156 hesitation
Author
Discussion

jimmy156

Original Poster:

3,761 posts

210 months

Thursday 21st March 2013
quotequote all
Hello all,

I have a bit of a problem with my 156 2.0.

In the middle part of the rev range, at around 4k rpm, under partial throttle there is a bit of a hesitation and the car seems to lack power. This is most notable when pushing on in a third gear corner as i start to squeeze the throttle back on there is what feels like a big delay before the motor reacts. The car also failed to start first time (okay on 2nd try) for the first time in my ownership this morning, but this may well be unrelated.

This problem seems to have occurred after i had the car serviced. It had a new exhaust and a basic service so i dont really see how this would have affected the running, particularly in a negative way. The car also seems to have better response below 4k. But this may be a placebo effect of there being less shove after that.

Any ideas anyone?

rijmij99

423 posts

184 months

Thursday 21st March 2013
quotequote all
quick italian tune up on the nearest stretch of road?

S10GTA

13,571 posts

190 months

Thursday 21st March 2013
quotequote all
MAF

51mes

1,536 posts

223 months

Thursday 21st March 2013
quotequote all
S10GTA said:
MAF
This .. happened to one of mine...

jimmy156

Original Poster:

3,761 posts

210 months

Thursday 21st March 2013
quotequote all
rijmij99 said:
quick italian tune up on the nearest stretch of road?
I have been doing that the last 2 weeks hehe Lots of fun but it hasn't helped!

Is the test for a fault MAF to unplug the sensor? Should i then be looking for a change in the way the car drives or no change to signify a faulty MAF.

How much to replace one and can someone who can barley put together ikea furniture change it?

jimmy156

Original Poster:

3,761 posts

210 months

Thursday 21st March 2013
quotequote all
Okay i have answered my own question, apparently quite easy to fit and cost is about £111 for a bosch one. The description on the alfaworkshop website fits exactly the symptoms that i have. Just had a £400 service though (at alfaworkshop as it happens, great guys!) so feeling a bit light at the moment, so want to check if its definitely at fault first

I also have a 3rd party air filter on there (all adds up!) and would probably want to change this if i was spending £111 on a new MAF and i gather they are quite expensive too.

ETA: is it a bad idea to "live with" a faulty MAF for a few months, or is it okay if i can put up with it?

Edited by jimmy156 on Thursday 21st March 17:54

caiss4

1,945 posts

220 months

Thursday 21st March 2013
quotequote all
Seem to recall from the alfaowner site that the MAF is the same as a Vauxhall one but at half the price. You just need to swap the MAF sensor from the Vauxhall MAF body to the Alfa one.

Sorry I can't be more specific but a search on Alfaowner will probably give you the details.

I don't know if any damage will be done running with a u/s MAF but it will undoubtedly mess up fuel economy and right in the middle of that overtake, just when you need the power to keep coming you'll wish you'd put your brown chords and bike clips on.

trashbat

6,230 posts

176 months

Thursday 21st March 2013
quotequote all
TS or JTS engine?

jimmy156

Original Poster:

3,761 posts

210 months

Thursday 21st March 2013
quotequote all
Caiss24, thanks for that! Will check up the info on alfaowner.

trashbat its a TS.

trashbat

6,230 posts

176 months

Thursday 21st March 2013
quotequote all
Agreed then. You can actually unplug the MAF and although idle will be horrible, if it gets rid of your hesitation at 4k RPM, then it's probably the culprit.

Hoses would be the other obvious thing to look at, i.e. the big air pipe.