Alfa luck continues

MrMickS

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3,947
e8e303d7e7b3a0771dc405545ed9c650.jpg


Loss of compression on more than of the cylinders. So on the back of a recovery truck and heading home.
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,704
Not good, head gasket? I had one fail on a 916 Spider, one thAT I had bought that hadn't done many miles in the previous few years. About 300 miles after I put it back into daily use it popped.
 

alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
Most probably the lack of correct head gasket torqueing down procedure when the last bodger was in there..

Fairly easy job though, about 5 hours, with new belts and stuff

Dave
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,582
Cambelt skipped and bent valves I feel. Oh dear.

Bit of time and not too much money will see her fit again.

Way to tell us when you turn her over she spins much faster than usual and will not start.

:(
 

MrMickS

Member
Messages
3,947
Had it serviced by a specialist, and the belts changed, on Friday. Reckon if it's the belts then it's not going to cost me much.
 

MrMickS

Member
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3,947
Anyway. Once we got back home we transferred the picnic to the Ghibli and went for a blast in the North Yorks Moors. Very therapeutic
 

conaero

Forum Owner
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34,582
Had it serviced by a specialist, and the belts changed, on Friday. Reckon if it's the belts then it's not going to cost me much.

When the belt is changed it re tensions the whole system and not uncommon for the weakest link to fail quite quickly.

Did it spin really fast on starter turnover?

You can remove the oil cap and observe the cam spinning.
 

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,753
Had it serviced by a specialist, and the belts changed, on Friday. Reckon if it's the belts then it's not going to cost me much.

Could be a blessing in disguise then if you get a free engine rebuild , That's not a phone call he'll want on a Monday morning, what did the recovery guy think the problem was
 

MrMickS

Member
Messages
3,947
Could be a blessing in disguise then if you get a free engine rebuild , That's not a phone call he'll want on a Monday morning, what did the recovery guy think the problem was

He thought there was a of compression on some of the cylinders, then probably a timing issue. That was after looking at the cam whilst I turned it over. Haven't had time to look myself.

Its going to be an interesting phone call tomorrow morning. Though I may pop down for a chat, as its near work, rather than find time with the poor phone reception I have in the office.
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
I hope you get it sorted, for little money.
If would be worth if possible, to establish the cause before letting the garage who did the belt have a look.
All too easy for it to be a part that failed, that they did not replace as part of their service...
 
G

Guest 1678

Guest
i had the same problem on a 156. The now defunct Newbury based specialist had not changed the tensioner - told me it looked fine!! Cambelt failure after 300 miles.
 

MrMickS

Member
Messages
3,947
i had the same problem on a 156. The now defunct Newbury based specialist had not changed the tensioner - told me it looked fine!! Cambelt failure after 300 miles.

Tensioner was changed as well. I saw the old tensioner. The bearing was shot on it and it made an awful noise.

The starter isn't turning freely. It did sound as if it was turning something but was accompanied by some clunking noises that didn't sound good.
 

Gp79

Member
Messages
1,392
i had the same problem on a 156. The now defunct Newbury based specialist had not changed the tensioner - told me it looked fine!! Cambelt failure after 300 miles.

Some 'specialist' !!!

I though a new water pump and tensioners would be standard with a cam belt kit?

At least you got the stamp in the service book!

Take it that was the end of the 156?
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
I know regarding my old Elise, with the Rover K series, the tensioner and water pump was recommended every other change.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,480
I know regarding my old Elise, with the Rover K series, the tensioner and water pump was recommended every other change.

If memory serves the recommendation on the TS is replace water pump and tensioner every time. That was after the debacle of Alfa's service schedule resulting in a load of snapped belts.

I just let Felice get on with it. Every 3 years / 36k miles

C