Alfa 147 Ducati Corse
Discussion
Not posted about this for a while. After getting the quote back about the swirl flaps, I decided I was going to move it on and convinced myself I was going to replace it with a blobeye Impreza WRX Wagon after really enjoying blatting about in my old silver 'classic' shape one. Its MOT was due though so in a rare moment of sensible thinking, I made myself wait until I could put 12 months MOT on it to help sell it. It passed its MOT with no emissions hassle and just got an advisory about a balljoint. I even then went as far as advertising it on some Alfa groups on faceache but didn't get much of a response. Whilst it was advertised, for reasons I cannot explain, I decided to whip off the EGR valve and see how clogged up it was. I was somewhat heartened to find that it had been fitted with a restrictor plate (like a blanking plate but with a couple of 5mm holes in the middle that allow just enough gasses through to the inlet so the EML doesn't come on) and the valve itself wasn't really clogged up at all. Just had the expected thin layer of carbon on everything.
This little discovery and the MOT pass ended up being enough to convince me to keep it. The guy who had it before me didn't really have much interest in cars so I can't see him having gone to the trouble of fitting a restrictor plate to the EGR. He had the car for 5 years, so I reckon it's been on there since it was at least 5 years old, meaning it *shouldn't have as much carbon build up in the inlet that ends up making the swirl flaps fall off. Well, that's the theory anyway, obviously I may be completely wrong. Also, because I'm in stop/start traffic so much, it tends to only average around 38mpg, which would probably turn to about 18mpg in a subaru, which is a bit daft really.
I had though, become bored with its performance so if I was keeping it, I made the decision to get it remapped. Before that could happen though, it was due a major service which I decided to tackle myself to save some sheckles. Read on to see how difficult I found a simple task...
This little discovery and the MOT pass ended up being enough to convince me to keep it. The guy who had it before me didn't really have much interest in cars so I can't see him having gone to the trouble of fitting a restrictor plate to the EGR. He had the car for 5 years, so I reckon it's been on there since it was at least 5 years old, meaning it *shouldn't have as much carbon build up in the inlet that ends up making the swirl flaps fall off. Well, that's the theory anyway, obviously I may be completely wrong. Also, because I'm in stop/start traffic so much, it tends to only average around 38mpg, which would probably turn to about 18mpg in a subaru, which is a bit daft really.
I had though, become bored with its performance so if I was keeping it, I made the decision to get it remapped. Before that could happen though, it was due a major service which I decided to tackle myself to save some sheckles. Read on to see how difficult I found a simple task...
So as you do, I made ordered all the kit from a combination of ECP and GSF as they had 50% & 60% codes running. I also decided to change the gearbox oil so ordered some up from Opie Oils.
Had a bit of an undertray to drop
That ended up taking me about half an hour despite the fact there was only one bolt remaining at the front and two at the back. The one at the front was unfortunately rather like a corroded murray mint and took much plusgas and back n forth action to extract without snapping the one remaining stud
After reading a quick service guide, my car should be fitted with a 12mm hex sump plug, so I made sure to order a 12mm hex key as I knew I didn't have one. However I got under there to find this..
Most definitely not a hex key, but a ribe fitting which my very late car definitely wouldn't have. I didn't have one of those either. I tried a torx T50 but it was f
king tight and I could feel the bit flexing so decided to give that up until I had the right fitting. I find this kind of thing fking infuriating and I seem to manage it almost every time I attempt a job.
Instead I got on with the gearbox oil. Again, I'd looked this up and was surprised to find that this box actually has a dipstick - remember them!? So that acts as the refill point and there are 10mm hex drain points on the bottom of the box and the diff. If it's on ramps like this was it'll all drain through the diff but I took the other off as it's magnetic so cleared the hedgehog like filings from it. As it was draining it didn't look too bad but once collected it was pretty black
Turned out that box had a pinhole in it, which I didn't realise until it had been sat for about an hour FFS! I left that draining and got on to the air filter. This is a bit of a pain on the 147. Like lots of italian stuff, the airbox is low down and the cover swings open so that there is a gap precisely 3mm too small to extract or insert a filter.
