156 Air box <fume>

[kmd]

Just got my 156 V6 back from its service only to be told that they couldn't replace the air filter or airflow sensor, that's failed, because the bolts on the top of the air box are rusted to hell (which they are!). This means a new air box at a cost of £88!!!

This has really p***ed me off. Of all the cars I've ever had (and there are lots) I've never had to replace an air box before. This is a (51) plate car so its not exactly ancient. I love my 156, but boy it makes my blood boil some times. If Alfa had spent an extra 32p on galvanised bolts when putting the thing together, a part that would last any other car its life time wouldn't need to be replaced.

Anyhow, rant over, anyone know where I can get a replacement one cheaper that £88?

[Mon Ami Mate]

I had this once. Apparently there's some sort of gasket that's supposed to be replaced to stop this from happening and this is commonly overlooked by lazy mechanics, leading to the problem.

[Wombat Rick]

It is a common problem I'm afraid. Copper greasing the bolts is the only way to avoid it.

Try EB Spares, Alfashop or Shop4parts.

[Twin Turbo]

Yep, had that too on our '51 plate TwinSpark

[Dave Brand]

Probably not a lot of V6s in breakers yards, but it's worth a try.

It may be possible to fix the existing one. I had a similar problem on my 145 - one of the bolts had seized into the threaded brass bushes moulded into the bottom half of the airbox, so when I tried to remove it the bush just turned. Fortunately there was enough access below the airbox to allow a longer screw to be used with a nut. Now I have four lovely stainless steel screws holding the lid on!

[ParanoidPenguin]

Don't suppose it is much comfort but I've (literally) just been charged about £150 for one of those, along with about the same again for an air flow meter... not to mention the other £1k+ worth within the last month. Boo :-(

[alfagta 88]

two cans of wd40 got mine of and its a 2000 reg

[Avocet]

Yup! Me too! If it makes you feel any better, I ripped the brass inserts out of my wife's whilst trying to undo the bolts. The 156 has it's good points but it is a car built on the cheap. If they'd used brass bolts in the brass inserts, they'd be fine. (or stainless bolts in stainless inserts for that matter)! I don't know if you'd want to do this but I just tapped the hole in the plastic housing left by the insert to a much bigger size (M10 or even 12 from memory) and opened the holes in the top out. Then I just put it back together with bigger bolts going straight into the plastic and it's still OK today, about a year later.

[bint]

Did a quick search - they seem to have everything BUT the box at this place, but I'm guessing if you called them they could help;

www.shop4parts.co.uk/

Highly recommended as a company.

[kmd]

Thanks all

Managed to track a used part from a local specialist for £30 he has a work around for the AFM too.