That's my cambelt gone....

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Thanks!

I was chatting to the garage about what they need to install a Q2 and got this info from another thread. Should this be easy enough to do if the engine has been dropped out (which it has)?

diff - 0055208952
seal - 40004430
seal - 40004910 x2
gaskets - 4460880
bearings - 007655061 x 2
shim kit - 0095720273

[Dougie166]

Good news EE - You are mega lucky.

My 164 3.0 24v belt snapped - 24 valves required. My current 166 3.2 had a belt snap last year, prior to my ownership - Alfa supplied the list of parts which included 24 valves!

[Pud237]

Very good news EE! And very rare too, never heard of another occurence. Make sure it drives and idles fine before you accept it back though.

I think I posted that, Ned at Autolusso gave me the part numbers so thanks go out to him for that.

I really doubt they will have dropped the engine out, there is absolutely no need as you can see everything you need to with the head off..

[Mr_Caine]

Wow, good news that there is no damage whatsoever!

As per Pud, I'm surprised they went to the bother of dropping the engine out, wouldn't that mean dropping the subframe and front suspension, sounds excessive when all you need to do is take the heads off to start with. However if its a franchise, maybe a good way of making a bit of money out of Alfa....

[cul]

Sounding better at the moment If i were you, id get a new clutch and Q2 while the cars in for repair.

Changed the belt on mine at 35,000 miles and im glad now... When the mechanic took the belt covers off he found that the belt had moved over on the wheels and had been rubbing against the covers. He didnt think it would have been long before failure.
Be warned!!

[CrispDust]

I hope they are correct.
Have they actually stripped the heads down completely?
You'll never know if there's any damage until this is done, and a known new, straight valve is run up and down each valve guide to check.
I'd still get an independent engineer to inspect heads and valves.
If you're lucky then they just need to put it back together and replace all the tensioners/idlers and belt.
Fingers crossed.

[Stephen Manjai]

Originally Posted by ohwell

Isnt there a specific locking tool required for doing the belts on the gta? Dont think my mechanic has this. Are they easy to get hold of?

Yep, check with EB Spares, see attached picture and they cost GBP 85...

[Mr_Caine]

Originally Posted by Stephen Manjai

Yep, check with EB Spares, see attached picture and they cost GBP 85...

£85 for the normal 3.2. The GTA has different cam profiles and requires different locks. EBSPARES will loan them for £15 when you buy the rest of the kit from them. They would set you back a couple of hundred notes to buy.

[TeamAlfa]

Originally Posted by Ecurie Ecosse

Hi guys

Well the engine has been stripped now and apparently there is no damage

I will keep you updated as to how Alfa UK respond.

Brilliant news go get that Q2 fitted!

[gwales]

Ecurie, That's fantastic.

I would buy a lottery ticket whilst your luck is on that form!

Q2 sounds like a sound idea but aren't they on back order ? If you do go Q2, would love to experience the difference!

[Ecurie Ecosse]

That would be my pleasure, Gary.

I'm waiting to hear about the availability of the Q2 parts.

[Chris155]

I doubt they've taken the engine out to repair the heads..... So having a Q2 fitted isn't really going to be any cheaper at this stage (you need to remove the subframe to drop the gbox)

[guitardavey123]

I bought my 147 January 07, the cam belt went in June 07. The car was a 2002 reg, done about 45,000. Alfa paid half the bill (£1000). When I bought the car I thought I'd buy a sixth month warranty with it. Thank god I did, as they had to cover the other half (£1000). Close shave for that one!!! Good luck with yours!!!

[Ecurie Ecosse]

UPDATE

Hi guys

I am just back from the garage and have been advised that Alfa will pay 65% of the bill. The (total) bill is £1500 for stripping the engine, rebuilding the engine, replacing the head gaskets and oil etc and replacing the cam belt system.

I am happy on the one hand that Alfa are paying, but unhappy on the other as the car has a FSH and I do take good care of it. I am going to give Alfa a call. Have any of you had any dealings with them in terms of being unhappy with their contribution?

