Runaround

M

MAF260

Member
Messages
7,662
Conaero said:
Indeed Maf, when I first had mine serviced by Mike Roberts, he fitted a modification plate to the ERG valve, I think it had holes drilled in it rather than an open inlet, or the other way round. Anyway, its been good so far, with the exception of having to replace all my wishbones and drop links at 30k miles.

I did the uppers and drop links last weekend, an hour and £50 a side. That cured the squeaking, now I have to do the lowers, 2hrs and £60 a side as one of the outer balljoints cracks now and again, plus when you go over rough ground, you can feel the inner bushes wobbling.
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Matt - do you need to get the geometry checked/realigned after changing the wishbones? I had my car put on a Hunter machine when I had the tyres changed last year and it made such a huge difference to the handling of the car. It was much more balanced, stopped tramlining etc. Well worth the money. The guy told me that Alfas are well known for leaving the factory with geometry all over the place - he has never found one which was anywhere near tolerances.
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,640
Have not Maf, might do it when its all done, what did it cost, plus can you change the camber and caster easily or is it shimmed?
 
M

MAF260

Member
Messages
7,662
£65 IIRC. They didn't need/use any shims. Money well spent as your suspension components and tyres should last longer.
 
Paco

Paco

New Member
Messages
490
No dpf's on the GT's eh?? Good news. Basically a bigger 147 then, just what Mrs Paco needs!!

I have a strange fondness for her 147, but it is very noisy to travel in and hence tiring to drive.

The oil cooler pipe flaw sounds like the a/c pipes flaw on the 159, where the wiper arms slowly saw their way through the alloy a/c pipes, that's another big bill!!

(I have a couple of spare pipes in my shed though!!)
 
D

dem maser

Moderator
Messages
34,266
i knew someone with a focus that DPF went on.....not buying a diesel with one again.....

in town they are shite.....fiat have had problems with the 500 diesel as its always playing up, people buy them and drive them in town, DPFs need bit of a drive or a thrash.....
 
M

MAF260

Member
Messages
7,662
Paco said:
No dpf's on the GT's eh?? Good news. Basically a bigger 147 then, just what Mrs Paco needs!!

I have a strange fondness for her 147, but it is very noisy to travel in and hence tiring to drive.

The oil cooler pipe flaw sounds like the a/c pipes flaw on the 159, where the wiper arms slowly saw their way through the alloy a/c pipes, that's another big bill!!

(I have a couple of spare pipes in my shed though!!)
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GT is a great car Paco and I never thought I would say that, especially in diesel form. The GT uses the 156 floorpan, but also shares a load of bits with the 147 - interior is the same for example. Handles brilliantly, goes like stink and gives between 450-600 miles on a tank of fuel. I've driven mine from London to Manchester & back in a day and it was a very pleasant, comfortable place to be.
 
dickygrace

dickygrace

www.richardgracecars.co.uk
Messages
7,342
Paco said:
No dpf's on the GT's eh?? Good news. Basically a bigger 147 then, just what Mrs Paco needs!!

I have a strange fondness for her 147, but it is very noisy to travel in and hence tiring to drive.

The oil cooler pipe flaw sounds like the a/c pipes flaw on the 159, where the wiper arms slowly saw their way through the alloy a/c pipes, that's another big bill!!

(I have a couple of spare pipes in my shed though!!)
Click to expand...


Had the a/c pipes on the 159. Unbelievable design flaw to let wipers cut through an aircon pipe! Also had the intercooler pipe go on a 147. They're not wholly unreliable cars, but the known faults seem to occur on every car.
 
Paco

Paco

New Member
Messages
490
Her 147 is currently wheezing and smoking under load which suggests an intake air leak, but Mrs P did re-model the n/s/f corner against a low wall recently so it may not be entirely down to poor design as that's where the I/C sits.

She does 80 miles a day commuting in it, on a mix of fast A road and potholed B & C roads, so it gets plenty of abuse - she's now finished work for the winter holidays so I'll stretcher it in to the garage to be patched up in time for next term.
 
M

MAF260

Member
Messages
7,662
^^^^^^^ You can buy silicon hoses to replace the rubber ones. Autolusso sell them; very reasonably priced IIRC.
 
D

dem maser

Moderator
Messages
34,266
450 - 600 miles?? thats a mixture of driving not bad.....

itll do 400 miles just town then thats good......£80 fill up.....
 
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