156 GTA Cambelt - should I change it?

[Viper_Larry]

Can someone definitively say what the recommended change period on a 3.2 156 GTA (20003/2004) is?

I know Alfa recommend 72k but dealers recommend 36k, but I thought this didn't apply to the GTA? Certainly at the 36k service, they didn't recommend doing it

I'm a bit nervous as a guy at work who has a 2.5 year old 3.2 GT just had £4.5k's worth of new engine after the cambelt went at 33k miles. My GTA is on 53k miles and 3.5 years old.

[Alfahorn]

Without question do it immediately and I mean immediately!!!!!!

I know of cambelt failure on a GTA at 48,000 miles.

[Wombat Rick]

Viper_Larry said:

My GTA is on 53k miles and 3.5 years old.

I would get it done NOW regardless of what any handbook/garage says!

[pdV6]

My local specialist reckons 60k is usually fine for the 3.0/3.2 V6.

Having said that, they have been known to go sooner and at the end of the day the cost of doing it now is probably worth swallowing rather than worrying about it (or, worse, facing an engine rebuild) later in the year.

Viper_Larry said:

I know Alfa recommend 72k but dealers recommend 36k, but I thought this didn't apply to the GTA?

This is for the 2.0TS engine.

Edited by pdV6 on Thursday 10th January 10:32

[velocemitch]

36K is a bit pessimistic for the V6, 48K is what my dealer reccomended. It seems about right to me. You need to get it in and stump up the money I'm afraid.... so do I for matter..

[sjg]

The Alfa notification dropping the 72k/5 years interval to 36k/3 years only applies to the Twinspark engines. JTDs and V6s are unchanged.

By the sounds of it, it would be due over the next year regardless due to age - so if it gives you peace of mind it would be worth getting done sooner rather than later.

[swanny71]

Do it ASAP.

[Robertf]

I got a GTA last summer, and had the belt done at 55K. There was a serious bit of fraying on the belt that came off, and the guys at Rusper Alfa Romeo said it was a serious risk for imminent failure. The car was otherwise very well looked after too so I don't think it was down to previous owner neglect/thrashing.

So I'm another recommendation for getting it changed now.

[Viper_Larry]

Hmm... looks like it would be better done. I treat my cars with 'mechanical sympathy' but sounds like that is irrelevant. I'll call the dealer and specialist today and get a quote. Got 600 miles to do in 3 days next week and will be nervous now!

[stuartalfa]

Not long had my GTA done at 50K i went all the way too 72K with my old 2.5 V6 156, mad but she has about 130K no the clock now, i see the new owner now & again and he still loves her.
Good luck
Stu

[Viper_Larry]

The service guy at my local Alfa dealer has been working there for 5 years and NEVER had a 2.5 or 3.2 engine in for cambelt failure

[Alfahorn]

Viper_Larry said:

The service guy at my local Alfa dealer has been working there for 5 years and NEVER had a 2.5 or 3.2 engine in for cambelt failure

I don't believe him.

Comments I've seen on forums, cars i've seen myself tell me otherwise.

I knowledge of people who have replied to this thread tells you the story I think, almost without exception everyone has said get it done.

Edited by Alfahorn on Friday 11th January 18:05

[V6Alfisti]

My Alfa GTV 3.0 V6 (same Arese engine, the GTA has the extra 0.2 litre capacity) recently went in for a belt change (at 44k miles), as it was 6 years old.

The belt was already moving to one side of the tensioner, indicating it needed replacement.

I would change the belt out of caution, there HAVE been a number of premature failings on the V6, nowhere near the level of the TS.

I think my local specialist charged me about £400 in all, including belts, tensioners e.t.c (theres about 5 or so tensioners on the V6) and all genuine parts.

Edited by V6Alfisti on Saturday 12th January 09:33

[Robertf]

I know the guys at Rusper Alfa Romeo have done at least 2 V6 cambelt failures, a GTA and a GTV3.0 as my car has been in there on various services etc at the same time as both these were being done.

[herbialfa]

Alfa Romeo UK have changed their policy and now it is 36K

Your on borrowed time fella!

While your at it..............

you should change the water pump too, something to do with the impellor!

[Alfahorn]

herbialfa said:

Alfa Romeo UK have changed their policy and now it is 36K

Your on borrowed time fella!

While your at it..............

you should change the water pump too, something to do with the impellor!

The 36k change was for TSpark engines not V6's

[Robertf]

Thats right 36K for twinspark - I called to check with ARUK.

Waterpump is worth changing if its one with a plastic impellor - GTAs tend to have these, whereas GTV3.0s have metal ones which I understand are more durable.

[Viper_Larry]

Booked it in next week for cambelt and water pump

[Alfahorn]

Viper_Larry said:

Booked it in next week for cambelt and water pump

Good man, where are you taking it?

[Viper_Larry]

Decided on Marshall's (Liles) in the end as they matched the independent price and my car has been there since new. Dropped £350 on their original quote!