin on them, eg: €5.97 for a indicator bulb, no joke!! If the kick up a fuss take the business elsewhere,

0
Options
#6 02-09-2005 4:05pm
cashmni1

Closed Accounts Posts: 629 ✭✭✭

Join Date: September 2005

Posts: 615

I would agree to change the belt,early (no harm) but be careful that the dealer doesn't insist that the brake disks themselvs are gone. This happened to a friend of mine and the service cost him €900 (Alfa dealer).

0
Advertisement
Options
#7 02-09-2005 4:40pm
BrianD3

Registered Users Posts: 8,393 ✭✭✭

Join Date: October 2002

Posts: 7856

Are you actually sure that you need new brake pads all round i.e. have you taken the wheels off and had a good look at the pad thicknesses yourself. 34k is low mileage to be getting out of a set of pads. If the pads are actually gone you must be a "nippy" driver

0
Options
#8 02-09-2005 4:45pm
gabgab

Registered Users Posts: 1,062 ✭✭✭

Join Date: August 2005

Posts: 961

Yeh I aggree, the garage will always suggest doing them so they can sting ya with the margin on the pads and labour....

Anyway, my mate got a timing belt and 4 pads for €300 from victor motors, but he's a bit of a spoofer so dunno what he actually paid!!

0
Options
#9 02-09-2005 4:48pm
Cyrus

Registered Users Posts: 20,057 ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: January 2003

Posts: 18726

timing belt is going to cost a few quid prob 600 at least

try gerry at ti autos 01-8386567

better than a main dealer, nice guy and really knows his alfas

0
Options
#10 02-09-2005 5:12pm
[DF]Lenny

Registered Users Posts: 598 ✭✭✭

Join Date: July 2000

Posts: 527

I agree with the above post,had a couple of alfa's (including a 156) and T.I are a great garage..stay well away for Donohoe's on the Kylemore Road!

0
Options
#11 02-09-2005 6:37pm
RicardoSmith

Closed Accounts Posts: 8,264 ✭✭✭

Join Date: August 2002

Posts: 7877

Wheres ti autos ?

0
Advertisement
Options
#12 02-09-2005 6:47pm
bmoferrall

Registered Users Posts: 498 ✭✭

Join Date: March 2005

Posts: 484

RicardoSmith wrote:

Wheres ti autos ?

Cowper Lane, just off Aughrim St., Dublin 7

I agree with above comments.
I've long since abandoned Donohoe's in favour of TI Autos. Gerry Campbell knows alfa's inside out (and is a nice, trustworthy bloke also); you will usually see one or two classics, in various states of repair, in his garage. Downside is that, because he's so popular, and virtually a one-man band, you may have to book a couple of months in advance. He's not exactly cheap but he won't make stupid mistakes and he won't take advantage of you.

0
Options
#13 02-09-2005 6:52pm
bmoferrall

Registered Users Posts: 498 ✭✭

Join Date: March 2005

Posts: 484

Debyaka wrote:

Hey there,
There is 34K on the clock, should i get the timing belt done now?

All depends on your driving style really (you didn't say what year the car is). If you have owned the car from new and are a sympathetic driver then it should last for the recommended 60K (or 3 years).

0
Options
#14 02-09-2005 8:42pm
kyote00

Registered Users Posts: 1,587 ✭✭✭

Join Date: January 2005

Posts: 1502

As a 156 owner since 99 and with 80k on mine (and no trouble), I had the timing belt done at 52k .... as it coincided with a service.

Unless you have serious suspicion that the car has been flogged to death, I can't see why doing a change at 36k is needed.

Its fine to do it earlier but 36k ?

Follow the advice earlier about the alfa dealer on the kylemore road, the crowd in clontarf screwed up simple service items on my car so are not much better IMHO

0
Options
#15 03-09-2005 11:24am
galwaytt

Registered Users Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: May 2005

Posts: 12434

kyote00....interesting you have an Alfa that long....from new? As you can see from my sig, I have a TT, and want to change it for a new Alfa GT. However, there being no dealer on this side of the country, I can't exactly access anyone who owns one, and want to do this before I commit, re: quality, reliability etc........last Alfa I had was in the 80's...so that isn't fair.......

What say you on them?

As for timing belt changes - simple. Look in the owner's handbook that came with the car......it'll tell you in there. 36k sounds very early, but some Fiats of old used to have 30k changes so you can never assume.

My wife was nearly conned into a timing belt change at 42k on her Scenic by the main dealer. What tosh. Book said (iirc..) 60k.

Ode To The Motorist
“And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road”

0
Options
#16 03-09-2005 12:00pm
RicardoSmith

Closed Accounts Posts: 8,264 ✭✭✭

Join Date: August 2002

Posts: 7877

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=235740

0
Options
#17 03-09-2005 12:06pm
BrianD3

Registered Users Posts: 8,393 ✭✭✭

Join Date: October 2002

Posts: 7856

On the topic of timing belt change intervals - IMO the change intervals specified by the manufacturers are little better than a "guesstimate" and they are often revised during the production life of a vehicle (probably due to timing belts which snap before the recommended change interval while the car is still under warranty)

There are many factors that can contribute to the failure of a belt and there is also uncertainty associated with them. They are in effect a glorified rubber band which can snap at any time or can last the life of the vehicle.

