156 GTA Cambelt - should I change it?
Discussion
Can someone definitively say what the recommended change period on a 3.2 156 GTA (20003/2004) is?
I know Alfa recommend 72k but dealers recommend 36k, but I thought this didn't apply to the GTA? Certainly at the 36k service, they didn't recommend doing it
I'm a bit nervous as a guy at work who has a 2.5 year old 3.2 GT just had £4.5k's worth of new engine after the cambelt went at 33k miles. My GTA is on 53k miles and 3.5 years old.
I know Alfa recommend 72k but dealers recommend 36k, but I thought this didn't apply to the GTA? Certainly at the 36k service, they didn't recommend doing it
I'm a bit nervous as a guy at work who has a 2.5 year old 3.2 GT just had £4.5k's worth of new engine after the cambelt went at 33k miles. My GTA is on 53k miles and 3.5 years old.
My local specialist reckons 60k is usually fine for the 3.0/3.2 V6.
Having said that, they have been known to go sooner and at the end of the day the cost of doing it now is probably worth swallowing rather than worrying about it (or, worse, facing an engine rebuild) later in the year.
Having said that, they have been known to go sooner and at the end of the day the cost of doing it now is probably worth swallowing rather than worrying about it (or, worse, facing an engine rebuild) later in the year.
Viper_Larry said:
I know Alfa recommend 72k but dealers recommend 36k, but I thought this didn't apply to the GTA?
This is for the 2.0TS engine.Edited by pdV6 on Thursday 10th January 10:32
The Alfa notification dropping the 72k/5 years interval to 36k/3 years only applies to the Twinspark engines. JTDs and V6s are unchanged.
By the sounds of it, it would be due over the next year regardless due to age - so if it gives you peace of mind it would be worth getting done sooner rather than later.
By the sounds of it, it would be due over the next year regardless due to age - so if it gives you peace of mind it would be worth getting done sooner rather than later.
I got a GTA last summer, and had the belt done at 55K. There was a serious bit of fraying on the belt that came off, and the guys at Rusper Alfa Romeo said it was a serious risk for imminent failure. The car was otherwise very well looked after too so I don't think it was down to previous owner neglect/thrashing.
So I'm another recommendation for getting it changed now.
So I'm another recommendation for getting it changed now.
Viper_Larry said:
The service guy at my local Alfa dealer has been working there for 5 years and NEVER had a 2.5 or 3.2 engine in for cambelt failure
I don't believe him.Comments I've seen on forums, cars i've seen myself tell me otherwise.
I knowledge of people who have replied to this thread tells you the story I think, almost without exception everyone has said get it done.
Edited by Alfahorn on Friday 11th January 18:05
My Alfa GTV 3.0 V6 (same Arese engine, the GTA has the extra 0.2 litre capacity) recently went in for a belt change (at 44k miles), as it was 6 years old.
The belt was already moving to one side of the tensioner, indicating it needed replacement.
I would change the belt out of caution, there HAVE been a number of premature failings on the V6, nowhere near the level of the TS.
I think my local specialist charged me about £400 in all, including belts, tensioners e.t.c (theres about 5 or so tensioners on the V6) and all genuine parts.
The belt was already moving to one side of the tensioner, indicating it needed replacement.
I would change the belt out of caution, there HAVE been a number of premature failings on the V6, nowhere near the level of the TS.
I think my local specialist charged me about £400 in all, including belts, tensioners e.t.c (theres about 5 or so tensioners on the V6) and all genuine parts.
Edited by V6Alfisti on Saturday 12th January 09:33
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