Held my breath undoing those clips and some crowbar action ensued to force the gap open wide enough. Otherwise you'd have to remove the battery and battery tray to extract everthing from above and I wasn't getting into that again.
It was pretty manky, it's last major service was 25k ago. Incidentally I just couldn't get the new one in with that bit of foam on, so that got ripped off.
The fuel filter on the other hand has good access, located on the bulkhead and was without incident
With that done, I went to re-fill the gearbox. I already had a funnel with a long tube extension for this sort of thing, but found that the tube was about 1mm too wide to fit into the dipstick hole. COURSE IT fkING WAS. This meant I had to rig something up. I managed to find some small vacuum hose in the shed so used that as an extension to the tube. This was the setup.
Just after taking this pic, Greenpeace arrived due an oil spill of Exxon Valdez levels. The vacuum hose very quickly came out of the bottom of the main hose and oil went fkING EVERYWHERE!
I was not happy! Battery, inner wing, outer wing, intake hose. All covered. Sigh. So that was another half hour lost.
Pollen filter next after smearing oil all over my engine bay. Except I found I couldn't fking do that either, as the cover for that is held on by 5.5mm hex headed screws and I didn't have the right bit. How many types of fixing does one car need Alfa!!??
So, round 2, after ordering some ribe bits and the other...
The pollen filter is accessed under the glovebox, the cover's held on by 3 screws, two of which are hard to see. The driver I'd bought turned out to be too long to access them properly so that had to be 'modified'.
They came out alright but the cover was a right bd to get back on with the new filters fitted. I ended up upside down, on my head with a screwdriver prising it into the right position. Definitely needed changing though
With that *success I moved on to changing the oil, now I had the right tool. I'd also ordered a replacement sump plug just in case things got serious. The sump plug was very very tight. Almost as soon as I applied proper pressure, it rounded off. WINNING! The following combination eventually got the little bd off
and I didn't have to worry about damaging the plug as I had a new one to go on...that didn't even nearly fit. Thanks ECP! So unfortunately I've had to refit the somewhat knarled old one. So that's a job for the next oil change. The filter is low down, at the front near the turbo with pretty good access so that went without incident.
I'm happy to say that after all that faffing, it did drive noticeably better, with improved pickup.
I'd noticed that there was a fair amount of shunt when coming off the power so had a poke about and found the engine stabiliser bush was looking a bit borked.
I found a Febi replacment for about £25 so boshed that on. It didn't really make much different to be honest.
So there you go! How to make a simple service last 2 weeks! So since I've had it, it's had..
Cambelt & waterpump change
Clutch & DMF change
Clutch master & slave change
New disks & pads all round
GTA wheels
Aircon regas (which didn't solve the problem)
Full service
Christ! And after all that, in my infinite wisdom, it's booked for a remap next week. It apparently should take it to around 210/215bhp from 170bhp (although it's never felt like 170bhp to me). Will the new clutch survive? Will the turbo give up? Is anyone bothered? Probably not but I'll no doubt tell you anyway. Other than that, I've had a quote from the dent man to go over the car for £180 which I think I'll get done, I'm going to take it to an aircon specialist in St Helens who I've used before to get an answer as to what's going on there and whilst I was underneath, I noticed some bits that are starting to need some attention
So I'll get those rubbed down and treated once it stops raining again. Think that'll do for now!
Had a bit of an undertray to drop
That ended up taking me about half an hour despite the fact there was only one bolt remaining at the front and two at the back. The one at the front was unfortunately rather like a corroded murray mint and took much plusgas and back n forth action to extract without snapping the one remaining stud
After reading a quick service guide, my car should be fitted with a 12mm hex sump plug, so I made sure to order a 12mm hex key as I knew I didn't have one. However I got under there to find this..
