156 2.0TS Cambelt @ 65k

Hi all,
I am new to this site but can see some useful info.

Problem..cambelt has gone on my 156.

I heard a ticking noise whilst stationary, turned off the engine. Started
(or tried to) it again but no joy. No warning lights, water or oil...had
it picked up and taken to Alfa in Northamton.
Its dealer maintained from new...serviced at all the correct intervals.
The book says cambelt change at 72k which the dealer confirmed or 5 yrs
whichever the soonest.
So 4yrs old and only 65k well within their limits. Has anyone else had the
similar expensive problem and did you get any recompence from Alfa UK or
the dealerships?

Cheers Colin

Comiserations Colin.

This really is something of a scandal- the cambelt intervals were set at
72K probably to keep the business buyers sweet by keeping service costs
down in the early part of the car's life. However Alfa itself now
recognises that this was unrealistic and some time ago quietly changed
the cambelt check/change interval to 36,000 after many failures well
short of the 72K mark and several in the 40-50 K range.

If the dealer has sold & serviced the thing they really should have
advised you and all customers to bring cars in for a cambelt
"check"/swap (who's going to bother checking it having gone to the
trouble of getting at it - check = change). But they're AR dealers so we
might as well whistle in the wind...

I got wind of the new interval through this newsgroup - and scurried off
for a preventive 36K cambelt swap at an independent. I'm sure other
people who did not find out in time and who have suffered your
experience will post soon. But I'd whinge like hell - especially if you
forked out for a main dealer service in the last 18 months or so (the
new intervals have applied for at least that long)..
Barry

colhum1 wrote:
> Hi all,
> I am new to this site but can see some useful info.
>
> Problem..cambelt has gone on my 156.
>
> I heard a ticking noise whilst stationary, turned off the engine. Started
> (or tried to) it again but no joy. No warning lights, water or oil...had
> it picked up and taken to Alfa in Northamton.
> Its dealer maintained from new...serviced at all the correct intervals.
> The book says cambelt change at 72k which the dealer confirmed or 5 yrs
> whichever the soonest.
> So 4yrs old and only 65k well within their limits. Has anyone else had the
> similar expensive problem and did you get any recompence from Alfa UK or
> the dealerships?
>
> Cheers Colin
>

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 22:22:34 +0100, Barry Bingham >,
wrote:

>However Alfa itself now
>recognises that this was unrealistic and some time ago quietly changed
>the cambelt check/change interval to 36,000 after many failures well
>short of the 72K mark and several in the 40-50 K range.
Alfa GB info to dealers is to only check at 36K.
I had the same conversation with my local main dealer recently,
and the service manager stated, "I know three year warranty is up, but
the car has been fully maintained and if it [ the cambelt] goes bang before
the 72K then it will be down to Alfa, so don't worry about it."

I suggest you go talk to the dealer you bought from and serviced with
urgently.


Pete
--
>
156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his)
147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's)

"Pete" > schreef in bericht
...
> I had the same conversation with my local main dealer recently,
> and the service manager stated, "I know three year warranty is up, but
> the car has been fully maintained and if it [ the cambelt] goes bang
before
> the 72K then it will be down to Alfa, so don't worry about it."
> Pete
> --
> >
> 156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his)
> 147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's)


Do you have that in writing from dealer/Alfa??
I also can easily tell you that someone else will pay the bill when I mess
up, but when it comes to paying the other patry will hardly meet that!!
--
Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000)
Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)

Ah, here we go the Alfa dealer customer service issue...
They quickly took my car in on Monday 7/6/04..'we'll look at it and give
you a diagnosis, get back to you Tues 8/6/04' Guess what I've had to ring
them....3 times. Not had a chance to look at it yet, may do it Thurs or
Friday...staff shortages you know..we all know the excuses...thats why
Alfa are so low on customer service satisfaction...pity 'cause I love my
156 !!!!!!!!!!!

