"" wrote:
> rickp101 wrote:
>
> > I have just taken my 3 year and 2 month old (yep just out of
> warranty
> > ) 147 into my local dealer because the air bag warning light
> was on.
> >
> > That wasn’t too pricey, just a wiring problem but they have
> also told
> > me that I need new front brake pads, a new handbrake cable
> and the cam
> > variator replacing.
> >
> > The pads and handbrake cable is fair enough but I am not
> sure about
> > the cam variator. As they quoted me £540 I rang a private
> Alfa
> > specialist garage in Leeds who are going to look at it and
> if it needs
> > doing will do it for £365 + vat which is a bit better.
>
> What's the labour rate of the private garage?
>
> > Basically before I fork out all this cash is there any way I
> can tell
> > myself if it actually needs doing. Both garages have
> mentioned that it
> > is a big job as you have to remove this and that (I’m no car
> > mechanic!) but basically they just said that it is making a
> noise and
> > that is how they can tell it needs replacing.
> >
> > Can I check this noise for myself? What am I listening for
> and when?
> > The 2nd garage said the engine needed to be cold for them to
> tell how
> > long it makes a noise for.
>
> From a cold start, it will sound like a diesel for several
> seconds. The
> longer it does, the worse it is. OTOH it doesn't acutally
> appear to cause
> many issues with the drivability. Bit of low down power loss
> and some flat
> spots IME
>
> > Also assuming it does need replacing does this price seem
> fair for the
> > work involved? Is there a cheaper option, bearing in mind I
> know
> > nothing about engines so would only consider doing it myself
> if it
> > really is a simple job that I couldn’t mess up.
>
> Well, I was quoted by the man what does my cars a 'couple of
> hundred' to do
> it on my 156. I can't really see that the 147 would be much
> more involved
> or take longer. OTOH Jamie is not exaclty world famous for
> giving accurate
> pre-work prices. OTOOH he may just have been quoting me a
> good price.
>
> > If there is anyone out there who knows about these sort of
> things I
> > would be very grateful for your help.
> >
> We aim to please.
>
> --
> Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
> Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
> Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 TS 156 TS S2
> Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
> www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

Cheers mate,

I will have a listen to the engine.

I was told by the dealer that leaving a damaged cam variator can cause
problems and the girl said that someone recently who had left theirs
without fixing it was now looking at £1600 for a new Head Gasket or
something.

Can the cam variator being shot damage other parts of the engine over
time or do you just get a noise and maybe a slight loss of power?

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