Most definitely not a hex key, but a ribe fitting which my very late car definitely wouldn't have. I didn't have one of those either. I tried a torx T50 but it was f
king tight and I could feel the bit flexing so decided to give that up until I had the right fitting. I find this kind of thing fking infuriating and I seem to manage it almost every time I attempt a job.Instead I got on with the gearbox oil. Again, I'd looked this up and was surprised to find that this box actually has a dipstick - remember them!? So that acts as the refill point and there are 10mm hex drain points on the bottom of the box and the diff. If it's on ramps like this was it'll all drain through the diff but I took the other off as it's magnetic so cleared the hedgehog like filings from it. As it was draining it didn't look too bad but once collected it was pretty black
Turned out that box had a pinhole in it, which I didn't realise until it had been sat for about an hour FFS! I left that draining and got on to the air filter. This is a bit of a pain on the 147. Like lots of italian stuff, the airbox is low down and the cover swings open so that there is a gap precisely 3mm too small to extract or insert a filter.
Held my breath undoing those clips and some crowbar action ensued to force the gap open wide enough. Otherwise you'd have to remove the battery and battery tray to extract everthing from above and I wasn't getting into that again.
It was pretty manky, it's last major service was 25k ago. Incidentally I just couldn't get the new one in with that bit of foam on, so that got ripped off.
The fuel filter on the other hand has good access, located on the bulkhead and was without incident
With that done, I went to re-fill the gearbox. I already had a funnel with a long tube extension for this sort of thing, but found that the tube was about 1mm too wide to fit into the dipstick hole. COURSE IT f
kING WAS. This meant I had to rig something up. I managed to find some small vacuum hose in the shed so used that as an extension to the tube. This was the setup.Just after taking this pic, Greenpeace arrived due an oil spill of Exxon Valdez levels. The vacuum hose very quickly came out of the bottom of the main hose and oil went f
kING EVERYWHERE!I was not happy! Battery, inner wing, outer wing, intake hose. All covered. Sigh. So that was another half hour lost.
Pollen filter next after smearing oil all over my engine bay. Except I found I couldn't f
king do that either, as the cover for that is held on by 5.5mm hex headed screws and I didn't have the right bit. How many types of fixing does one car need Alfa!!??So, round 2, after ordering some ribe bits and the other...
The pollen filter is accessed under the glovebox, the cover's held on by 3 screws, two of which are hard to see. The driver I'd bought turned out to be too long to access them properly so that had to be 'modified'.
They came out alright but the cover was a right b
d to get back on with the new filters fitted. I ended up upside down, on my head with a screwdriver prising it into the right position. Definitely needed changing thoughWith that *success I moved on to changing the oil, now I had the right tool. I'd also ordered a replacement sump plug just in case things got serious. The sump plug was very very tight. Almost as soon as I applied proper pressure, it rounded off. WINNING! The following combination eventually got the little b
d offand I didn't have to worry about damaging the plug as I had a new one to go on...that didn't even nearly fit. Thanks ECP! So unfortunately I've had to refit the somewhat knarled old one. So that's a job for the next oil change. The filter is low down, at the front near the turbo with pretty good access so that went without incident.
I'm happy to say that after all that faffing, it did drive noticeably better, with improved pickup.
I'd noticed that there was a fair amount of shunt when coming off the power so had a poke about and found the engine stabiliser bush was looking a bit borked.
I found a Febi replacment for about £25 so boshed that on. It didn't really make much different to be honest.
So there you go! How to make a simple service last 2 weeks! So since I've had it, it's had..
Cambelt & waterpump change
Clutch & DMF change
Clutch master & slave change
New disks & pads all round
GTA wheels
Aircon regas (which didn't solve the problem)
Full service
Christ! And after all that, in my infinite wisdom, it's booked for a remap next week. It apparently should take it to around 210/215bhp from 170bhp (although it's never felt like 170bhp to me). Will the new clutch survive? Will the turbo give up? Is anyone bothered? Probably not but I'll no doubt tell you anyway. Other than that, I've had a quote from the dent man to go over the car for £180 which I think I'll get done, I'm going to take it to an aircon specialist in St Helens who I've used before to get an answer as to what's going on there and whilst I was underneath, I noticed some bits that are starting to need some attention
So I'll get those rubbed down and treated once it stops raining again. Think that'll do for now!
