Alfa Romeo 147 2.0 Twin Spark - Unseen-ish
Discussion
A couple things causing a mini thread revival.
The company car goes back in July and as a result, I've decided to sort out the alfa's on my drive so I can get something new when the wifey invariably takes the new company car off me.
With it being so cold of late, I'd quite like the heated seats under my arse for my commute so I laid out an extravagant £28 on a thermostat for the donor Alfa with a view of making it capable of being driven without having sub zero temps in the cabin. I have realised I took a few more bits than I recall out of the engine bay but everything is in one or other of the cars.
Anyhow, I'm going to put it back together enough on the cheap to in theory get another 12 months on top of the 22nd March MOT and then either flog it or pootle around in that one and sell the black one. If it fails, I'll go back to black, as it were.
This does of course mean I will have got around the 4.5k rev limit issue by effectively just buying another car but such is life.
Updates to follow when the snow has gone to make working on the car a little less frostbitey.
The company car goes back in July and as a result, I've decided to sort out the alfa's on my drive so I can get something new when the wifey invariably takes the new company car off me.
With it being so cold of late, I'd quite like the heated seats under my arse for my commute so I laid out an extravagant £28 on a thermostat for the donor Alfa with a view of making it capable of being driven without having sub zero temps in the cabin. I have realised I took a few more bits than I recall out of the engine bay but everything is in one or other of the cars.
Anyhow, I'm going to put it back together enough on the cheap to in theory get another 12 months on top of the 22nd March MOT and then either flog it or pootle around in that one and sell the black one. If it fails, I'll go back to black, as it were.
This does of course mean I will have got around the 4.5k rev limit issue by effectively just buying another car but such is life.
Updates to follow when the snow has gone to make working on the car a little less frostbitey.
jumare said:
I was hoping this would come back, interested to see what happens.
My Alfa, 159 Sportwagon 1.9JTDm, is currently disgracing itself. Water pump seized before Christmas taking out the cam-belt, that cost £1,000.76 to put right, needed 2rear tyres, needs 4 wheel alignment and now the drivers door handle is broken and the door won't lock.
Still needs front brakes and drop links that were advisories on the last MOT.
At least I got a code reader promoted by this thread, bought to sort out glow-plugs which have been replaced as part of the cam-belt repair.
I'm not sure where they're located, but there's a set of new discs for a 147 being given away here - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...My Alfa, 159 Sportwagon 1.9JTDm, is currently disgracing itself. Water pump seized before Christmas taking out the cam-belt, that cost £1,000.76 to put right, needed 2rear tyres, needs 4 wheel alignment and now the drivers door handle is broken and the door won't lock.
Still needs front brakes and drop links that were advisories on the last MOT.
At least I got a code reader promoted by this thread, bought to sort out glow-plugs which have been replaced as part of the cam-belt repair.
Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
I'm not sure where they're located, but there's a set of new discs for a 147 being given away here - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Wont fit on a 159, as they have a different PCDEither way, good to see things keep going with your 147s Stew! Your rev limit kinda puzzles me, but if you manage to get the donor in proper running order, that is all good as well
Vitorio said:
Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
I'm not sure where they're located, but there's a set of new discs for a 147 being given away here - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Wont fit on a 159, as they have a different PCDEither way, good to see things keep going with your 147s Stew! Your rev limit kinda puzzles me, but if you manage to get the donor in proper running order, that is all good as well
We bought a 2.0TS 147 a couple of years ago as a runaround and it is great.
Did the expensive cambelt/water pump at an Alfa specialist and has been totally reliable.
I think they are very much underrated - good fun, good looking and more practical/reliable that you would think.
A far more interacting car than a Golf /Polo/Focus.
I do like the quick rack as it means it is eager to be flicked around. The engine is smooth and reasonably punchy.
Overall, far better than plenty of similar cars for more money.
Did the expensive cambelt/water pump at an Alfa specialist and has been totally reliable.
I think they are very much underrated - good fun, good looking and more practical/reliable that you would think.
A far more interacting car than a Golf /Polo/Focus.
I do like the quick rack as it means it is eager to be flicked around. The engine is smooth and reasonably punchy.
Overall, far better than plenty of similar cars for more money.
It is indeed the quick rack that I find fun on these, makes it feel very pointy a lot like my old Barchettas.
In other news, I’ve decided to leave the wife the PHEV and take the Alfa on a longish run, the wisdom of which I should probably question.
Normally it is used for commuting and thatting about locally so if it ever breaks down I can ‘genie’ the box of Swan Vesta in the glovebox, get a taxi home and deny all knowledge when the feds deliver a burnt out heap to my drive.
