156 dashboard

I have a 156 (right hand drive) and just to the right of the sterring wheel and
a little bit below it there is a panel in the dashboard that hides some relays
/ fuses etc. (i.e. next to the drivers door). It has started to fall away from
the dashboard and apart from 3 plastic lugs at the top of the panel I can't see
what is supposed to hold it in place. The lugs are not gripping in the slots in
the dashboard immediately above the panel because they are a very loose fit.

Am I missing the obvious? Is there supposed to be a screw fixing somewhere? Or
have the plastic lugs simply worn, meaning that I will have to change the panel
completely?

No you are not missing anything.
This was evidently a design fault in the 156 TS. Mine was rectified by the
Dealer just wacking in a screw to hold it up. ( I was not impressed)

In my 156 JTS they have rectified it with a screw in a similar position but
it is now part of the fusebox cover design.

Take it to a Dealer and demand that it's fixed even if it is out of
warranty. I know Dealers in OZ are aware of the problem.


Barks

156 JTS
105 GTV 2000
Alfa 33






"Ppelectron" > wrote in message
...
> I have a 156 (right hand drive) and just to the right of the sterring
wheel and
> a little bit below it there is a panel in the dashboard that hides some
relays
> / fuses etc. (i.e. next to the drivers door). It has started to fall away
from
> the dashboard and apart from 3 plastic lugs at the top of the panel I
can't see
> what is supposed to hold it in place. The lugs are not gripping in the
slots in
> the dashboard immediately above the panel because they are a very loose
fit.
>
> Am I missing the obvious? Is there supposed to be a screw fixing
somewhere? Or
> have the plastic lugs simply worn, meaning that I will have to change the
panel
> completely?

> This was evidently a design fault in the 156 TS. Mine was rectified by
the
> Dealer just wacking in a screw to hold it up. ( I was not impressed)
>
> In my 156 JTS they have rectified it with a screw in a similar position
but
> it is now part of the fusebox cover design.
>
> "Ppelectron" > wrote in message
> ...
> Am I missing the obvious? Is there supposed to be a screw fixing
> somewhere? Or
> > have the plastic lugs simply worn, meaning that I will have to change
the
> panel
> > completely?
>
>

Hi, the lugs wore out on mine too. I've since modified mine myself by gluing
small plastic extensions onto the lugs with epoxy resin. It seems to be
doing the trick 6 months on and doesn't show any outward sign of having been
modified.

has.mac

Mine is still fine.
Problem is the first time anyone opens that lid they don't know how to and
damage the click lugs on the bottom!
To take it off you shuold carefully pull at the bottom, then "bend" the
bottom towards yyuorself and let it slide down, out of the 3 top lugs.
Putting it back is just the reverse order:
The 3 top one just interlock (first them) and then you click the 2 bottom
ones with a firm but gentle slamm with your hand palm.

I used to have 2 mechanics working for me back when I was managing a
workshop who did exactly the same work.
One "grossed" in bolts, nuts, clips etc. whereas the other one never needed
them.
I noticed this after a while and started a small investigation.
The first one got a yob and was on the yob in a splitt second; every one
always considered him the speedeest one of all.
The second one looked at his paperwork, took a stroll around the car and was
on the yob 10-15 later than his collegue.
Yes, the first one was the guy grossing in bolts, nuts, clips etc.
$ 1,000,000 question:
Which one of the two??

So, first take a look, than start jurking around.
--
Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000)
Golden Montreal (1973/4)

"Ppelectron" > schreef in bericht
...
> I have a 156 (right hand drive) and just to the right of the sterring
wheel and
> a little bit below it there is a panel in the dashboard that hides some
relays
> / fuses etc. (i.e. next to the drivers door). It has started to fall away
from
> the dashboard and apart from 3 plastic lugs at the top of the panel I
can't see
> what is supposed to hold it in place. The lugs are not gripping in the
slots in
> the dashboard immediately above the panel because they are a very loose
fit.
>
> Am I missing the obvious? Is there supposed to be a screw fixing
somewhere? Or
> have the plastic lugs simply worn, meaning that I will have to change the
panel
> completely?

sticky velcro pads are what you need..