Product recall : Alfa 156

[mike9009]

Hi

Anyone had a letter through the post about the bonnet release catch on their 156? I haven't read about any issues and had a warning letter through the post about twelve months ago. Now I have had a letter through today, to say I should take the car to an Alfa Dealership to have the catch checked?

The problem I have, is that I use the Alfa as a daily hack (plus the occasional long haul jaunt to see family/ friends) and I live on the Isle of Wight. Is this catch a real concern (maybe fairly obviously it is, hence the recall!!), but do I really need to get it checked? I have not heard of any issues on forums (obviously the fountains of all knowledge......

Thanks in advance...


Mike

[randlemarcus]

Unless your Alfa dealership is hundreds of miles away, what harm can it do? I'd presume that they have issued the recall because more than a few have failed, perhaps resulting in damage that is seemingly quite easy to avoid.

[mike9009]

It will cost me probably at least £60 in ferry fares plus a day off work. Hence the daft, naive question....

[crostonian]

All they do is put grease on it! This was an issue when they were a couple of years old am amazed they are still sending letters out now. Seriously they just check the catch is operating freely and put grease on it to stop it seizing.

[mike9009]

So, if I can change the oil and filter on the car I can probably manage to do this myself then!

Many thanks

Mike

[MarkwG]

It's been warned about many times over the years: search on www.alfaowner.co.uk : you need to a) keep the catch clean & greased, & b) make sure you drop the bonnet from at least 6-8inches, & then test it by pulling up the leading edge, to ensure it's properly shut. If the alarm peeps as you lock it, it probably isn't shut enough to engage the locking mechanism (or the bonnet switch is goosed). 156s aren't the only cars that suffer from this but, if you don't stick to the regime, chances are the bonnet will lift & smack the screen & the roof, wrecking both & writing your car off.

[OperationAlfa]

MarkwG said:

It's been warned about many times over the years: search on www.alfaowner.co.uk : you need to a) keep the catch clean & greased, & b) make sure you drop the bonnet from at least 6-8inches, & then test it by pulling up the leading edge, to ensure it's properly shut. If the alarm peeps as you lock it, it probably isn't shut enough to engage the locking mechanism (or the bonnet switch is goosed). 156s aren't the only cars that suffer from this but, if you don't stick to the regime, chances are the bonnet will lift & smack the screen & the roof, wrecking both & writing your car off.

alfaowner.com

[MarkwG]

^address brain-fade moment^ -ta

[robsco]

As said above, make sure the catch is moving freely by applying some penetrating fluid.

[wrinx]

This is a very old "issue" and the second recall letter I've received

Just drop the bonnet and give it a tug to check...never failed me yet.

• doomed now*

wrinx

[kamilb1998]

The problem with the catches on 156s is that the safety catch seizes due to not being greased and when the main catch fails, your bonnet flies open smashing the bonnet, windscreen & roof.

Like this; (not my pic)

[hoof hearted]

Absolute stone wall, future classic's.

[OldEngineer]

The problem is the sticking mechanism with dirt mixing with old grease. But many cars suffer this. The difference on the 156 is its clever release which just clicks the catch without springing the bonnet. This allows you to walk to the front and do the big 'reveal' as the bonnet rises on the gas struts.

So, in this unsprung state it looks exactly like a fully closed bonnet. If you are not used to dropping the bonnet to close it and you don't lubricate the catch you will get caught out.

[E500 TAT]

I'll have to re read my letter then as i thought it was a reminder to close my bonnet propperly and a page to add to the owners handbook

[eddiegta]

Please do check, clean and re-grease your catch. I had this happen today on my 156 GTA.

The annoying thing is as has been said my alarm was doing an extra beep, I had been checking the boot as this has always been the cause before.

Lucky for me (suppose) it happened at 30 and I braked, but the wind caught it and i have ended up with a trashed bonnet and minor dent in the roof no broken screen though.

I always check my bonnet when I shut it, so I'm not sure what caused it to come loose.

[fin racer]

i last got one of these letters two years ago, cannot believe they are still doing the rounds!

By force of habit I always frop the bonnet from a few inches then check its secure.

Think I'll reheck mine all the same.

[Zombie]

fin racer said:

i last got one of these letters two years ago, cannot believe they are still doing the rounds!

By force of habit I always frop the bonnet from a few inches then check its secure.

Think I'll reheck mine all the same.

It's an on going issue... Regular maintenance which Alfa will carry out FOC is required and in some cases they will renew the latch itself.