Watch this space...and for what its worth Alfa Uk are now involved...Colin

On Wed, 09 Jun 2004 10:25:38 -0400, "colhum1"
>, wrote:

>Ah, here we go the Alfa dealer customer service issue...
>They quickly took my car in on Monday 7/6/04..'we'll look at it and give
>you a diagnosis, get back to you Tues 8/6/04' Guess what I've had to ring
>them....3 times. Not had a chance to look at it yet, may do it Thurs or
>Friday...staff shortages you know..we all know the excuses...thats why
>Alfa are so low on customer service satisfaction...pity 'cause I love my
>156 !!!!!!!!!!!
>
>Watch this space...and for what its worth Alfa Uk are now involved...Colin
>
I will not worry about looking for a post this month then. <g>

When it takes 12 weeks to fit a new hinge on a front door
under warranty, then there is no rushing them :-)

Pete
--
>
156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his)
147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's)

On Tue, 8 Jun 2004 22:28:53 +0200, "Alfistagj"
>, wrote:

>
>"Pete" > schreef in bericht
.. .
>> I had the same conversation with my local main dealer recently,
>> and the service manager stated, "I know three year warranty is up, but
>> the car has been fully maintained and if it [ the cambelt] goes bang
>>before the 72K then it will be down to Alfa, so don't worry about it."
>>
>> Pete
>
>Do you have that in writing from dealer/Alfa??
>I also can easily tell you that someone else will pay the bill when I mess
>up, but when it comes to paying the other patry will hardly meet that!!

No. I had this verbally from the Service Manager at an Alfa Main Dealer
in front of 2 witnesses. I then waited outside and I took their names and
addresses and stuck the note in my Handbook.
So if I need a cam belt before the Handbook says, I will be expecting it
to be honoured. A contract is a contract. Written or verbal makes NO
difference in English Law.

I am not remotely bothered about Italian Law. Alfa GB sold me the car :-)

Pete
--
>
156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his)
147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's)

"Pete" > wrote in message
> No. I had this verbally from the Service Manager at an Alfa Main Dealer
> in front of 2 witnesses. I then waited outside and I took their names and
> addresses and stuck the note in my Handbook.
> So if I need a cam belt before the Handbook says, I will be expecting it
> to be honoured. A contract is a contract. Written or verbal makes NO
> difference in English Law.
>
> I am not remotely bothered about Italian Law. Alfa GB sold me the car :-)
>
> Pete


I hope for your sake that it holds out to 72000miles (most do not).
But think back to this conversation when your car is approaching 50000miles
(the common breaking point) and decide if you really do want to risk it any
longer...

How will your verbal contract hold out if that garage is no longer an Alfa
Main Dealer?
Especially as a simple search of the Internet will list countless numbers of
people recommending that it should be changed as 36000miles.
--
David C
156 Selespeed sp3 + Brembo conversion

"Pete" > schreef in bericht
...
>
> No. I had this verbally from the Service Manager at an Alfa Main Dealer
> in front of 2 witnesses. I then waited outside and I took their names and
> addresses and stuck the note in my Handbook.
> So if I need a cam belt before the Handbook says, I will be expecting it
> to be honoured. A contract is a contract. Written or verbal makes NO
> difference in English Law.
>
> I am not remotely bothered about Italian Law. Alfa GB sold me the car :-)
>
> Pete
> --
> >
> 156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his)
> 147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's)

I know under (any) law a verbal contract is as valid as a written one.
Only when it comes down to going to court to get your right, your Alfa will
be standing still for months and months and months ........
Most likely (??) you'll win but............

GET IT IN WRITING, preferably counter signed by Alfa.
I am almost 100% sure that as soon as you start discussing this with them
they will back off, never mind what they said to you.
THE way out is to say that the person that told you this is not authorised
to do so!!
The oldest trick in the world.
An employee of any company is only authorised to making commitments for the
company they work for as laid down in the Chamber of Commerce records!!
And NO WAY that Alfa will ever counter sign!!

My honest tip:
Change the belt at the 60000km / 36000miles service and at your costs and
not a mile later!
You will regret it if you don't listen to me! Sorry, but that's the way it
is.
--
Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000)
Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)

On Wed, 9 Jun 2004 15:56:04 +0000 (UTC), "David C"
>, wrote:

>I hope for your sake that it holds out to 72000miles (most do not).
>But think back to this conversation when your car is approaching 50000miles
>(the common breaking point) and decide if you really do want to risk it any
>longer...
There is no way on earth that my car will cover that distance in the
warranty period. The clause is 72K or 5 years which ever is the sooner.

>How will your verbal contract hold out if that garage is no longer an Alfa
>Main Dealer?
Irrelevant. The garage will be liable regardless as the sold the car.
Alfa GB were the supplier of the car. The customer's contract is with
the seller.

>Especially as a simple search of the Internet will list countless numbers of
>people recommending that it should be changed as 36000miles.
Internet? Sorry mr garage man, don't know nothing about internet.
That's for kids and porno people isn't it? People my age ain't into
computers <G>


Pete
--
>
156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his)
147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's)