Absolutely loved my 147. But we always had to leave one thing broken. As you say pick your battles. The moment you thought you’d fixed everything it would break something else.
Got a 159 now and while it’s probably better in every way for some reason I haven’t bonded with it like my 147.
Got a 159 now and while it’s probably better in every way for some reason I haven’t bonded with it like my 147.
After all this work, it rewarded me by locking me out of the bonnet! A pull on the bonnet latch inside had no effect and no amount of pushing and prodding to the bonnet itself would change the situation. There was no way I was bending myself double and losing all the skin on my hands to fix it, so I farmed this one out.
It went in on Friday, they managed to access the catch by removing the undertray, removing a bumper grille and the main grille but said it was an absolute pain. Once in, they found the cable had seized. The part wouldn't arrive until today, so I collected it with the grilles removed to use over the weekend and dropped it back off today.
I also had it remapped last week. I paid for a 'hub dyno' power reading - I'm a bit sceptical as to the accuracy but it was interesting to watch. The car gets driven on to scales and weighed, then is taken for a run with sensors fixed to the centre of each front wheel. The laptop then does some magic and gives a BHP/NM reading. It turned out it already had a map on it! So as it was, it was making 181bhp and about an extra 25lb/ft over standard, so he made a full backup of this in case anything went wrong as there was no standard file to return to. He then flashed on his map and went for another run. Apparently, it's now making 211bhp and 325lb/ft. Well I can believe it because it's made a hell of a difference! You need to be a bit careful with it now as giving it full beans from low rpm will not be nice to the clutch with all that torque.
I did slightly st myself as after it had been sat for a couple of hours, I went and started it and the EML came on. I read the code, which came back as 'control unit calibrations'. It was still driving ok and didn't go into limp mode but I'd paid him by this point so thought I might have a battle to get him back out to it. Anyway, he had a look at the file and managed to sort what was causing the issue (some kind of tuning protection apparently) and came back a couple of days later to re-flash it. Touch-wood it's been ok since, bonnet excepted!
Lets see how long it lasts...
It went in on Friday, they managed to access the catch by removing the undertray, removing a bumper grille and the main grille but said it was an absolute pain. Once in, they found the cable had seized. The part wouldn't arrive until today, so I collected it with the grilles removed to use over the weekend and dropped it back off today.
I also had it remapped last week. I paid for a 'hub dyno' power reading - I'm a bit sceptical as to the accuracy but it was interesting to watch. The car gets driven on to scales and weighed, then is taken for a run with sensors fixed to the centre of each front wheel. The laptop then does some magic and gives a BHP/NM reading. It turned out it already had a map on it! So as it was, it was making 181bhp and about an extra 25lb/ft over standard, so he made a full backup of this in case anything went wrong as there was no standard file to return to. He then flashed on his map and went for another run. Apparently, it's now making 211bhp and 325lb/ft. Well I can believe it because it's made a hell of a difference! You need to be a bit careful with it now as giving it full beans from low rpm will not be nice to the clutch with all that torque.
I did slightly s
t myself as after it had been sat for a couple of hours, I went and started it and the EML came on. I read the code, which came back as 'control unit calibrations'. It was still driving ok and didn't go into limp mode but I'd paid him by this point so thought I might have a battle to get him back out to it. Anyway, he had a look at the file and managed to sort what was causing the issue (some kind of tuning protection apparently) and came back a couple of days later to re-flash it. Touch-wood it's been ok since, bonnet excepted!Lets see how long it lasts...
Great post copied link to Alfaowner forum. https://www.alfaowner.com/threads/147-ducati-great...