So before setting off, I’ve actually done the sensible things like checking the oil and water (topped up a bit with antifreeze). I even finally fixed this...
My usual repair of hitting it very hard had stopped working so I nicked the light off the donor car and swapped out the bulb. Why is it all those fiddly jobs that result in you cracking a knuckle or nipping a finger always need doing when it’s icy cold and it hurts twice as much?
Given my plans are to continue running one or other of these ropey Alfa’s I also joined the aa today for the sake of £70 (cashback deal through work).
Right, without further a do a 150 odd mile trip to Worcester awaits and bizarrely as I type this, I’ve just realised I don’t have satnav if im not in the other car...at least I know roughly where I’m going so adventure awaits
In other news, I’ve decided to leave the wife the PHEV and take the Alfa on a longish run, the wisdom of which I should probably question.
Normally it is used for commuting and thatting about locally so if it ever breaks down I can ‘genie’ the box of Swan Vesta in the glovebox, get a taxi home and deny all knowledge when the feds deliver a burnt out heap to my drive.
So before setting off, I’ve actually done the sensible things like checking the oil and water (topped up a bit with antifreeze). I even finally fixed this...
My usual repair of hitting it very hard had stopped working so I nicked the light off the donor car and swapped out the bulb. Why is it all those fiddly jobs that result in you cracking a knuckle or nipping a finger always need doing when it’s icy cold and it hurts twice as much?
Given my plans are to continue running one or other of these ropey Alfa’s I also joined the aa today for the sake of £70 (cashback deal through work).
Right, without further a do a 150 odd mile trip to Worcester awaits and bizarrely as I type this, I’ve just realised I don’t have satnav if im not in the other car...at least I know roughly where I’m going so adventure awaits
My 2005 156 JTDM has heater control problems...although the air con works ( above 3 degrees ), the temperature control has very little effect. It's either on low, or on any other setting it is stiflingly hot. The heated rear window has not worked for a few years, but the above mention of an automatic control below a certain temperature make me think it may be something to do with that: the wiring has been tested ( up to a point ) and seems OK.
PS take note of the rear shock lower cups... they do rust : one of mine went and shredded a tyre.
PS take note of the rear shock lower cups... they do rust : one of mine went and shredded a tyre.
Paul S4 said:
If you need a decent sat nav.... the Waze app for your phone is excellent ( and it's free )
Thanks, I just went the slightly more old school approach of looking it up before setting off and then checking again to remind me of the last few steps whilst munching on a sarnie from the services halfway there.I can tell despite the ramshackle mode of transport I am now middle class, where once my chops would be wrapped around a Ginsters, they were chomping on an M&S Hoi Sin Duck Wrap - in my defence I only bought it because it was in the reduced section
As for the car, it got me to Worcester and back without any major calamity, going south on Sunday, I was greeted with fog followed by sheets of rain and a fair old stack of surface water but nothing that resulted in any particular drama.
It is crying out for a sixth gear though, I sat around 70-80 as above that it was a bit to noisy and too far round the old rev range to be a comfortable cruise.
Coming off at Tamworth for the services I couldn’t seem to find fourth or third in the gearbox but the the traffic lights went red and bought me some time to waggle the shifter a bit and when I went back up from first through the gears on green, they were all there again.
I think I need to replace a couple of washer/bush bits in the linkage, as the gearbox is getting progressively less cooperative.
MPG was a respectable 33.4 mpg for such a decidedly old fashioned 2.0. This was flattered by the ludicrous amount of 50 and 60 sections on the motorways.
The trip has also meant it has rolled over the 72,000 mark, meaning I really should see about a decent service and if I do that, I really ought to do the cambelt as it is now past 3 years and almost 36,000.
Given I don’t have time to do it and there are a myriad other little jobs, I’m wondering whether it’s worth sinking £500 notes into the thing when I will be binning it off in July for a new toy anyway...
Such a plucky little thing, I kind feel bad just driving it into the ground.
stewjohnst said:
The trip has also meant it has rolled over the 72,000 mark, meaning I really should see about a decent service and if I do that, I really ought to do the cambelt as it is now past 3 years and almost 36,000.
Given I don’t have time to do it and there are a myriad other little jobs, I’m wondering whether it’s worth sinking £500 notes into the thing when I will be binning it off in July for a new toy anyway...
Such a plucky little thing, I kind feel bad just driving it into the ground.
only 72K Given I don’t have time to do it and there are a myriad other little jobs, I’m wondering whether it’s worth sinking £500 notes into the thing when I will be binning it off in July for a new toy anyway...
Such a plucky little thing, I kind feel bad just driving it into the ground.
