Alfa 147 2.0 36k miles Cam Belt Change - Check It's Done!!!
Discussion
If you did not have your cam belt changed at 36,000 miles - DO IT NOW!A friend has a 2003 147 2.0 16v and at the 36,000 mile service (July 2006) they were asked if they wanted to replace the cam belt. They sought the dealer's opinion on whether they should do so and taking their advice onboard decided not to.
The car had a 48,000 mile service two months ago - the cam belt wasn't mentioned.
Between these two services, Alfa have changed their advice on the cam belt change and it is now a mandatory service item at 36,000 miles.
Given that my friend's servicing history (at the same garage since new) didn't include the cam belt replacement, why were they were not notified of the change in servicing policy and recommended to have it changed?
Why is a check on cam belt replacement not a mandatory procedure in the 48,000 miles service to catch any that were missed before the change?
Ignorant of pending doom, my friends cam belt went this week at 47,000 miles. The initial quote from the dealer is £2,500 to repair.
After speaking to the dealer and Alfa, their initial response is that they can't help and it's all down to my friend.
Poor Communication!
Poor Organisation!
Poor Customer Care!
UTTER RUBBISH!!!
I would try to speak to them again and if still no joy to Trading Standards/a solicitor. Under either the old or the new cam belt recommendations the belt should be changed before five years have passed. The service that your friend had at 4.5 years should therefore have included ensureing that the vehicle did not leave with the original belt since that would have then exceeded five/three years before the next service. Good luck.
Edited by JR on Wednesday 21st November 11:02
humpy said:
They sought the dealer's opinion on whether they should do so and taking their advice onboard decided not to.
The car had a 48,000 mile service two months ago - the cam belt wasn't mentioned.
Between these two services, Alfa have changed their advice on the cam belt change and it is now a mandatory service item at 36,000 miles.
After speaking to the dealer and Alfa, their initial response is that they can't help and it's all down to my friend.
Absolute crap, the advice for 36k/3yrs was more than two months ago. The garage were clearly negligent and your friend has a case against them and Alfa....there was even an initial contribution towards the cost of about £200 but think this may have finished.The car had a 48,000 mile service two months ago - the cam belt wasn't mentioned.
Between these two services, Alfa have changed their advice on the cam belt change and it is now a mandatory service item at 36,000 miles.
After speaking to the dealer and Alfa, their initial response is that they can't help and it's all down to my friend.
The mere fact that the belts and tensioners weren't done should be enough imho...I had a picture of the letter somewhere, will try and find it!
wrinx
Edited by wrinx on Tuesday 20th November 19:16
Edited by wrinx on Tuesday 20th November 19:25
Sorry, can't find it but Jamie Porter's place reckon it was from 11/06:
http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/alfa_romeo_timing_be...
wrinx
http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/alfa_romeo_timing_be...
wrinx
http://forum.alfa156.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID...
Follow that link, and it shows a scan of the original bulletin advising of the schedule change.
The ref. says: AR TBN1106
Dont know if this means Nov 2006?
Good luck.
Follow that link, and it shows a scan of the original bulletin advising of the schedule change.
The ref. says: AR TBN1106
Dont know if this means Nov 2006?
Good luck.
Been there done this on my other halves 147 - belt snapped at 48K 2003 plate circa 5 months out of warranty and after a few letters to Alfa UK got full reimbursement of £2200 from Alfa - private mail me through my profile and I can send all the correspondence I sent them so you can use.
Graham
Graham
Alfa UK are unlikely to do anything at all - and I don't blame them.
The original schedule was 72k miles OR 5 years.
Unless the car was registered in November or December 2003, then, by the time it snapped, it was overdue.
There may be a valid claim against the dealer, though.... but I wouldn't count on it as it's the owner's responsibility to ensure that stuff like belts get changed on time, especially on an older vehicle. If you just book it in 'for a service' - that's all you'll usually get on an older car - most people don't bother changing belts and dealers know this.
The original schedule was 72k miles OR 5 years.
Unless the car was registered in November or December 2003, then, by the time it snapped, it was overdue.
There may be a valid claim against the dealer, though.... but I wouldn't count on it as it's the owner's responsibility to ensure that stuff like belts get changed on time, especially on an older vehicle. If you just book it in 'for a service' - that's all you'll usually get on an older car - most people don't bother changing belts and dealers know this.
75_Steve said:
Alfa UK are unlikely to do anything at all - and I don't blame them.
The original schedule was 72k miles OR 5 years.
Unless the car was registered in November or December 2003, then, by the time it snapped, it was overdue.
The original schedule was 72k miles OR 5 years.
Unless the car was registered in November or December 2003, then, by the time it snapped, it was overdue.
It's a 2003 car so surely 5 years would have taken them into next year regardless of when it was registered?
Well worth pursuing with Alfa UK I reckon.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
Try this link, i have posted on here too, might be helpful.
D
Try this link, i have posted on here too, might be helpful.
D
Wow - Was it a straight forward NO Humpy ??? My honest thoughts were they would meet you somewhere in between considering the mileage and their change to the scheduled reccomended cam belt change - don't give in without a fight - I just hassled them by letter and phone and they coughed up eventually.
Graham
Graham
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