Alfa 156 1.8 T-spark question

[SCOOTERMAN]

First and foremost, budget what, £500 for a cambelt and tensioner change assuming it's not been changed (and I mean changed, not just inspected by Alfa) already; you're on borrowed time if it's not been changed.

[silverback mike]

I think 60k gaz, but it's widely known to get them changed at 36k.
Good cars, lovely design, bit quirky and levels have to be checked regularly.
Bags of character, I've had two and will have another.

[Avocet]

The service schedule in the book says 72,000. My wife's snapped at 57,000. Alfa dealers have been told to check and replace "if necessary" (Hmmmmm) at 36,000. Honestly, they really do snap long before their "due" date so get absolute confirmation that it has been changed or get it changed ASAP!

Other than that, the cars aren't that bad. Look nice, go well, handle beautifully.

There's been a recall recently for bonnet safety catches so make sure that's been done.

[pdV6]

Cue main dealer employees coming on and "explaining" how a visual inspection at 36k will save your engine

Seriously - follow the above advice and get the belts done asap if not done at 36k.

[Avocet]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone on here had the inspection and been told that their timing belt was fine so the dealer had put it back on?

Just wondered...

[slapmatt]

My Alfa specialist independent told me there is very little you can tell from an inspection. That was for a V6 though - so it might be different.

In all honesty, I've read too many stories about £1000+ repair bills from cambelts snapping to not have it changed. It's just false economy in my opinion.

[pdV6]

slapmatt said:

My Alfa specialist independent told me there is very little you can tell from an inspection. That was for a V6 though - so it might be different.

Unless its obviously frayed or splitting, what on earth is looking at a black poly belt going to tell you? Alfa's idea of a "visual inspection" is simply a bunch of ar$e, to my mind probably because they don't want to fully admit they got the intervals wrong. As Avocet implies, I bet they mostly say "ooh - looks like you need a new one", as otherwise they'd have a queue of disgruntled owners coming back with trashed engines sometime in the next 36k miles.

[Avocet]

I helped my mate do the timing and counterbalance shaft belts on his 2.0 156 the other week. It had about 42,000 on it. When we got the old belt off, I couldn't see anything wrong with it. The writing had worn off the smooth side but that was about it. Bending the belt back on itself to open the teeth out didn't show any cracks until we had almost put a crease in it. Even then, they were very small!

Maybe I should have put it back on! (but he'd already paid for the new one by then)!

[pdV6]

Avocet said:

Maybe I should have put it back on!

I hope that's what the "" was for! As soon as its off, you may as well put a new one on; the hard work's already been done...

[Avocet]

Yes it was! I just got it in the wrong place!