I am also going to get a clutch fitted just now as the car is in pieces (this will be about £220), but I'm not going to bother with the Q2 system as it is going to be too much hassle.

I have been given a Fiat Bravo 1.4 courtesy car which is actually great fun to drive. The interior is well set out (with GTA headlight and wiper stalks ; ) and it looks alright. It has no performance whatsoever but that kind of adds to the fun.

[Caldo Bollente]

Originally Posted by Ecurie Ecosse

I am also going to get a clutch fitted just now as the car is in pieces (this will be about £220), but I'm not going to bother with the Q2 system as it is going to be too much hassle.

How so? Really be a crime not to have one fitted...

[bazza]

EE, definitely worth trying to ring Alfa yourself. I've had two defects repaired with Alfa paying, and in both cases they told the dealer no, but said yes with no arguments when I rang them myself.

[CrispDust]

EE - the minimum I would settle for is the total cost, less what it would have cost to do the belts/tensioner on their own. And I would shop around at as many different dealers for the lowest price on this - its not fixed. Ring a few independents as well, as they will be alot lower but equally vaild for comparison.
Simple argument for this is- if cambelt and/or tensioner had lasted what it was supposed to ie 72k, then Alfa wouldn't have incurred the cost of the strip down in the first place. In other words, its their own fault or making, that these expenses have occurred.
Also get them to change the spark plugs, which would have been due at 60K service anyway. Buy your own and give to garage as they will charge 5 times what the NGK (OE) cost from Halfords or of t'internet.
This will save you on the 60k service as its a 2 hour job to get rear bank sparkies out.

[gtachris]

Originally Posted by CrispDust

EE - the minimum I would settle for is the total cost, less what it would have cost to do the belts/tensioner on their own. And I would shop around at as many different dealers for the lowest price on this - its not fixed. Ring a few independents as well, as they will be alot lower but equally vaild for comparison.
Simple argument for this is- if cambelt and/or tensioner had lasted what it was supposed to ie 72k, then Alfa wouldn't have incurred the cost of the strip down in the first place. In other words, its their own fault or making, that these expenses have occurred.
Also get them to change the spark plugs, which would have been due at 60K service anyway. Buy your own and give to garage as they will charge 5 times what the NGK (OE) cost from Halfords or of t'internet.
This will save you on the 60k service as its a 2 hour job to get rear bank sparkies out.

If Alfa are paying 65% of £1500 then in effect he is only paying for the cambelt change which would have had to be done anyway.
Pretty good result really.

[Mr_Caine]

Originally Posted by gtachris

If Alfa are paying 65% of £1500 then in effect he is only paying for the cambelt change which would have had to be done anyway.
Pretty good result really.

Presuming that the garage isn't making a little bit extra on the side. I'd push for 100%.

[cul]

I think Alfa are being fair to be honest.
Isnt there a time limit on when the belt should be changed too, regardless of mileage?

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Yup - it's 5 years and 72k miles. My car is 4 years 11 months and 51 k miles old

I will try for more and see how I get on.

Many thanks again for all your help guys!

[Harry_Crack]

I was advised by my dealer to contact Alfa myself. Did so and was offered 90% on the same day - just had to prove service history.

Slightly different as it was a JTD that went but it proves that Alfa may well offer more. Your's went the very same day as mine....get it back today but the diesels don't tend to end up as damaged as the petrols and the parts are easier to get hold of.

Definately give them a call.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Hmmmm...

My dealer said that the Alfa zone manager offered a 65% contribution.

I called Alfa UK to see if that could be increased, but they did not have a record of it. They said that my dealer would need to contact the zone manager to ask for it to be increased, which they are doing. Alfa UK also said that 65% is a standard contribution.

Curious... Will report back when my dealer hears from the zone manager.

[CrispDust]

"Alfa, standard" - surely a contradiction in terms.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

UPDATE 2

Hi guys

Alfa isn't going to shift from 65%, so I am going to go with that.

I am also going to get the clutch changed and the water pump checked. Finally, I will get the car serviced and MOT'd.

I should get it back next week, so fingers crossed!