As an aside.. it’s a Fiat (FPT) JTD engine, used by GM/Saab/etal, not designed by them.
And still rocking the suburbs.
The writing style is desperate, I can’t help but think the OP needs a hug, help. Such vitriol and angst about what is clearly an aged bargain basket case to start with needs intervention, balance and support from the wider community
RUOK OP?
And still rocking the suburbs.
The writing style is desperate, I can’t help but think the OP needs a hug, help. Such vitriol and angst about what is clearly an aged bargain basket case to start with needs intervention, balance and support from the wider community
RUOK OP?
marco58 said:
Researching this particular model lead me to this excellent post. I fancied a 3 dr version of this car, in Nero Etna, but the only one had just been sold in Antrim, NI, which would have created a logistical challenge anyway. Then i noticed a 147 Ducati Corse in the background of the photo of another car which was for sale on gumtree, and the car was only 20 miles from me. I contacted the owner to ask if the 'Other' car was his, and for sale. He replied "at the right price". Never buy a car in the rain, but current wet climate gave me no choice, and i didn't want to miss it. There were plenty of dents and scratches, and it was a 4 door, but basically OK, and the service book and Owners Manual were present. The vendor even threw in a new gear knob, new front fog-lights, and front grille badge. The following day, upon collection, i noticed the registration number looked familiar. It was this car, YR09YJV. Unfortunately it seems that heavy objects have been dropped onto the bonnet, causing 4 or 5 dents, and holed the plastic scuttle, (Plastic scuttle replaced for £15.00), and N/S/R arch has scraped against a wall, the High oil level warning light is on, but Castrol Edge 10/40 is in the post, together with an oil filter and ZX1. If things return to near normality next year, i plan to drive it around Lake Como, and further South, like i did in my My Audi TT Mk1 last September, tent in the boot. I'm very pleased with this car, especially all the good work that has been done and recorded above. It's gone to a good home. Note: Purchased from a subsequent owner from the above.
How weird, I never really come on here any more but when I do, I catch this!Edited by marco58 on Tuesday 25th August 16:31
I flogged it about a year ago because I didn’t really do the mileage to justify a diesel and it was doing my head in mending it constantly. I therefore made the sensible and informed decision to replace it with a 147 GTA, which I still have. I did see it very briefly appear for sale the other week on a fb group, but I think they took the ad down very soon.
Oh yeh - the damaged scuttle. I placed the for sale ad, then the day after went out to it and something had fallen on to the screen, pierced and smashed it and rolled on to the bonnet whilst it was parked on the road. Whatever it was had been removed when I got there. I was mega pissed off!
Good luck with the fecker, I hope it behaves better for you!
The problem with Alfas of this age now is that they’ve been neglected for a decade and were fragile to start with. Most of the pain of fixing them comes from the refusal at the factory to grease anything, especially when bolting aluminium to steel. This can change the job of changing the front shocks from a 30 minute each side jaunt to a 10 hour slugfest involving removal of most of the front suspension and liberal use of a 10 tonne press.
I bought a 51 plate 137k 10v diesel estate a few years ago as I was doing mega mileage. Cost £270, and the DNA switch was set to “bouncy castle”, permanently - but for 4000 miles it worked. Eventually I got fed up with the dicky exhaust, clutch, alternator and bouncy suspensIon, hoisted the front of the car in the air, whipped out all the front suspension, subframe, gearbox, and threw all the wearable bits in the bin. A Q2 was put in, new clutch, eibach coilovers and ARBs. Did the same at the back, welded on new exhaust flexis and sorted the corrosion. Then I picked up a s/h ECU that had been mapped and stuck that in.
The car is a bit of an animal now, and has done 50k miles with nothing other than tyres and servicing. It’s probably, cost me about £2500 all in, and for belting up and down motorways, it’s perfect - nice leather interior, air con that works and about 48 mpg.
