manifold noises

Banflu · 27-03-2003

there, i knew i'd attract your attention jomor wink wink

onto the point.. today i spent nearly a whole day playin around with the alfa,.. and i removed the manifold cover which i was blaming for the noises. well guess what, the noises not only stayed there, but could be heard even louder

which means that i probably have the same problem as jomor. but our cover has met with the ground a couple of times before so that may be the reason. in fact i had to replace the cover a while ago.

is it possible that the noise is coming from the cat, maybe it's broken or something..
if not it must be the manifold. is this expensive? or could it be the gasket?
i tried tightening the bolts but they were all ok apart from two of them. i tightened them but it stayed the same...

forza, alfa romeo frown

jomor · 27-03-2003

i freaked out when i saw the title, then i saw it was you

look underneath, if there is no mark visible from the hitting you had, dont mention it to the dealer.

its their first thing that they will say to you. its an excuse not to replace it under warranty.

the second thing they ll try, is to change the gasket. Pray to God that you just need a gasket. The replacement procedure is specific, its doesnt need a university degree, but the mechanic must know what to do (mine didnt

). He must clear all the surfaces VERY well, put a new gasket and tighten the bolts WITH A SPECIFIC ORDER, starting from the middle ones and each time tight the "opposite", in other words a symmetric tightening. For details ask the master (Hoygaard).

the third thing they ll try, is to change the gasket once more. Dont laugh, in my case they wanted to replace it again, to test a new procedure, which included tons of glue...

the fourth thing they ll to is answer the phone. it will be Malta's AR general director, asking what the feck is going on with Pat's 147 (like in my case)

the fifth thing they ll do is to let you know that you will have a new manifold on warranty. (that was the last news i gave you about my case)

the sixth thing (that just happened this afternoon) is to inform you that you dont really need a new manifold, because your old one just needs to be put back with a proper way

i hope you solve your problem soon Patrick, all i know is that tomorrow i ll be talking to AR directors once more..

Good luck.

one more thing: dont let the time pass, i read somewhere that a cracked manifold can give you burned valves frown

jomor · 27-03-2003

and you know what? i m afraid some arsehole who was bringing our cars to the dealer's parking space, turned on the engine, shifted the first gear, stepped the throttle to the floor and vroooom....... a cold car at the red revs..

Banflu · 27-03-2003

jomor, i'm sure lots of people did that to our 147 before it was actually ours. it was used in a trade fair and in a launch, and also in the showroom. so i suspect there was some major abuse on it. however it doesnt consume any oil so i'm not worrying at all.

actually the warranty period is over. and even if it wasnt, i wouldnt take it to them.

i think what i will do if it irritates me any futrther (and if my dad is willing to) is to buy a new manifold gasket and replace it myself. and even use instant gasket on it if it helps. i dont know if the heat will affect it so i'll check.
do you think it's a good idea? or will it stay the same as the manifold is cracked? or could it be the cat?

i think i'll just let it be...
or could it do damage to the valves?

frown

jomor · 27-03-2003

Pat, if you are out of warranty, go to an exhaust specialist, he ll find out the leak in seconds.. if its just the gasket, its an easy job for him and probably a cheap one i think. besides, if you fail, you will go to him anywhay

Banflu · 27-03-2003

i could do that however that wouldnt make sense would it?
"hey maksar, i have this noise from the manifold"
"ok, lemme hear it"
"err, it only does it on cold startup"
"

"

wink thats why i wanted to do it myself.. cause i cant take it to anyone to let him hear it.

and there's nothing wrong in DIY, dont you think? wink
at least there's no bureaucracy like you're getting..

G-147 · 27-03-2003

i've got the same foooookin noises.!!!!!

I've already had my manifold heatshield replaced!!!!! grrrr!

But what to do but laugh about it!

laughing

Banflu · 27-03-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by G-147:
i've got the same foooookin noises.!!!!!

