Some 166 queries!

Okay I am new to the 166 but at 48k I am wondering about a few things. As a newbie I hope you don't mind all my queries!

There is apparently a new clutch in but changing gears seems a bit clunky not smooth, is this the character of the car or potential gearbox issues?

The little cover on the power socket at the rear seats doesn't click closed is this a readily available part to replace?

It's a beautiful V6 noise but maybe too loud. Apparently the back box was recently replaced, and it has the two pipes. Just wondering if all 3ltrs are loud ? (sounds a little like one of those boy racers with the modified exhausts)

Wheres a good place to get new mats for the 166?

It has no SatNav, any Irish owners out there using it and is it worthwhile getting retrofitted (presume possible)?

The heated seat on the passenger side flickers and doesn't seem to be working- an easy fix?

Thanks in advance!

You colud try ebay for the mats and the satnav unit, i have the 2.5 but its not that loud from the back but i do have twin pipes as standard. sounds like you have a performance back box fitted. I used to have a stainless steel remus back box but it scared the neighbours kids to death! As for the other questions im not too sure, sorry although the clutch pedal on the 166 v6s seem to be stiff as standard. Hope you enjoy your machine, im sadly selling mine.

Originally Posted by gra166 lusso

You colud try ebay for the mats and the satnav unit

Agreed - pay around £40 tops for the mats, check through the other threads for details of the Satnav.

Originally Posted by gra166 lusso

I used to have a stainless steel remus back box but it scared the neighbours kids to death!

I want one.

Seriously (do you still have it sitting on a shelf in the garage looking for a good home maybe )

No i sold it to my friend who has a 156, he had to chop all sorts of bits off it to get it to fit.

I have a Remus stainless steel back box which for the money is a fantastic piece of kit. It is no noisier than the original back box it replaced, if anything the sound is more mellow but a deeper rumble. It looks quite understated too , but much smarter than the original cheap tin junk.
Any loud noise is more likely the centre box silencer or mid catalyst has gone. Whole point of a V6 is smoothness, most of the time. Open engine up and it bellows, but never in a raucous or "loud" way

the cover on my rear power socket doesnt close either so its held closed with a tiny bit of blue tac that you cant see, easy and cheap fix the exhaust should be louder than say a 4cylinder 1.4 but quieter than a chavvy saxo with the channel tunnel strapped to the back

Originally Posted by CrispDust

Any loud noise is more likely the centre box silencer or mid catalyst has gone. Whole point of a V6 is smoothness, most of the time. Open engine up and it bellows, but never in a raucous or "loud" way

Thanks for that, this one does sound "Chavish", I'll have it checked out.

Originally Posted by jabberwocky

the cover on my rear power socket doesnt close either so its held closed with a tiny bit of blue tac that you cant see, easy and cheap fix the exhaust should be louder than say a 4cylinder 1.4 but quieter than a chavvy saxo with the channel tunnel strapped to the back

Good tip- I'll try that!
As for the sound, they can hear me coming from the next road

Originally Posted by gra166 lusso

No i sold it to my friend who has a 156, he had to chop all sorts of bits off it to get it to fit.

heresy

I had seen the remus pipes & thought they looked good, now I know they sound good as well, I will be on the lookout.

The exhaust on mine is either original (70k/5yrs) or was fitted at less than 3yrs/40k - so the OE is either very good or pretty bad Looks & sounds fairly sound at the moment, so hopefully will be a while before I need to worry.

Hi Redalf,

I find the 6 speed gearbox a little stiff initially, but just until it has warmed up. Then, it's nice and smooth.

I don't think the 3 litre is especially loud, but mine has a Powerflow stainless steel exhuast fitted, so I can only speak from experience of this, rather than the original item.

Sat Nav can be retrofitted, but only economically if you have the wiring in place, apparently. As mentioned in one of the other posts above, there are threads elsewhere which cover this topic.

Hi All!

Well a friend found a "leak" from the exhaust which I got fixed so it's much better. But still a little to raucous for my taste. Picture attached, anyone recognise it? - I presume it's not the normal one?

Also I have attached two pics from the boot to see if it looks like I have the links for adding in the Sat Nav. It looks unlikely to me....

Hi redalf.

That exhaust isn't the standard one I'm afraid.

And the pic of your connectors doesn't look as though you have the sat nav ones...
I've attached a pic of the 2 cables you would see if you had a satnav ready car.

cheers,

Tris

Thanks TopCat, don't fancy a whole rewiring job for the Sat Nav.
Have the 166 going in for the belt and full service next Tuesday so will chat to him and see how costly it would be.

I think I'll get an MP3 of the exhaust sound and see what you lot think about the noise. I reckon I'll be swaping it out.

BTW lovely pics TopCat

There is a chap on here at the moment who is putting the wiring in place for retrofitting the satnav. His screenname is Zahid.
See his posts here: http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=45175 (ICS Connectors)

He may be able to give some advice on how big a job it might be.

I think we'd all like to have a listen of that exhaust mate! It will be interesting to compare with the standard exhaust noise......(next to almost silent )

The pics were taken for me by the dealer I bought the car from, before I actually bought the car. Since those pics the only change I've made is the addition of a Zender spoiler on the boot.
Pics on this thread: http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=39423 (Zender spoiler now fitted ! YAY !)

Cheers

Tris

I have the MP3's done of the exhaust sound, wondering where best to put them up. Four files coming to a total of about 1.4Mb
Anyone recommend somewhere ?

I have uploaded a few MP3 files so you can listen to the exhaust.
http://esnips.com/web/RedalfsOtherStuff

I reckon I'll change it and get the standard 166 sounds.
Anyone interested in it, no idea whether the current one will only fit the 166 or whether it would suit other models?

Any comments?

Originally Posted by TopCat

Hi redalf.

That exhaust isn't the standard one I'm afraid.

And the pic of your connectors doesn't look as though you have the sat nav ones...
I've attached a pic of the 2 cables you would see if you had a satnav ready car.

cheers,

Tris

Great news I found these cables behind the panel.
Many thanks for those photos TopCat.
I just need to find a Sat Nav Unit now - any advice on this welcome.
From looking at past threads it seems the G3 is the one to go for. Also presume I will need a GPS ariel - I have the beesting(? -looks more like a scorpian tail to me) aerial though if this helps?

Also is it easy to retrofit a the phone option with the new ICS panel?

Also

i think you'll need a G3 ICS system to speak to a G3 satnav box...if you've got an older G2 ICS then it'll only speak to a G2 system apparently - might be wrong though

Hi ive listened to your mp3 of the exhaust sound and have to say i dont think it sounds much like mine. I have a 2.5 166 v6 but i wouldnt imagine the exhaust note should be all that different. Let me know how you get on with the satnav and phone as im thinking of doing the same with my own.

Originally Posted by Alfa245

Hi ive listened to your mp3 of the exhaust sound and have to say i dont think it sounds much like mine. I have a 2.5 166 v6 but i wouldnt imagine the exhaust note should be all that different. Let me know how you get on with the satnav and phone as im thinking of doing the same with my own.

Hi Alfa 245

I got a new exhaust delivered in from Italy via UK and it made a phenomenal difference. Shes running lovely.
The Satnav just was too pricey to justify for the amount of driving I do.

Hello, mats are £14 from e-bay (sorry if anyone mentioned this before i didnt read all the replys! dont pay £40 I have an two sections of the exhaust for sale if you interested! Although i dont think the front part will fit, but the second section will. Its brand new and only want £100 for the section! It is the part before the back box.

i have an Alfa ICS with phone for sale.