What's your Alfa heater like?

[britten_mark]

I've had 2 Alfas recently, a Sportwagon and my current 147, and both took/take ages to heat the cabin up. They were relatively new at one and 3 years old respectively, so it's unlikely to be a fault, and I just put it down to a marque specific quirk.

I am wondering if anyone else has been noticed this and has fitted a hotter thermostat? The only common thing I can think of is both have climate control. I tend to run this all the time to keep the windows from misting, I wonder if the aircon element (and its rad fans) keep the water radiator from warming up?? Would this not all be taken into account by such a clever thingumajig?

[wink]

Not had that problem on a 156 and 147. Thought the aircon was a bit feeble on the 156, but it warmed up reasonably quickly.

[viper_larry]

I find I have to have my 156 GTA c/c on 24 - 26°C to get a descent temp in the cabin. Other than that, just whack it up to max until you get it hot enough.

[jwyatt]

Both my 156's (2.5 and 3.2V6) have heated up pretty fast. The old-style, pre-facelift climate control needed to be set to max to do much, the facelift one warms the car up pretty quickly whatever it is set to, especially over 21 degrees. It pumps warm air out in 1-2 miles of setting off.

[ettore]

I`ve had a couple of 147`s and a GTV - all had no problem.

[Alfahorn]

The heater on my 155 was on steriods, 0-100C in about 5 minutes. Agree with previous comments about the AC on a 156, it's not the best.

[Wombat Rick]

britten_mark said:

both took/take ages to heat the cabin up

How quick does the engine warm up?

[negative creep]

mine takes a while to heat up, although its the first car I've had with air con Im not sure how quickly its supposed to work. I know theres nbo gas in there so it won't blow cold, but thats hardly a problem at this time of year

[Avocet]

What does it run at on the temp gauge? It seems on these (my wife's 156 is the same) the thermostats fail "open" so they run too cold. My wife's doesn't get much over 60 degrees in this weather so I'm going to change the thermostat (the new one has "88 degrees C" stamped on it)!

[britten_mark]

Thanks, thats what I was after, some numbers. So at best the car will have an 88deg thermostat then.

Perhaps I'm being slightly unfair to the Alfa as my other car (Volvo) is obviously meant for tougher climates and resembles a kiln after about 1/2 mile! Mind you that was only after changing the standard t-stat from an 87deg to a 92deg (both factory settings), on the 87deg it was also pretty unimpressive.

Best make a call to a dealer or specialist then, see if there is factory-fit option in the "nineties"...

[Colin Blues2]

Mine used to take ages to warm up. I recently had to have a new rad and whilst that was being done the garage found that the thermostat was faulty and stuck open. they replaced it and the car warms up much qucker now. Within about 10 mins it is heating the cabin.

Be warned though they're not cheap as you have to buy the thermostat and housing as a unit. I think it cost me about £70 for the part.

Colin

[Avocet]

Less than £30 from EB Spares the other week!