My first real Alfa 147 problem

Gysman · 22-04-2003

ok, here it is...

The other week, I was cruising around, when very softly, i started to hear a small rattle. Turned off the music to hear it better, but after a kilometer or so, that was not neccesary, because the rattle was now really bad. I stopped the car, and also when standing still, with the engine running in neutral, still the rattle. (Try and think of your early years when you had a piece of carton stuck in your bicycle wheel to make a motor-sound) It sounded quite dangerous, also because the sound was coming from the right front, where you have all the belts spinning around... I stopped the engine, called my garage, explained, and they advised me not to drive, but to call Alfa Contact. So I did. ConNAV+ turned out to be helpful with determining where i was exactly

50 minutes later a mechanic came (ANWB) and I explained the sound. He said: "well, lets hear it then". So i started the car, and what do you know..... smooth like silk, no more rattle. Grrr... Well, the guy checked for loose parts, but saw nothing and advised me to drive on. So I did. 30 km ahead, the sound came back!! Now i was very close to an Alfa dealer, so I had them check it out. The guy said it sounded like a motor brace (motor steun) metal-to-metal resonance. Nothing to worry about, although it sounds quite bad.

Ok, so i went to my own garage the next day. But no rattle the next day! So i found a bumpy road close to the dealer, drove over it, and yes, the sound came back. Good, so i left my car at the dealer, and told him to drive over the bumpy road to hear the sound. 15 minutes later the mechanic came back saying that he heared nothing!!! So i drove with him, and indeed nothing!! GGGGrrrrrrrr...

Fixing something when you dont know what's wrong is hard, so we made an appointment for a few days later, to check it out again. But the whole week, I heared nothing no more! So I called the dealer and we decided to cancel the appointment.

However, this morning the sound came back. I hope that it will remain audible, so that the dealer can check it out, before I go and drive 700 km's this weekend! Anyways, we will see.

Ciao,
Gysman

jomor · 22-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Gysman:
50 minutes later a mechanic came (ANWB) and I explained the sound. He said: "well, lets hear it then". So i started the car, and what do you know..... smooth like silk, no more rattle. Grrr... Well, the guy checked for loose parts, but saw nothing and advised me to drive on. So I did. 30 km ahead, the sound came back!! Now i was very close to an Alfa dealer, so I had them check it out. The guy said it sounded like a motor brace (motor steun) metal-to-metal resonance. Nothing to worry about, although it sounds quite bad.

Ok, so i went to my own garage the next day. But no rattle the next day! So i found a bumpy road close to the dealer, drove over it, and yes, the sound came back. Good, so i left my car at the dealer, and told him to drive over the bumpy road to hear the sound. 15 minutes later the mechanic came back saying that he heared nothing!!! So i drove with him, and indeed nothing!! GGGGrrrrrrrr...
<hr /></blockquote>Typical case

I m starting to believe that its not the Murphy's Law, its typical AR dealer behaviour. They drive the car for a while and if they hear nothing, they dont believe you and they tell you that its just your sick imagination or "its nothing to worry about"

Next time you hear that noise, stop immediately and open the bonnet, try to find out where it comes from by yourself, and if possible, record the rattle in a sound recording device or even at your mobile phone if it supports voice recording, who knows, maybe it will help.

Just yesterday i was at the dealer complaining about a rear noise (perhaps the bushes) and i was hearing the noise while the mechanic didnt (or pretending he did not)

Good luck

Wimster · 22-04-2003

Gijs,
can't you call them the minute you've got the noise and let them hear it by use of your cell phone or something? or use the "voice memo" feature on your Connect+ wink

montreal · 22-04-2003

Hi Gysman

Have you tried finding anything loose under the bonnet like engine covers and stuff...
I asked you this, because my dad's Megane Break DCI has a very loud rattle (even louder than the engine eek! ) that comes from the plastic engine cover... it rattles like hell, but if you hold it down firmly it stops, and my ears and neigbours thank me...

The diesel engine have quite alot of vibrations, so things might start to become loose...
Anyway don't give the dealers any oportunity to flee away from their obligations... stay on top of them!

All the best

Sérgio

selespeed · 22-04-2003

Hi Gys,

Here is another idea: take a video camera with you for a couple of days and when the rattling is there again take your camera and film under the bonnet. At least you will capture the sound that way.

Hans

Ivo · 22-04-2003

Sounds like the heatshield on the manifold, Jomor didn't you had this as well??

Ivo · 22-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Ivo:
Sounds like the heatshield on the manifold, Jomor didn't you had this as well??<hr /></blockquote>Hmm, I guess it's temperature dependant? I say heatshield again !

selespeed · 22-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Ivo:
Sounds like the heatshield on the manifold, Jomor didn't you had this as well??<hr /></blockquote>Sharp one! Even in the long term test of the 147 from the car magazine Autobild they mentioned that a broken heatsheald could be heard in the interior.

Ivo · 22-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by selespeed:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Ivo:
Sounds like the heatshield on the manifold, Jomor didn't you had this as well??<hr /></blockquote>Sharp one! Even in the long term test of the 147 from the car magazine Autobild they mentioned that a broken heatsheald could be heard in the interior.<hr /></blockquote>I back .... and better the ever wink

laughing

Gysman · 22-04-2003

Mind you, dealer was very helpful. Just they agreed with me that it would be very hard to look for something that they can't hear. It was my idea not to let them keep the car just to blindly try and find it. They offered to do so anyways (even saying that this is all within waranty).
After all bad stories about dealers I think that it should be mentioned as well when a dealer stands out, and I'm very happy with SvL in Utrecht.

They also offered to take the car as soon as the rattle comes back, of course with courtesy car. I'll see what happens tomorrow, and if he sound remains (like tonight) i'll take it in on thursday. Heatshield might be a good one, had that with my 145 (years ago...) as well.

Keep you posted.

selespeed · 22-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Gysman:
After all bad stories about dealers I think that it should be mentioned as well when a dealer stands out, and I'm very happy with SvL in Utrecht.<hr /></blockquote>So am I

Gysman · 22-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Ivo:
I back .... and better the ever wink

laughing <hr /></blockquote>now work on that English

just kidding

selespeed · 22-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Gysman:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Ivo:
I back .... and better the ever wink

laughing <hr /></blockquote>now work on that English

just kidding

<hr /></blockquote>I guess he is practicing for next Saturday laughing

Ivo · 22-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by selespeed:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Gysman:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Ivo:
I back .... and better the ever wink

laughing <hr /></blockquote>now work on that English

just kidding

<hr /></blockquote>I guess he is practicing for next Saturday laughing <hr /></blockquote>Damn, jou got my ydea wink

jomor · 23-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Ivo:
Sounds like the heatshield on the manifold, Jomor didn't you had this as well??<hr /></blockquote>Yes i did, to tell you the truth i had the same thought, mine was visible though, it was teared apart. But in Gysman's case it could be unscrewed or bended, which is not that visible.

Ivo · 23-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by jomor:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Ivo:
Sounds like the heatshield on the manifold, Jomor didn't you had this as well??<hr /></blockquote>Yes i did, to tell you the truth i had the same thought, mine was visible though, it was teared apart. But it could be unscrewed or bended, which is not that visible.<hr /></blockquote>OK, so we go for an partly unscrewed heatshield then .... Gysman???

Reuven · 23-04-2003

The worst problem that I had with my bella was at 17,557Km ! I even remember it ! I had a major Oil leak! My dealer had to replace all the seals at the rear of the engine bay! Otherwise a few selespeed problems here and there!