156 jtd sportwagon again...minor servicing whinge

[Tim-D]

Getting to know my '03 156 - picked it up for peanuts and it very unexpectedly garnered a fresh MOT with only minor cheap anticipated pre prepared fettling from me.
Not having had a tractor alfa before I had nothing to compare it to, but certainly didn't run as smoothly / happily as german turbo diesels I'm more used to...

So, despite this car having a full main dealer s/h I got busy on euro's website and ordered minor service parts (top service btw delivered in 24h), now an oil change, diesel and air filter change takes me about an hour on "sensible" vehicles - why oh why did I make that assumption with the alfa.....

First thing that became patently obvious - air filter ....mix & match self tappers with hex / torx patterns rusted up horribly - three hours and much dremelling later - sorted.....7 main dealer service stamps in the book - air filter wouldn't have been out of place in my old dyson - date coded 2004......

For some light relief moved on to the diesel filter - 5 mins done & dusted....but no sealing ring on the water sensor (new one comes with the bosch replacement ffs)

Feeling a bit more optimistic oil change.....wtf!!!! I know I skimped on oil using Shell Helix HX7 10w 40 but a finger rub test of the old stuff strongly suggested it wasn't the charged for selenia semi synth - instead some crap mineral...so although I have reservations over using flushes bunged in some STP flush and set to undoing the mortal fractured remains of the undertray - all fine until osf torx bolt - sickening crunch of rust - seems there a dissolved bracket behind there (no rust whatsoever on the car but why do alfa insist on using cheap tin for fixings - aaargh)- doesn't appear in any way crucial so have quietly ignored it...

Sump plug lacking either copper or composite washer - manky much used steel one in place...

End result - 5 hours down, all intact fixings now slathered in coppaslip, car runs as smooth as diesel could be reasonably expected to - certainly much much better than before and is far more responsive....
but having limited faith in main stealers (generally) - now have absolutely none...clearly have charged previous owner a fortune for work / parts lubricants that they just havent provided / done (receipts that came with the car are for some truly outrageous expense) - thieving toe rags.....

Is this typical Alfa service experience..... ??????????

(have never found anything as criminal from VW stealers) or just a lazy money grabbing mob that may (hint) .....be found in Oxford.....even charged 15 mins labour for resetting service indicator (quick key/ lights / dual button push pinched off the alfa forum - me ..10 seconds!)

Same bunch allegedly changed the cam belt - now starting to get truly worried!!!!

Signal lesson reinforced - if a jobs worth doing properly...do it myself!!

[Colin RedGriff]

That does sound like very poor service.
If you have any doubts about the cam belt - change it now.

[MarkwG]

Tim-D said:

Is this typical Alfa service experience..... ??????????

From a main dealer, in the last 30 years or so? Sadly, yep, very typical. I've had maybe a 50% success rate when I've been forced to use the dealer network, very much dependant on individuals. A superb lady at my nearest dealer, saved me £1000s, sadly they've gone French now; conversely, our current steer benefited from an FSH & a warranty repair...which was shockingly poor, & resulted in a rebuild courtesy of a specialist. My first Twin Spark was sent out with loose plugs, resulting in destroyed leads & a dented plug cover by one dealer, & coated in grease (bonnet, seats...) by another . Either good indie or DIY, I'm afraid.

[arguti]

My sister had a 156 from new and after the first main dealer service I went to collect the car and check to see if they had out new oil in.... There was no oil with resultant red faces all around then they stripped the sump plug.

Oh how we laughed

[jeoff82]

Bring it down to Autolusso they will check over the whole car (health check). 01582 869560

[Tim-D]

A while since I lokked back on my own thread - thanks may just do that at some point - trip to the south coast in the sun - not a bad idea....but car in fine fettle just at the mo - insane aircon excepted!!