Mine is at 128. If it werent for that weird rev limit issue, i'd argue it is well worth investing in a bit, if taken care of a 147 is a reliable car.Our car just hit 60k and it still feels fit and good fun. I too am thinking that it may need to be sold soon as we really need a bigger 5 door car with the kid.
MoT and off in the next couple of months - will be sad to see the old thing go as it has been a faithful servant and more interesting than any other little car for similar money.
MoT and off in the next couple of months - will be sad to see the old thing go as it has been a faithful servant and more interesting than any other little car for similar money.
RicksAlfas said:
I wonder if the variator has stuck and that is causing the rev issue?
I can'r remember, but have you tried running it with the AFM unplugged?
Well, the wife is going in for an op so I’ll have an enforced few days off work - fingers crossed with the kids away at the grandparents and spanner time I can poke about a bit.I can'r remember, but have you tried running it with the AFM unplugged?
In other news, I think it keeps finding was to remind me it would rather be blasting around the Amalfi coast than some grotty wintry lanes...most cars warn you of ice around 3 degrees...by even at 5.5 it isn’t happy!
Probably going to book it in to Turin motors in Leeds for the 72k plus belts and plugs.
If you have 'bonded' with the 147...( as you tend to with Alfas.... I know !) and it is solid underneath then it may be worth keeping it and therefore spending a bit on it.
I had to make a similar call a couple of years ago : My main car is a 2005 156 JTDM, and a couple of years ago I had to spend quite a lot on getting the rear suspension rebuilt following the rear shock collapse etc.
I actually wrote out the advert to sell the 156, then started driving it again and decided that there was no other car at that time that would give the combination of handling, power delivery ( it is a remapped 150 JTDM so now is about 190 BHP), design, quality, and presence as my 156...so I then had the cambelt/water pump done, followed more recently by complete underside rust treatment, new front wishbones etc etc...!!!
After the rear suspension work was done I then drove it to Monaco for the Historic Grand Prix weekend, and it was brilliant for such a long trip, so much torque in 5th and 6th on the autoroute.
Reims
Somewhere between Avingon and Monaco
I test drove a VW Jetta 140 Sport recently just to see if I would be content with a German diesel for a daily, and concluded that it was far too boring after 10 years of Alfa 156 ownership ( a 2000 1.8 TS previously )
My point being that IMHO very few other mid sector cars are so rewarding to drive and own as the Alfa of that era ( ie 156/147/GT ) especially for the prices they are now.
So now I need to find a couple of decent rust free front wings for mine after this winter ...and so it goes on...!!
I had to make a similar call a couple of years ago : My main car is a 2005 156 JTDM, and a couple of years ago I had to spend quite a lot on getting the rear suspension rebuilt following the rear shock collapse etc.
I actually wrote out the advert to sell the 156, then started driving it again and decided that there was no other car at that time that would give the combination of handling, power delivery ( it is a remapped 150 JTDM so now is about 190 BHP), design, quality, and presence as my 156...so I then had the cambelt/water pump done, followed more recently by complete underside rust treatment, new front wishbones etc etc...!!!
After the rear suspension work was done I then drove it to Monaco for the Historic Grand Prix weekend, and it was brilliant for such a long trip, so much torque in 5th and 6th on the autoroute.
Reims
Somewhere between Avingon and Monaco
I test drove a VW Jetta 140 Sport recently just to see if I would be content with a German diesel for a daily, and concluded that it was far too boring after 10 years of Alfa 156 ownership ( a 2000 1.8 TS previously )
My point being that IMHO very few other mid sector cars are so rewarding to drive and own as the Alfa of that era ( ie 156/147/GT ) especially for the prices they are now.
So now I need to find a couple of decent rust free front wings for mine after this winter ...and so it goes on...!!
Trying to tinker on a car when renovating a house and wth a wife and two kids in tow is quite a task but occasionally a window of opportunity presents itself that must be seized.
The wife was in hospital overnight for surgery and the kids were deposited with grandparents while I went to fetch her. The operation was a success but the missus was quite tender so on arrival back home, I dosed her up on painkillers and waited for them to kick in, which they duly did.
Not unlike when the A-Team used to drug BA prior to flying, I didn’t know how long the meds would last so shot outside to try and finish swapping the ecu’s over.
Before I could get in at the fuse box, the first task was removing a rolled up living room rug/carpet the wife had ruined from the donor car (I came home one day to find it in the courtyard so shoved it in the Alfa as didn’t fancy the rug sitting outside and getting wet/quadrupling in weight before I got it to the tip).
The fuse box was easy enough to remove, just a load of plugs and three allen bolts.
I then went over to my car, disconnected the battery and started taking it apart...a few more photos to check the plug locations but to be honest, it only goes back together one way.
