Snapped cam belt 147 huge bill got any advice ??

[harry1972m]

Cam belt has snapped on my other halfs 2.0 147 Lusso just cost me £1627.00 to put right apparently bent all the valves etc etc etc - had the work done at Lyles in Newcastle however the car is always serviced at Alfa Dealership in Darlington. My question is - has anyone else had any similar experience and had any comeback from the servicing dealer in that the car has only covered 48K and has a full dealer service history last service was done at 36K and next one due anytime, checked the health check list from last service and the cambelt check box was ticked as green OK - the car is an 03 plate and about 4 months out of warranty - I'm not too hopeful as we had a snapped driveshaft also 4 months ago whilst just in warranty however the warranty would not cover the full amount as we were 900 mile late on one of our services - Anyone know where I can turn to make a complaint someone has mentioned the zone manager but I have no idea what that means.

Thanks in advance
Graham ( popped across from TVR forum so you think I would be used to things breaking by now !!!! )

[velocemitch]

Harry, there is a good chance you will get some support on this either direct from alfa in Italy or through Alfa UK. Try contacting ARUK customer services explaining the circumstances. there have been a few people reporting that Alfa have made a point of supporting cam belt failures like this even when out of warrenty as part of the general campaign to improve the perception of the brand.

I know we probably not supposed to mention other forums btu the best place to find this sort of info and other peoples experiance is www.alfaowner.com

Good luck (:

[negative creep]

didn't they recently reduce the cambelt interval to 36k?

[alfahorn]

negative creep said:

didn't they recently reduce the cambelt interval to 36k?

Yep, which to my mind makes the dealer negligent.

[pdV6]

Its a well-known fact that 36k is all that's sensible on the 2.0 engines.
Alfa (and a certain PH'er will be along to confirm this I'm sure) seem happy to "inspect" the cambelt at 36k.

that! what use is an "inspection"? Just change the bugger whilst you're in there.

[pwig]

The change for the cambelt is at 72k.

There is an inspection at 36k which PV states.

It's between you and Alfa Romeo UK now. Give customer services a call.

The dealer where the car is at wont be able to do anything for you on that side of things.

[jacobyte]

Mine went at 47k, a week before the 48k service. It was in its 4th year too. The dealer ran me round in circles, until I complained to Alfa GB head office. Alfa didn't give a toss either. I hope you have better luck than me - let me know if you do, and who you spoke to!

Other than that, it's been a fantastic and very relaible car, now regularly and competently serviced by a specialist.

Edit: It was fully dealer serviced (I have owned it from new) and had the "inspection" at 36K.

Edited by jacobyte on Monday 18th December 20:31

[velocemitch]

The actual situation with the cambelts is that they are visually inspected at 36K, as everyone, who knows a tiny weenie bit about engines will tell to, you can't tell if a cam belt is about to break. So it's obvious to me that two things are happening here, depending on your relationship with your dealer.

1. The dealer will suck his teeth and say 'OOOOHH I would change that if I was you, it will cost you £XXXX please.
Or
2. It looks like it might fail mate, I will put in a warrenty claim for you because I think it's the tensioner that's caused it.

Fortunatley it's been point 2 for me, twice.

To be fair though, I have heard of quite a few instances recently where they have coughed up for cam belt failures out of warrenty, there genuinely does seem to be a better attitude in ARUK and Italy these days.

[harry1972m]

Thanks Guys,
Spoke to ARUK yesterday and they gave me the address etc to write to and asked for a copy of the bills so will make my case and cross my fingers.

[pwig]

Good luck buddy.

[cptsideways]

Its a very common issue with this engine, I've seen many its often a lot cheaper to source a complete new bare engine than do all the work.

[pupa]

hey guys,

I am sorry to hear some fo you had the same problem as me last year but I didnt give up in the 10 minths war with Fiat UK on behalf of Alfa.

The cambelt on my 147 broke last Nov when the car was 4 years old and had done under 40000. When I telephones Alfa Romeo head office they wouldn’t want to her about reimbursing me for anything as the car was not under manufacturers insurance which normally runs after 2y in new car. The ignored my polite letter as well and then I took it to a Currie Motor place to get it fixed as they are Alfa’s recognised garage in hope to get my money back easier.

I wrote to head office about 3 other times threatening to take the case to Trading Standards (who didn’t help much) but all they did is reiterated the first decision is not under insurance and they are sorry it had happened to my car. They advised is a wear and tear part and they cant pay anything towards it. Even the man from the garage said that the least they can pay is the labour.

I filled in online form for the small claims court as I had enough of writing them letters and getting silly replies and once they forwarded the complaint to Alfa Romeo Alfa wrote me a letter saying they reviewed the files and will be reimbursing me for the full amount + court fee.

SO GET YOUR MONEY BACK AND DONT GIVE UP!!!

[harry1972m]

Thanks for that Pupa - in the last 2 months I have written 3 letters and made 7 phone calls and have heard absolutely nothing back from them - when I call the only thing they will say is "we will make a note on the system" - I am not the type to just roll over and I don't care how long it takes - I will get some satisfaction from them and will now consider following your lead.

Thanks
Graham

[DamienCBR]

The guys that works for me his cambelt went on his 156 last week. This was a week before it was booked in for service 48K, it has always been done at the same garage and as stated in the manual. It is an 04-reg so still in warrenty, they paid for the cambelt to be done (he was only doing about 20mph when it went) but insisted that the service be carried out at the same time otherwise it would void the warrenty. OK

Seeing as it is a company car and the service was going to cost the best part of £450 (1.9TD) we got them to put the price down to around £350 because they had to work on the engine anyway so they could do it at the same time.

This was dealership in Stafford, i beleive it is the only one.
D

[sumplug]

A few manufactors are halfing their cam belt service, for example Vauxhall - from 80k to 40k. Ive been harking on a few forums to people to take heed of the specialists. A lot of the Fiat/Alfa/Lancia specialist recommend no engine go over 36k without a belt change. turbo cars are down to 24k. If you tend to drive the car hard, then do it even earlier. Cheaper then a engine rebuild. Incidently, you do not need to use an Alfa dealership for servicing, even a new car to keep your warranty. Under EU law, you can use any [non Alfa]garage as long as you have proof of work done.
Cambelts snapping often on Fiat/Lancia/Alfa engines seems to get blamed on the tensioners. tensioners can last for 100k or not. They are not even in their wear rate. So on the 4 pot engines, do all tensioners and water pump at same time. Well worth it to keep your engine healthy. Its about time all companies went onto chains. If the likes of Nissan can use them, why not Italian engines? Or its about time they did away with the camshaft, and use electronic magnets to open the valves. I saw a BMW experimental engine with such fitted. I know Lotus has been testing them.

Andy.

[harry1972m]

Well - one more strongly worded letter later and it looks like I am getting somewhere, got a call from them yesterday full of appologies and requesting chasis no etc so they can determine what good will they can offer - I will keep you guys posted.
Thanks
Graham

Edited by harry1972m on Wednesday 31st January 10:29

[DamienCBR]

Well done! Hopefully you will get somewhere. If you keep on eventually somebody will listen

D

[blueyes]

You should get paid out.

Friend had one snap at 43k.

Had missed the 36k service.

They still paid out the full £1600 for repairs, within about a week of completion.

[harry1972m]

RESULT - They have just called to say they are paying the full amount !!!!

Thanks for all your help guys.

Cheers
Graham

[touching cloth]

Nice one