147 cambelt mileage change notification

My 147 has just chewed the cambelt teeth on the lower pulley and consequently modified the head valves, apparently this is quite common at around 40-60k miles, hence Alfa changed the service interval for the belt from 72k to 36k. Does anyone know when this was "officially" released as I was not notified at the 48k and it went just before the 60k and has any owner been notified by Alfa of the requirement to have it changed? thanks in advance.

13/11/06 according to Alfaworkshop's Alfa Romeo Servicing page.

Also have a look at the sticky thing that the dealer was supposed to stick in your service book (no date though):

Thanks, the Alfaworkshop's and the sticky thing's AR TBN1106 both confirm a date of 11/06. My service record book has no sticky thing, no mention in the product campaign section or any dealer notifications - it does have a "what to do if you have a complaint" section so I feel a call coming on.

You need to call ARUK.

What year is your 147? What was the last date it was serviced and where?

admit it, you knew it was 36k

my 147 jtd has just had its 48k service and I got the garage to phone up the alfa dealer in exeter to find out when they recommend changing the belt and the alfa garage said it is checked at 36k and changed at 72k, which obviously goes against what you guys are saying.

What is the point of checking it at 36k? Surely you might as well be changing it?

I've got to take it to the alfa dealer next week to get the cruise control fixed under warranty anyway so I will ask them while I'm down there.

my t-belt snapped at 38000 miles... i was gutted.
I didn't know it was supposed to be done at the 36k service, and I know that most cambelts are 60k so I didn't think twice about it.
I only found out after it had snapped that it was 36k.

just bought my first alfa

read about the cam belts before I bought it

it had 26000 miles on it and 5 years old, insisted on getting the belt changed before I bought it

after reading on this website I'll be getting the next belt done well before its due

Originally Posted by popelli

after reading on this website I'll be getting the next belt done well before its due

good decision. After my experience with it breaking and needing a full top end rebuild, I will be doing the same.

that's the naughty thing on alfa's part is that they say only check it at 36k not replace it! They should say replace it as then it will stop a lot of people getting p****d off. As I say I will find out from the horses mouth next week as they say and let you all know

Alfa Romeo UK changed the service schedule for Twin Spark cambelt in 2004 (I think ?). It might be worth getting hold of AR Customer services on 00800 2532 0000. They may give you some help with the cost of the repair.

AA

Can an everyday mechanic do a cambelt on an Alfa, I have been talking to a local mechanic who reckons he can do it using tipex As to the traditional method of pegging it. This is all Chinese to me...? Can some one in the know tell me if he is feeding me or can this be done.

I have just bought this 147 and always thought i had my head on a my shoulders when refering to service records etc, fell in love with the alfa straight away. I now realise i'm just a cucumber like everyone else, the car is due for both a Service and the Cambelt change

Does any out there trust their local mechanic with their pride and joy, also what is a good ( realistic ) price to pay for both

Originally Posted by bigjules

that's the naughty thing on alfa's part is that they say only check it at 36k not replace it! They should say replace it as then it will stop a lot of people getting p****d off. As I say I will find out from the horses mouth next week as they say and let you all know

Your getting confused. On your JTD it is still 72k although most people would say thats too long. It's a 36k change for the twinspark.

My 147 was at 17000miles when I bought it, but I insisted they do the cam belt as it was reaching 3 years of age

Originally Posted by popelli

after reading on this website I'll be getting the next belt done well before its due

Thats what I ended up doing. After being on here I decided to get the cambelt done well early so a few weeks ago got it done at 66k miles. Piece of mind and hell it's better to pay €300 odd now than €1600 if it snaps!

Originally Posted by Al Falfa

Can an everyday mechanic do a cambelt on an Alfa, I have been talking to a local mechanic who reckons he can do it using tipex As to the traditional method of pegging it. This is all Chinese to me...? Can some one in the know tell me if he is feeding me or can this be done.

I did mine, as others have. I've had no mechanical training at all - just run (and serviced bangers all my car-owning life (ahem - until now, that is )

I can only speak for the twin-spark engine, but I found it pretty easy (I followed a guide I found on the web, and got great advice from people on this forum).

If your mechanic reckons he can do it with tippex, I'd steer well clear of him. The only way to do it properly and accurately is with cam locks and a dti gauge. Yes, it can be done without the proper tools, but the timing will be out.

As for pegging...I can only assume he's referring to using clothes pegs to hold the belt while it's being put on....

Cheers,

Iain

CHEERS SIR, IF I GET MY TRAINERS ON NOW I MAY BE ABLE TO OUT RUN THE COWBOY, complete with 10 gallon hat and stetson

that's fair enough then I guess. cheers for that

do NOT let him do it with tipex - chances are when the best it tensioned it will jump and the timing will be out.

Dear All the problem I have been able to deduce from an ex Alfa tech employee is that the affected TS engine's lower pulley is a small diameter and with the load of the head cams it is prone to strip the teeth on the belt and not physically snap (however same result occurs). Alfa cannot rectify this on the engine hence their decision for replacement to occur at 36k intervals due to high number of failures and as most start to fail from around 40k (mine went at 46k). The points I am challenging Alfa is I purchased the car with stated service intervals and costs but find I am having to pay for an extra cam belt change. This is almost a warranty issue as its the engine design that's at fault. Plus they did not send anything from head office, the dealership with regards to this which is to my mind almost a recall notice.
If anyone does have a failure and the head is replaced or rebuilt it is strongly recommended that they also replace the crank shells as these can also be damaged and can fail shortly after the head change. This will result in another large bill which would have been cheaper if done with the head. I believe the JTD is a different design so not the same problem, the 36k check being visual on the belt, water pump and tensioner.