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'uneven' acceleration



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 8th 04, 10:51 PM
NC
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Default 'uneven' acceleration

All,
I am fairly new to the Alfa world - bought my first used 156 1.8 petrol
(t reg - 1999) about 3 weeks ago.
A strange thing I have noticed however, is the uneven acceleration I get
in 2nd. If I move off, up into 2nd and then floor it (or even just get a
little enthusiastic with the throttle), the car picks up slowly until it
hits about 3000 rpm and then takes off ! Is this slight delay in power
normal, or should I be looking for a problem that would cause it ??
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  #2  
Old July 9th 04, 09:07 AM
Miguel Bento
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NC wrote:
>
> All,
> I am fairly new to the Alfa world - bought my first used 156 1.8 petrol
> (t reg - 1999) about 3 weeks ago.
> A strange thing I have noticed however, is the uneven acceleration I get
> in 2nd. If I move off, up into 2nd and then floor it (or even just get a
> little enthusiastic with the throttle), the car picks up slowly until it
> hits about 3000 rpm and then takes off ! Is this slight delay in power
> normal, or should I be looking for a problem that would cause it ??


Hi NC,

Welcome to the Alfa World!
Yes, I've owned a 156 1.8 TS and the behaviour you describe is normal.
There is somewhat a lack of power below 3000 rpm but then it takes off,
up until 7000 rpm!

It was a great car, much fun to drive!

Miguel
  #3  
Old July 9th 04, 12:56 PM
NC
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Miguel Bento wrote:
> NC wrote:
>
>>All,
>>I am fairly new to the Alfa world - bought my first used 156 1.8 petrol
>>(t reg - 1999) about 3 weeks ago.
>>A strange thing I have noticed however, is the uneven acceleration I get
>>in 2nd. If I move off, up into 2nd and then floor it (or even just get a
>>little enthusiastic with the throttle), the car picks up slowly until it
>>hits about 3000 rpm and then takes off ! Is this slight delay in power
>>normal, or should I be looking for a problem that would cause it ??

>
>
> Hi NC,
>
> Welcome to the Alfa World!
> Yes, I've owned a 156 1.8 TS and the behaviour you describe is normal.
> There is somewhat a lack of power below 3000 rpm but then it takes off,
> up until 7000 rpm!
>
> It was a great car, much fun to drive!
>
> Miguel


Thanks for the information. I am relieved to hear this is normal. I
suppose its good to be a little less 'agressive' in the lower rpm range
or I would take off everytime I pulled away !
IU have been amazed with the power range, even in 2nd it flies right up
to the red line, and sounds amazing !!

Thanks again,
Neil.
  #4  
Old July 10th 04, 05:42 PM
Ypnos
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Default

Hi NC

Yep, it's totally normal. I understand the 156 TS is restricted and you can
get the full power out of it only if you get it 'chipped'. I have the same
car, but I'm not particularly bothered about it. Welcome to the world of
Alfas, where the cars are cheap but you gotta mortgage your house for parts
lol


  #5  
Old July 10th 04, 07:33 PM
Alfistagj
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Default

"NC" > schreef in bericht
...
> All,
> I am fairly new to the Alfa world - bought my first used 156 1.8 petrol
> (t reg - 1999) about 3 weeks ago.
> A strange thing I have noticed however, is the uneven acceleration I get
> in 2nd. If I move off, up into 2nd and then floor it (or even just get a
> little enthusiastic with the throttle), the car picks up slowly until it
> hits about 3000 rpm and then takes off ! Is this slight delay in power
> normal, or should I be looking for a problem that would cause it ??


Moving up from 1st into 2nd and having the enigine fall beck under 3000rpm
mean that you change gear too quickly.
Try shifting gears at 4500/5000rpm, then you fall back in rev's above
3000rpm
Most Alfa engines are a bit "lazy" under 3000-35000 rpm or better, the
(extra)power comes at 3500rpm and over letting you believe it's lazy under
that rpm's.
When you measure acceleration over the rev band, you will see that that's
hardly the case.

By specialist chip tuning (not the job done by people advertizing themselves
as "tuners" and trying to let you believe they can do miracles for 300-400
euro's!!!) they can change the power band / torque range quite radically and
change a 4 cil TS engine into a 1.9JTD / V6 "look-a-like" in respect to
power in the mid rev range.
The feeling of lack of power under 3000rpm can be taken away completely
giving you a very smooth feeling of having ample power available all over
the rev band.
I have my 2000 156 SW 1.8 tuned this way; it has become an absolute "killer"
on available / useable torque. I certainly beat "standard" 2.5V6's (not on
top speed) and the older 1.9JTD's
The newest 1.9JTD is another story let alone the 2.4JTD and the GTA; that's
are other leagues!!

This is quite different from more top power (HP's) which can only be
increased very lightly on a non-turbo engine (10-15HP is the absolute max
when "only" doing a chip tuning job; don't belive the "miralce stories"!!!)
--
Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000)
Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)



  #6  
Old July 13th 04, 09:35 AM
Simon
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Posts: n/a
Default

"Alfistagj" > wrote in message news:<jEWHc.1631$vH5.767@amstwist00>...
> "NC" > schreef in bericht
> ...
> > All,
> > I am fairly new to the Alfa world - bought my first used 156 1.8 petrol
> > (t reg - 1999) about 3 weeks ago.
> > A strange thing I have noticed however, is the uneven acceleration I get
> > in 2nd. If I move off, up into 2nd and then floor it (or even just get a
> > little enthusiastic with the throttle), the car picks up slowly until it
> > hits about 3000 rpm and then takes off ! Is this slight delay in power
> > normal, or should I be looking for a problem that would cause it ??

>
> Moving up from 1st into 2nd and having the enigine fall beck under 3000rpm
> mean that you change gear too quickly.
> Try shifting gears at 4500/5000rpm, then you fall back in rev's above
> 3000rpm
> Most Alfa engines are a bit "lazy" under 3000-35000 rpm or better, the
> (extra)power comes at 3500rpm and over letting you believe it's lazy under
> that rpm's.
> When you measure acceleration over the rev band, you will see that that's
> hardly the case.
>
> By specialist chip tuning (not the job done by people advertizing themselves
> as "tuners" and trying to let you believe they can do miracles for 300-400
> euro's!!!) they can change the power band / torque range quite radically and
> change a 4 cil TS engine into a 1.9JTD / V6 "look-a-like" in respect to
> power in the mid rev range.
> The feeling of lack of power under 3000rpm can be taken away completely
> giving you a very smooth feeling of having ample power available all over
> the rev band.
> I have my 2000 156 SW 1.8 tuned this way; it has become an absolute "killer"
> on available / useable torque. I certainly beat "standard" 2.5V6's (not on
> top speed) and the older 1.9JTD's
> The newest 1.9JTD is another story let alone the 2.4JTD and the GTA; that's
> are other leagues!!
>
> This is quite different from more top power (HP's) which can only be
> increased very lightly on a non-turbo engine (10-15HP is the absolute max
> when "only" doing a chip tuning job; don't belive the "miralce stories"!!!)


an absolute "killer"

Let's not get too carried away here!

1.8 engine has 120lb/ft @ 6500 and 140hp @ 3900. The SW being 1315kg

2.5 engine has 163lb/ft @ 5000 and 190hp @ 6300. The V6 being 1320kg

A chip would need to raise torque on a 1.8 by 30% at least to get
anywhere close to a 2.5, but still wouldn't have the HP to move it
fast enough. Maybe in a turbo car but no chance in N/A.

I think you've been racing old men or broken 2.5s ;-)

Simon
2.5 V6 - a proper one.
 




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