Baffled engine snag?

[wadgebeast]

Coming home on Friday and slightly caning it on steep hill on the A38 (6500rpm in 3rd for a min or so until I'd got rid of the clio that was trying to keep up), changed up to 4th. At the top end of the hill there was a loss of power and when I pulled the car over, the engine stopped and wouldn't restart.

There were no loud bangs, no smoke, no dramas. The water temp was fine, the oil level was and still is fine. There's no oil come out of the car. The car refuses to start. Mr RAC scratched his head and made the teeth sucking noises - he put the car in 4th and let the handbrake off, but it isn't moving particularly The cam belt still has tension on it and appears to still have some teeth (it's also been recently replaced i.e. 15000 miles).

Anybody got any thoughts? I'm still awaiting word from the garage (non Alfa friendly local bloke).

ETA It's a standard 2 litre twin spark 98 spider with 69k on the clock.

Edited by wadgebeast on Monday 28th April 15:30

[Wombat Rick]

Doesn't sound good does it?

Could have skipped some teeth on the cambelt or the bottom end might have cried enough. Hope it's easily sorted.

[badger_royale]

Sorry, can't really help, I saw your car as I was going the other way... (top of Haldon hill?), rotten luck.

Does the engine turn over, or is it seized? Could it be an oil pickup/pump problem? I'm sure you know this, but Auto Italiana in Exeter get good reviews. Good luck with sorting it.

p.s. do you head down to Dartmouth at all? As I've seen a yellow Spider round home a few times.

[wadgebeast]

Yes, that was me at the top of Haldon Hill..... also yes, just finished working in Dartmouth, but still there quite a lot so it's my spider.

It's the worst news - engine seized.

So... anyone know of another one, and is the 156 2 litre ts the same engine?

[wadgebeast]

Problem solved. Found a reconned bottom end for 650 quid, so should be back on the road in a week or so. Ah, the joys.....