I bought a 51 plate 137k 10v diesel estate a few years ago as I was doing mega mileage. Cost £270, and the DNA switch was set to “bouncy castle”, permanently - but for 4000 miles it worked. Eventually I got fed up with the dicky exhaust, clutch, alternator and bouncy suspensIon, hoisted the front of the car in the air, whipped out all the front suspension, subframe, gearbox, and threw all the wearable bits in the bin. A Q2 was put in, new clutch, eibach coilovers and ARBs. Did the same at the back, welded on new exhaust flexis and sorted the corrosion. Then I picked up a s/h ECU that had been mapped and stuck that in.
The car is a bit of an animal now, and has done 50k miles with nothing other than tyres and servicing. It’s probably, cost me about £2500 all in, and for belting up and down motorways, it’s perfect - nice leather interior, air con that works and about 48 mpg.
Leon R said:
I have a serious soft spot for 147's but your thread demonstrates why I am scared to own one.
Shame because I truly believe the 147 GTA has the best V6 ever made.
Shame because I truly believe the 147 GTA has the best V6 ever made.
Leon R said:
I have a serious soft spot for 147's but your thread demonstrates why I am scared to own one.
Shame because I truly believe the 147 GTA has the best V6 ever made.
If you bought a GTA (a good UK one) it’s unlikely that you’d encounter a lot of the above as they tend to have been pampered and will have had most of the problem issues dealt with or replaced by now. The only issue I’ve had in 12 months has been a dodgy window regulator and I can’t begrudge it that at 16 years old! Shame because I truly believe the 147 GTA has the best V6 ever made.
The issue comes when you buy one as a cheap car around 10 years old as at that point everything will be end of life, so you either run it into the ground (which is why the numbers left drop off a cliff) or you suck it up and invest more into it than you’ll ever get back.
[quote] The problem with Alfas of this age now is that they’ve been neglected for a decade and were fragile to start with. Most of the pain of fixing them comes from the refusal at the factory to grease anything, especially when bolting aluminium to steel. This can change the job of changing the front shocks from a 30 minute each side jaunt to a 10 hour slugfest involving removal of most of the front suspension and liberal use of a 10 tonne press.
[quote] Is it true that Alfa named this car the 147 as that is the number of months before the car is scrapped due to terminal rust?
Who gives a st about the air con? - its a Ducati Corse and if you're a petrolhead it won't bother you stuff like that - I own a 145 QV and the thermo wasn't working for a few years; in the winter I just threw a blanket for the missus and cracked on..
t about the air con? - its a Ducati Corse and if you're a petrolhead it won't bother you stuff like that - I own a 145 QV and the thermo wasn't working for a few years; in the winter I just threw a blanket for the missus and cracked on..Edited by Ganz on Tuesday 13th October 00:30
It's good to see one of these still on the road and being looked after.
Our first 147 was a 1.6TS Lusso that we ordered from new after going to the launch night at Mangoletsi. We ordered what we thought was silver with red Momo leather and 16" Sport wheels. When it arrived they unveiled a car that looked a gold/green colour but after the initial shock we loved the colour.
A Mini Cooper S followed by a 156 2.0 JTS finally led us to our last Alfa, a 147 Q2 but pre Ducati. We had that remapped and it only made another 5 BHP but torque was up massively. The door handle on our Q2 also failed.
The Q2 was replaced by some German offerings but the Alfa's are always fondly remembered. We also had a 155 V6 and a 156 TS.
Our first 147 was a 1.6TS Lusso that we ordered from new after going to the launch night at Mangoletsi. We ordered what we thought was silver with red Momo leather and 16" Sport wheels. When it arrived they unveiled a car that looked a gold/green colour but after the initial shock we loved the colour.
A Mini Cooper S followed by a 156 2.0 JTS finally led us to our last Alfa, a 147 Q2 but pre Ducati. We had that remapped and it only made another 5 BHP but torque was up massively. The door handle on our Q2 also failed.
The Q2 was replaced by some German offerings but the Alfa's are always fondly remembered. We also had a 155 V6 and a 156 TS.
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