Discussion
Morning all
after deciding we needed a second car again, the wife chose a tidy looking 156 1.6TS, 52 plate. Pretty much FSH, and some good options like leather / alloys.
We picked it up yesterday, and I've had a bit of a drive in it, which has prompted me to wander down to this side of the forum, and share a few thoughts / questions:
- its a very nice place to be inside - worth the extra running cost over a similar priced fiesta/clio etc
- it runs a bit cool (60ish) which I suspect is s stuck thermostat. Can these be replaced, or does the whole housing need doing?
- there are a few clunks, which I put down to ARB drop links. However, seeing new MOT, pretty much every front suspension component has an advisory. Is there anything critical to replace now? I've had advisories in the past which have re-occured year after year with no adverse effect on drivingh
- I read the cambelt has to be done at 32k, so I assume this then needs doing again at 64k and 96k? Does the water pump and pulleys need doing at each change too? Or was it just the OE factory items that were weak?
- are there any good sites out there for technical advice or service manuals?
and finally:
- no rear wiper? Strange, perhaps Italians don't look behind them?
- the main beam indicator is unduly bright, unlike like the dipped headlights which are quite dim
- 1.6 but tax group J - how do Alfa get a 1.6 to emit so much CO2? It's the same group as our old 2.0 coupe.
cheers
Ian
after deciding we needed a second car again, the wife chose a tidy looking 156 1.6TS, 52 plate. Pretty much FSH, and some good options like leather / alloys.
We picked it up yesterday, and I've had a bit of a drive in it, which has prompted me to wander down to this side of the forum, and share a few thoughts / questions:
- its a very nice place to be inside - worth the extra running cost over a similar priced fiesta/clio etc
- it runs a bit cool (60ish) which I suspect is s stuck thermostat. Can these be replaced, or does the whole housing need doing?
- there are a few clunks, which I put down to ARB drop links. However, seeing new MOT, pretty much every front suspension component has an advisory. Is there anything critical to replace now? I've had advisories in the past which have re-occured year after year with no adverse effect on drivingh
- I read the cambelt has to be done at 32k, so I assume this then needs doing again at 64k and 96k? Does the water pump and pulleys need doing at each change too? Or was it just the OE factory items that were weak?
- are there any good sites out there for technical advice or service manuals?
and finally:
- no rear wiper? Strange, perhaps Italians don't look behind them?
- the main beam indicator is unduly bright, unlike like the dipped headlights which are quite dim
- 1.6 but tax group J - how do Alfa get a 1.6 to emit so much CO2? It's the same group as our old 2.0 coupe.
cheers
Ian
Alfaowner is the best Alfa forum I have found, with loads of information.
I would get the water pump done at the same time as the cambelt. Not sure if your model suffered from it, but many Alfas have plastic impellers in the water pump which get cracks over time and can slip causing overheating. I have always seen recommendations to get the water pump done at the same time as the cambelt.
I would get the water pump done at the same time as the cambelt. Not sure if your model suffered from it, but many Alfas have plastic impellers in the water pump which get cracks over time and can slip causing overheating. I have always seen recommendations to get the water pump done at the same time as the cambelt.
strangehighways said:
Alfaowner is the best Alfa forum I have found, with loads of information.
I would get the water pump done at the same time as the cambelt. Not sure if your model suffered from it, but many Alfas have plastic impellers in the water pump which get cracks over time and can slip causing overheating. I have always seen recommendations to get the water pump done at the same time as the cambelt.
That advise is true for the V6 engined alfa's, but not so much for the Twin Spark engines. Water pumps are supposed to be pretty strong on those. Saying that i have had a water pump fail on my 2.0 TSI would get the water pump done at the same time as the cambelt. Not sure if your model suffered from it, but many Alfas have plastic impellers in the water pump which get cracks over time and can slip causing overheating. I have always seen recommendations to get the water pump done at the same time as the cambelt.
Rear Wiper - Pretty normal for a saloon car not to have a rear wiper isn't it?
Main beam indicater - Yup, same on my car its pretty annoying isn't it!
And as already mentioned keep an eye on your oil usage. Mine uses a litre every 720ish miles, so need =s checking fornightly.
Ian Geary said:
Morning all
after deciding we needed a second car again, the wife chose a tidy looking 156 1.6TS, 52 plate. Pretty much FSH, and some good options like leather / alloys.
We picked it up yesterday, and I've had a bit of a drive in it, which has prompted me to wander down to this side of the forum, and share a few thoughts / questions:
- its a very nice place to be inside - worth the extra running cost over a similar priced fiesta/clio etc
- it runs a bit cool (60ish) which I suspect is s stuck thermostat. Can these be replaced, or does the whole housing need doing?
- there are a few clunks, which I put down to ARB drop links. However, seeing new MOT, pretty much every front suspension component has an advisory. Is there anything critical to replace now? I've had advisories in the past which have re-occured year after year with no adverse effect on drivingh
- I read the cambelt has to be done at 32k, so I assume this then needs doing again at 64k and 96k? Does the water pump and pulleys need doing at each change too? Or was it just the OE factory items that were weak?
- are there any good sites out there for technical advice or service manuals?
and finally:
- no rear wiper? Strange, perhaps Italians don't look behind them?
- the main beam indicator is unduly bright, unlike like the dipped headlights which are quite dim
- 1.6 but tax group J - how do Alfa get a 1.6 to emit so much CO2? It's the same group as our old 2.0 coupe.
cheers
Ian
Alfa owner is the best site for you to get your teeth into and it appears that you live in Surrey (and I am sure I recognise your name) so if you are near Croydon then the servicing team at Kinghams in South Croydon will be useful to you. after deciding we needed a second car again, the wife chose a tidy looking 156 1.6TS, 52 plate. Pretty much FSH, and some good options like leather / alloys.
We picked it up yesterday, and I've had a bit of a drive in it, which has prompted me to wander down to this side of the forum, and share a few thoughts / questions:
- its a very nice place to be inside - worth the extra running cost over a similar priced fiesta/clio etc
- it runs a bit cool (60ish) which I suspect is s stuck thermostat. Can these be replaced, or does the whole housing need doing?
- there are a few clunks, which I put down to ARB drop links. However, seeing new MOT, pretty much every front suspension component has an advisory. Is there anything critical to replace now? I've had advisories in the past which have re-occured year after year with no adverse effect on drivingh
- I read the cambelt has to be done at 32k, so I assume this then needs doing again at 64k and 96k? Does the water pump and pulleys need doing at each change too? Or was it just the OE factory items that were weak?
- are there any good sites out there for technical advice or service manuals?
and finally:
- no rear wiper? Strange, perhaps Italians don't look behind them?
- the main beam indicator is unduly bright, unlike like the dipped headlights which are quite dim
- 1.6 but tax group J - how do Alfa get a 1.6 to emit so much CO2? It's the same group as our old 2.0 coupe.
cheers
Ian
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