3.2 V6 Blown Diffs

Originally Posted by Frazpas

A possible lead; i asked my garage about this issue and they think there may be a recall on some cars due to a leaking seal on the diff; this allows the oil to get too low, so of course can lead to the failure. They are looking up the records to see what they can tell me. In the meantime it seems sensible to check the level of the gear oil and top up if necessary, and as it is never due to be changed in services, perhaps replace it with fresh oil.

I'd be interested to hear if you hear more, I picked up my GT yesterday, now the new diff has been put it. Not a Q2 though, just a standard one now. But every 6 months I will be dropping the car in for a gearbox oil check now

Next service is only in 2 months, so will be interesting to see what the level is then!

Alfa UK stumped up 80% of the cost, but I am still fighting to get 100% reimbursed!

I'm not sure how accessible the gearbox dipstick is, but it should be easily enough to check yourself.

You need the car on a ramp, or otherwise raised to get access to it..

Originally Posted by David C

I'm not sure how accessible the gearbox dipstick is, but it should be easily enough to check yourself.

ok, so not that easy.
Is there no way of reaching it from above?

Originally Posted by Trailbraker

All this business about the rev limiter and the diff is a complete load of nonsense and is just being used disingenously by Alfa as an underhanded "scare and confuse" tactic..

..............................

Potentially they might argue that the action of the limiter itself is so harsh that it might cause stress on the diff, I firstly don't think that is the case that it is that harsh but secondly the diff failures that people are reporting are not in general based on that style of driving.
Also if they didn't design the diff to be strong enough to stand hitting the limiter a few times then thats also indefensible.

Are these guys for real with that attitude!

You are absolutely right TB, it a red herring thrown out by Alfa. But I believe their insinuation is that if you're hitting the rev limiter you must be driving like a lunatic which is abusing the car and therefore not covered by warranty. This notion has successfully been challenged in Australian courts, because Alfa have marketed these cars as hardcore high performance sports cars.

Hello, I just install in my 147GTA the Q2 diff. and I'm worried about oilgear.
When drain the gearbox the oil was red, and in my Alfa local dealer says that it's right, because in their working manual the correct oilgear is Dexron III... but the GTA user manual recommend Tutela Matryx 75w90 (yellow?).
Technical specifications are very differents and I suspect if it's the cause of blown differentials. What do you think about this?

At now I have the Dexron III but this week I will change it with Motul Gear 300 75W90
Is it a good lubricant for GTA gearbox?

hey guys, quick update from me, great news today.

Ateco have decided to honour my warranty so i do'nt have to pay for anything, and they are doing the labour on a clutch replacement for free (the clutch was getting a bit worn so i told them to do it while it was all in pieces).

very happy and watn to thank you all for your help.
steve

Congratulation Steve. You might wanna request for Q2 diff replacement rather than standard?

FWIW My 156 GTA manual manual says the mechanical gearbox and differential needs :

SAE 75W-80 EP synthetic oil that
Meets API GL 5 and MIL-L-2105 D LEV specifications

Recommended : Tutela Car ZC 75 Synth

I'm almost certain this is red.

Maybe the lubricant spec for the 147 GTA is very slightly different.

Cheers,
TB

Originally Posted by otto

Hello, I just install in my 147GTA the Q2 diff. and I'm worried about oilgear.
When drain the gearbox the oil was red, and in my Alfa local dealer says that it's right, because in their working manual the correct oilgear is Dexron III... but the GTA user manual recommend Tutela Matryx 75w90 (yellow?).
Technical specifications are very differents and I suspect if it's the cause of blown differentials. What do you think about this?

At now I have the Dexron III but this week I will change it with Motul Gear 300 75W90
Is it a good lubricant for GTA gearbox?

Oh yeah even if you have to pay for the part - its sooo cheap!

The best few smackers you will spend on your car without a doubt.

Cheers,
TB

Originally Posted by ABYSS

Congratulation Steve. You might wanna request for Q2 diff replacement rather than standard?

I just had my Q2 done today. They use the Tutela Matryx oil. I haven't really explored the Q2 yet but did few 1st and 2nd gear cornering in busy road. The traction was great no wheel spin.

Here is offical guide
http://www.flitalia.it/en/fl/content/view/158/257/

Originally Posted by David C

I'm not sure how accessible the gearbox dipstick is, but it should be easily enough to check yourself.

Hello, I'm reading old post....dipstick is under brake liquid tank...hard to see but accesible from above, it's more difficult to see than reach it.

Same pics

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3853/dsc00112dl1.jpg

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4...c001112yr6.jpg

Thanks! I couldn't spot it before

Originally Posted by otto

Hello, I'm reading old post....dipstick is under brake liquid tank...hard to see but accesible from above, it's more difficult to see than reach it.

Same pics

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3853/dsc00112dl1.jpg

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4...c001112yr6.jpg

Its easier to take the battery tray out - Takes about 10mins max and saves a lottof fafing if it needs a top up, plus you can check on the clutch slave cylinder too.

Ta for the tip

Originally Posted by DrLupo

OK I am only offering a suggestion here, sounds far fetched but just consider this;

1. In Australia are the bitumen roads using the same gravel roughness? Is the coefficient of friction the same as UK & rest of Europe? Image using grippier tyres and the added strain that puts on drivetrain.

Guys, this post was on the first page of this massive thread but, I wonder if DrLupo might be onto something here? I don't know about Australia but in New Zealand, the bitumen is a lot coarser than a lot of other countries, which means that you get a lot more tyre noise coming into the cabin and you can feel the extra vibration through the steering etc. I wouldn't be surprised if many thousands of miles of said vibration takes it's toll on the drivetrain, accelerating metal fatigue. But like I say, I don't know if Oz bitumin is as budget/coarse as Kiwi bitumen, so it may not be relevant.

Not a 3.2, but the diff on my 2.5 has failed this week. I too was doing about 20mph in a straight line, car has done 75,000 miles. From the pictures I've been sent there's a hole in the casing and the internals appear to have disintegrated. There were no warning symptoms at all before it happened, just a clunk and then a knocking under lock.

Originally Posted by Nicky

Not a 3.2, but the diff on my 2.5 has failed this week. I too was doing about 20mph in a straight line, car has done 75,000 miles. From the pictures I've been sent there's a hole in the casing and the internals appear to have disintegrated. There were no warning symptoms at all before it happened, just a clunk and then a knocking under lock.

Is that definitely what it was then? So is your gearbox scrap?

Originally Posted by Pud237

Is that definitely what it was then? So is your gearbox scrap?

Waiting for a call back regarding taking it down, opening it, and cleaning the crap out of it.

Bad news mate

I wonder if Ned has a spare 2.5 box kicking about, just incase you need it..

Apparently a recon box would be £1000.....