156 v6 hesitation

[kmd]

My 156 v6 has about 91k on it and just recently I've noticed it has a slight hesitation under acceleration at just under 4000rpm.

Any ideas what the cause could be?

[number 46]

Could be the air flow meter? gets sh*t in it, think its about £150 for a new one and it fits into the side of the air cleaner box.

[BadgerBenji]

I would agree with diagnosis of the air flow meter, it is a known problem on the 156, you might want to check ebay for prices, as they have been going through for £70 ish lately.

[kmd]

Would this also explain the orange engine warning light that's just come on?

Btw the owners manual makes no reference to this warning light - how bad is that!

[comdiver]

Air flow meter. Alfa do an exchange item or buy it new and about 40 mins of your time to change out.

[jezb]

kmd said:

Would this also explain the orange engine warning light that's just come on?

Btw the owners manual makes no reference to this warning light - how bad is that!

If the maf is completely dead then yes it possibly could cause the engine management light to come on. This could cause hesitation and will reduce the cars performance.

[_Batty_]

comdiver said:

Air flow meter. Alfa do an exchange item or buy it new and about 40 mins of your time to change out.

i think alfa should give these away free, i think most new Alfa owners get through AFM's than they do brakes
(for the record my GTVV6 has yet to have eaten one )

[LinleyA]

Yes, Desira replaced mine under warranty - I hadn't noticed any problems and the warranty ran out a month later so all I can assume is that they have seen a few of these in the past...

[kmd]

Am I correct in thinking that if I take the car to an Alfa dealer he will be able to connect up his diagnostics and find out why the engine managment light is on? (like I could with my BMW or Audi)

Or isnt the Alfa that sophisticated?

[jamieboy]

kmd said:

Am I correct in thinking that if I take the car to an Alfa dealer he will be able to connect up his diagnostics and find out why the engine managment light is on? (like I could with my BMW or Audi)

Or isnt the Alfa that sophisticated?

They're almost as sophisticated. If you take it to a dealer, he'll pop the bonnet and open up the diagnostics hatch from which an elderly Italian gentleman will appear, his face brown and wrinkled and his hair as white as snow. The dealer will ask him what's wrong, and the old man will shrug his shoulders and say "air flow meter" before disappearing for a strong coffee and a cigarette.

Seriously, for about £40 your dealer will plug it into their diagnostics machine. It does much the same thing but without the romance.

[kmd]

Love the idea of the old man hiding in there

That would certainly explain the musty piss like smell when I turn the heater on.

[rustybin]

kmd said:

That would certainly explain the musty piss like smell when I turn the heater on.

Ahh you went for the musty piss in the heater option as well. Worth the extra isn't it?

[kmd]

After £82 my dealer confirmed that you guys were correct, it was the airflow sensor that had caused the warning light to come on.

They want £155 to replace it now. Should have saved myself the £82 and just got them to do the job in the first place. hohum

[_Batty_]

kmd said:

After £82 my dealer confirmed that you guys were correct, it was the airflow sensor that had caused the warning light to come on.

They want £155 to replace it now. Should have saved myself the £82 and just got them to do the job in the first place. hohum

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