I've already had my manifold heatshield replaced!!!!! grrrr!

But what to do but laugh about it!

laughing <hr /></blockquote>hehe G, me too i had replaced it

and like you, i do take advantage of this. i tend to position the throttle in exactly the right place for it to make that loud 'creaking' noise whenever i'm in a narrow street with some people... they expect an old battered-up car and what do they see, a nice shiny 147

wink

jomor · 27-03-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Banflu:
i could do that however that wouldnt make sense would it?
"hey maksar, i have this noise from the manifold"
"ok, lemme hear it"
"err, it only does it on cold startup"
"

"

wink thats why i wanted to do it myself.. cause i cant take it to anyone to let him hear it.

and there's nothing wrong in DIY, dont you think? wink
at least there's no bureaucracy like you're getting..<hr /></blockquote>Pat, i meant that he will tell you if its the manifold cracked, or u just need a gasket. huge differene dont you think ?

Besides, i do it my self too (fixing the car that is

) and i know you are good at it too. But like i said, changing the gasket is not difficult, but it has a specific procedure. ask about it and do it. But hey, dont be jealus, you can let another man touch your bella once in a while

he just wants to "fix" her wink

Banflu · 27-03-2003

no no, NO ONE touches the bella! wink

and about the procedure, come on, there only like, 8 or 10 bolts. i've seen a fitter a couple of times putting a cylinder head in place (with about 26 bolts)

, i know that you should always start from the middle, and go out either way. and at first tight them with a small torque, then re tighten them, the finally do the last 'tightening' procedure. but if i were about to do this i am sure i will find the important stuff on the workshop cd. wink

btw, are you serious that this could damage the valves?

cause if so i'd better buy this gasket next time i'm at the dealer (for oil filters or something)

Banflu · 27-03-2003

oh btw, yes of course there is a huge difference between a cracked manifold and a bad gasket. but, will he know this just by guesing? or will he need to hear the actual noise/rattle?

jomor · 28-03-2003

he will want to hear it i suppose, which means you will have to get the car there cold

he can check visually the manifold for cracks also, but.. if i knew what he ll do, i would fix mine too

G-147 · 28-03-2003

...and thats another problem.... getting the noise to happen when your with an engineer!!

Banflu · 28-03-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by G-147:
...and thats another problem.... getting the noise to happen when your with an engineer!!

<hr /></blockquote>actually, jomor's car does it everyday in front of an engineer wink wink

jomor · 28-03-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Banflu:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by G-147:
...and thats another problem.... getting the noise to happen when your with an engineer!!

<hr /></blockquote>actually, jomor's car does it everyday in front of an engineer wink wink <hr /></blockquote>yeap, but the engineer needs a phone call from the general director to do his job wink

14-05-2003

Don't know if you have sorted the rattle yet. I have had 2 replacement heat shields in under 18 months and still have the noise. Hopefully rectified by dealer this week. Decided to investigate myself and have found a cracked manifold bracket that rattles between 2000 & 2500 rpm after a few minutes running. It's a hair line crack and looks like a pencil line. Bracket is between engine block and manifold. Good luck.

jomor · 14-05-2003

My problem is sorted, but I was never informed by the dealer what was really wrong. After 5 visits and some calls to the chief director of AR, the problem was solved, but the reply of the dealers chief engineer was "I cant tell you!"

Either they planed the manifold's surface (at where the gasket fits) or they fitted a used manifold, taken by their own show room cars. Not even to think about warranty replacement. Which verifies the unofficial order to cut warranty expenses. Another member PMed me about the same problem, it seems its getting a common one..

@Patrick: Did you fix yours?

Banflu · 14-05-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by jomor:
@Patrick: Did you fix yours?<hr /></blockquote>nope.. havent heard it for a while, mainly because i rarely drive her recently

and when i do... i dont let it go under 3,000 rpm... i'm like a bird finally released out of its cage then wink