This was going nice and easy, the box was changed over, the sun was out and for the first time in ages it was just me, some tools, the dog and some peace and quiet.
My state of Zen was then evaporated by a phone call from the parents declaring they were knackered and my kids were en route back to me.
This chucked a spannner in the works in terms of timing which meant I was rushing to get it finished to be ready to sort tea for the kids.
I hurriedly swapped the ecu under the bonnet, losing a nut in the process but I’ll get it when I move the car tomorrow.
Connecting the battery showed the fuse box was working - the immobiliser warning just confirming I needed to change transponders in the keys over.
A short hunt for a small Philips driver to get the keys open later, I had the transponders out and started the car...
...and more importantly...the weird 4.5k rev limit is now gone!
The dash is still flashing though so I’ll have to figure out what else is wrong another day.
Now the revs are fixed, it will be going in for a 72k service, plugs, variator, belts etc some time this week.
Going to resist Italian tuning it until after then as knowing me I’d snap the belt on the way to the garage...
The wife was in hospital overnight for surgery and the kids were deposited with grandparents while I went to fetch her. The operation was a success but the missus was quite tender so on arrival back home, I dosed her up on painkillers and waited for them to kick in, which they duly did.
Not unlike when the A-Team used to drug BA prior to flying, I didn’t know how long the meds would last so shot outside to try and finish swapping the ecu’s over.
Before I could get in at the fuse box, the first task was removing a rolled up living room rug/carpet the wife had ruined from the donor car (I came home one day to find it in the courtyard so shoved it in the Alfa as didn’t fancy the rug sitting outside and getting wet/quadrupling in weight before I got it to the tip).
The fuse box was easy enough to remove, just a load of plugs and three allen bolts.
I then went over to my car, disconnected the battery and started taking it apart...a few more photos to check the plug locations but to be honest, it only goes back together one way.
This was going nice and easy, the box was changed over, the sun was out and for the first time in ages it was just me, some tools, the dog and some peace and quiet.
My state of Zen was then evaporated by a phone call from the parents declaring they were knackered and my kids were en route back to me.
This chucked a spannner in the works in terms of timing which meant I was rushing to get it finished to be ready to sort tea for the kids.
I hurriedly swapped the ecu under the bonnet, losing a nut in the process but I’ll get it when I move the car tomorrow.
Connecting the battery showed the fuse box was working - the immobiliser warning just confirming I needed to change transponders in the keys over.
A short hunt for a small Philips driver to get the keys open later, I had the transponders out and started the car...
...and more importantly...the weird 4.5k rev limit is now gone!
The dash is still flashing though so I’ll have to figure out what else is wrong another day.
Now the revs are fixed, it will be going in for a 72k service, plugs, variator, belts etc some time this week.
Going to resist Italian tuning it until after then as knowing me I’d snap the belt on the way to the garage...
Edited by stewjohnst on Saturday 10th March 08:02
I have no idea what the Italian is for Vtec-yo! but having just gone out in the Alfa for the first time with a full rev range at my disposal I have indeed discovered why people have a soft spot for a Twin Spark.
There is a lovely metallic ‘zing’ to the engine note above 4.5k and it just scampers for the redline (if not the horizon, it is only 150bhp).
Will be interesting to see what it does to my morning commutes, I’m imagining about three minutes quicker (as I’ll actually be able to overtake dawdlers) and a fair few mpg worse.
There’s a new code to figure out as the dash is still flashing but at least I’ve got a fully drivable car now.
That’s another £90 the donor car has saved me looking at ebay for ecu kits
Google suggests the code is key/immobiliser related, makes sense given I’ve jus swapped it all about, cleared it with multiecuscan so will see if it comes back.
There is a lovely metallic ‘zing’ to the engine note above 4.5k and it just scampers for the redline (if not the horizon, it is only 150bhp).
Will be interesting to see what it does to my morning commutes, I’m imagining about three minutes quicker (as I’ll actually be able to overtake dawdlers) and a fair few mpg worse.
There’s a new code to figure out as the dash is still flashing but at least I’ve got a fully drivable car now.
That’s another £90 the donor car has saved me looking at ebay for ecu kits
Google suggests the code is key/immobiliser related, makes sense given I’ve jus swapped it all about, cleared it with multiecuscan so will see if it comes back.
I think the ecu is matched to the immobilizer module, which is seperate to the fuse box. Its usually a blue box hidden behind the fuse box or above it facing the other way, you can trace where it is by undoing the steering wheel cowl, and finding the transponder ring on the lock barrell and trace where the loom for this goes. I would try swapping that box+ring, then go back to the original key transponder as the donor ecus and try and then clear that error.
Edited by davebem on Saturday 10th March 20:58
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