New 156 GTA owner - questions

Hey all,

proud owner of the car below for around 2 weeks now and have a small list of questions growing. Can anyone help answer them ?

1. the front suspension looks like it is adjustable, but is standard as far as i know. The top of the suspension strut has a flat end sticking out of the top mount - looks like a key would fit over it and turn it. Is this just the normal strut top ?

2. A yellow 'bulb' warning light has appeared on the rev counter, yet i cant see any external bulbs out. Known issue ?

3. My battery light briefly flickers occasionaly, and the headlamps dim quite a lot when the fans kick in. Normal or should i get the battery / alternator checked ?

4. How do i get into the preset equaliser settings on the radio? It goes on about them i the manual, but i cant see the option in 'menu'.

5. Is there a knack to moving the under-knee support on the seats - or do you just yank them in and out ?

I am sure there will be others, but any help clearning up this little lot, would be appreciated !

Cheers
ReekieVR

Originally Posted by ReekieVR

Hey all,

proud owner of the car below for around 2 weeks now and have a small list of questions growing. Can anyone help answer them ?

1. the front suspension looks like it is adjustable, but is standard as far as i know. The top of the suspension strut has a flat end sticking out of the top mount - looks like a key would fit over it and turn it. Is this just the normal strut top ?

2. A yellow 'bulb' warning light has appeared on the rev counter, yet i cant see any external bulbs out. Known issue ?

3. My battery light briefly flickers occasionaly, and the headlamps dim quite a lot when the fans kick in. Normal or should i get the battery / alternator checked ?

4. How do i get into the preset equaliser settings on the radio? It goes on about them i the manual, but i cant see the option in 'menu'.

5. Is there a knack to moving the under-knee support on the seats - or do you just yank them in and out ?

I am sure there will be others, but any help clearning up this little lot, would be appreciated !

Cheers
ReekieVR

Hi and welcome to GTA ownership.

1) No it isn't adjustable as far as I know, had mine 2.5 years now.

2) Check the front sidelights, these do go and are a pain to changed. Also check number plate bulbs at the back.

3) Battery may need changing, mine does it on occasion when not used for a while and when the revs dip when changing gear on a cold day. I know my battery is at least 2.5 years old so due a change.

4) The head unit is a standard fiat/alfa unit used on a number of models, my 2003 punto had the same unit. My understanding is with the bose which is standard on GTA some menu options are disabled.

5) think it just pulls out, but hey I am a short arse so mine is pushed right in

Hope that is some help.

Hi Welcome to GTA ownership

1. Not sure TBH it's dark and cold outside at the moment.
2. Mine did that and it was a sidelight, though it was difficult to tell.
3. Suggest you get the battery checked, mine failed shortly after I bought it, I think if the cars stand about a lot at a dealer the alarms flatten the batteries.
4. Can't help mines got the SatNav radio
5. I've always yanked it out, it doesn't seem to be adjustable much.

Can't really add anything to what the others have said. My battery is fine though, although it does dim slightly (and always has) when the fans kick in. Wait until summer and you get both kicking in (or is it just higher speed?) it sounds like its going to take off.
I gather its an April 04 car has it done many miles? Sometimes light use is bad for batteries

Hello,

Welcome to GTA ownership - it's great.

One the orange light on the dash, check the number plate lights as Eddie suggested. This happened on the sportwagon and you just pull the fitting down and replace the bulb - real easy and cheap, not like the side light bulbs at the front. Painful and bulbs are expensive from Halfrauds. £10 for a pair of small bulbs. They are by all accounts halogen - but so what!

Anyway, welcome to GTA ownership, I am sure you are going to love it.

Edward.

2/. Other than sidelight and number plate light. May be worth to step on the brake to see whether the brake light works properly. Sometimes it is not easy to tell since it is double filament bulb.

3/. I would change a good battery like Varta to see what happen.

Originally Posted by ReekieVR

1. the front suspension looks like it is adjustable, but is standard as far as i know. The top of the suspension strut has a flat end sticking out of the top mount - looks like a key would fit over it and turn it. Is this just the normal strut top ?
3. My battery light briefly flickers occasionaly, and the headlamps dim quite a lot when the fans kick in. Normal or should i get the battery / alternator checked ?
4. How do i get into the preset equaliser settings on the radio? It goes on about them i the manual, but i cant see the option in 'menu'.

1. could be a KONI Sport adjustable damper. photo? have a look at the dampers behind the wheel; factory (non-adjustable) are black; KONI Sport are yellow; other brands could be green, red, whatever, but again, factory should be black

3. if the car starts easily, then the battery is probably ok; so hopefully it's not your voltage regulator or alternator, but the regulator can certainly fail over time

4. is there a BOSE system fitted? then it won't be adjustable.

Just to add to what others have said, I would change the battery. I started getting some electrical gremlins on my 156 (eg fuel cutoff switch kept tripping) and it was only when I replaced the battery that they all cleared up. The car started fine up until one morning when the battery was completely dead - new battery, all gremlins gone.

Cheers,

Nigel

I am in Edinburger too, it you want a prod of my struts you are welcome to swing by.

Thanks for the replys people.

Well - i think i will go for the battery change as the warning light decide not to appear today !!! Perhaps that will cure some other odd problems too. Very few miles, PR - 24k.

What is the recomended quality battery these days ?


I will get on the floor and look at the damper colour. Plus take a few pix this pm - its actually daylight at the moment - havent seen it for ages !

I got Varta battery. Made in Germany. Recommanded by few experts in this forum.

battery - car batteries - commercial vehicle batteries - VARTA