0
Options
#18 03-09-2005 12:17pm
bloke

Registered Users Posts: 70 ✭✭

Join Date: February 2004

Posts: 64

bmoferrall wrote:

All depends on your driving style really (you didn't say what year the car is). If you have owned the car from new and are a sympathetic driver then it should last for the recommended 60K (or 3 years).

bmoferrall - As I recall you've owned a couple of V6 alfas, like meself The V6 engine is ok to leave 'til 60k before doing the timing belt. The TwinSparks however seem to shred belts very early - probably because of the convoluted and tight path the belt takes, and the tensioners seem to have a tendency to seize also, ruining the belt.

Debyaka: Go to alfaowner.com and do a search for timing belt failure. It seems to happen quite regularly @ well under 60k on the T-Sparks. I have a friend with a 1.8 156 who had the belt go at ~42k. Alfa officially recommended an inspection @ 36k when widespread problems became apparent - but it's impossible to inspect properly without removing so most reputable garages will recommend a change at 36-40k anyway.

It's not cheap unfortunately. Would highly recommend Gerry in TI as have others in the thread. Not cheap but no dearer than the dealers, and you know he'll do it right. You should make sure the tensioners changed also and consider changing the variator - if it goes (and they do...) the belt will have to come off again to replace. Again search alfaowner.com for "variator".

hth

0
Options
#19 03-09-2005 12:45pm
RicardoSmith

Closed Accounts Posts: 8,264 ✭✭✭

Join Date: August 2002

Posts: 7877

On any car where timing belt failure is known to happen, how it can it be a bad thing to change it more often?

0
Options
#20 03-09-2005 2:15pm
bmoferrall

Registered Users Posts: 498 ✭✭

Join Date: March 2005

Posts: 484

RicardoSmith wrote:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=235740

Actually, Galwaytt is looking for a GT, not a GTA (I've decided to keep my car anyway)

0
Options
#21 03-09-2005 2:19pm
bmoferrall

Registered Users Posts: 498 ✭✭

Join Date: March 2005

Posts: 484

galwaytt wrote:

As you can see from my sig, I have a TT, and want to change it for a new Alfa GT. However, there being no dealer on this side of the country, I can't exactly access anyone who owns one, and want to do this before I commit, re: quality, reliability etc........last Alfa I had was in the 80's...so that isn't fair.......

What say you on them?

'Alfasudcrazy', who occasionally drops in here, owns a GT.
You'll find lots of info on Alfas in general here:
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/index.php
GT's are mainly discussed in this section:
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/forumdisplay.php?f=71

0
Advertisement
Options
#22 03-09-2005 2:20pm
RicardoSmith

Closed Accounts Posts: 8,264 ✭✭✭

Join Date: August 2002

Posts: 7877

bmoferrall wrote:

Actually, Galwaytt is looking for a GT, not a GTA (I've decided to keep my car anyway)

Its interesting from a resale value. Lovely car, you'd be mad to sell it.

0
Options
#23 03-09-2005 2:27pm
bmoferrall

Registered Users Posts: 498 ✭✭

Join Date: March 2005

Posts: 484

RicardoSmith wrote:

Its interesting from a resale value. Lovely car, you'd be mad to sell it.

Cheers...I've got over my Skyline fixation (I think).
If I need more power/better handling I now know I can get this with the alfa, though it would be expensive. I reckon the GTA is a better long-term proposition, provided I look after it

0
Options
#24 03-09-2005 2:36pm
bmoferrall

Registered Users Posts: 498 ✭✭

Join Date: March 2005

Posts: 484

@galwaytt, try this link (also contains some useful sublinks):
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=292072&highlight=Alfa

0
Options
#25 03-09-2005 8:38pm
kyote00

Registered Users Posts: 1,587 ✭✭✭

Join Date: January 2005

Posts: 1502

galwaytt:

I have had my 156 from new. Its the 2.5 V6 version so I have no plans to change. I have done 77k on mine.

I have not really had any trouble with mine. However the twin spark cars do seem to have issues with the variator and the mass air flow meter. The front brake discs are also likely to need changes on high mileage cars

The very early production runs had many small issues with rattle behind the dashboard.

The car is an excellent drive. The v6 versions like a 'sup' of petrol and front tyres.

The offical dealers are useless -- why ? My guess is they are over worked, lots of cars sold since 1999 and not many experienced alfa mechanics around.

Since about 2002, I have used the TI-autos and have always been very happy with the work done.

PS What about the new '8C spider' instead of the GT

0
Options
#26 05-09-2005 12:06pm
Debyaka

Closed Accounts Posts: 121 ✭✭

Join Date: March 2005

Posts: 110

Cyrus wrote:

timing belt is going to cost a few quid prob 600 at least

try gerry at ti autos 01-8386567

better than a main dealer, nice guy and really knows his alfas

Yea thats the guy who i've gone to before,
Charged €359 for Two new front shocks and, He really knows his stuff, I must drop into him soon for an aul chat!!

Thanks for all the help lad(ie)s

P.S. I am a little cruel to my brakes especially on my roadtrips to mayo!!

0