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Life with a 156

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98K views 2K replies 173 participants last post by  knightjp 
#1 ·
Its been 3months since I caught the Alfa bug, I'd fancied a 156 for a while, but really couldn't afford one. After some months of looking in the internet at 156's ringing up and chatting to sellers I'd sorted my spec out. Got to be Silver, I don't like silver cars as a rule but the 156 looks so fine in silver, Must have a Red leather interior, and wood 'cos its so retro, engines didn't matter so much, as I was driving a 100bhp VW Polo, even the 1.6 ts was fine for me.
The better half was sick of my looking all the time and I finally cracked, I saw a "black" 156 V6 on Autotrader, In the nearest town to where I grew up 70miles away. It had a black interior (leather) and the 2.5 V6, although it wasn't what I thought I wanted it was if you see?:confused:
So I rang up, turns out it was 100 yards up the road from my folks, and the house in the background of the photo was my Nans old place, so I rang my Old man up and asked him to have a look for me (he's a retired mechanic) Got the OK from Pops and went to have a look.
I almost wanted to not like it, as I had a cheap and practical car that owed me nothing, but that 156 grabbed me and the rest is history...
I think the 156 has just about everything (apart from economy) that I want in a car, Its made for drivers, by drivers it involves you in a way that no car I've driven in 20 years ever has. It looks fantastic the best ever 4 door saloon - period. It sounds fantastic that V6 is ..........lost for words. The interior is just what I want Two big clocks with the important info and the rest away in the middle. Six speed 'box:cheese: Perfect driving position (I do have short legs and a long body) Loads of really nice details, like the embossed Momo on the side of the front headrests:cool: and the Alfa logo in the seat backs:cool:
I have had a few probs too, but its 7 years old and will need some tlc to get it spot on, and every time I walk past I just have to look at it and smile, and when I drive it I just laugh to myself.

Am I an Alfisti yet?
 
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#187 ·
If you don't get it Dazza you are always welcome to talk about how much you love OUR cars.
 
#182 ·
picked Helen today as we headed to the cafe, had in front us a tuned MX-5 with bodykits exhaust etc etc ... ''What a beautiful sound'' says Helen.. [wtf im asking myself f$%$%ckin japanese crap] ''Sounds so sweet'' she says again.. OK ive had it... -What the hell are u talking about, thats MY CAR that sounds so sweet- ''No, its the Jap'' ... the guy gave us way to overtake as he was cruising low, floor it in 3rd and Helen goes with a big smile [not bigger than mine] : ''damn its the Alfa that was singing''

life with a 156?
:) love it
 
#189 ·
'69 Daz, same as me:eek:
Took the Alfa for a quick run to Shrewsburyon Sunday, very tough getting there, stuck behind car after car on the way out, v. frustrating:rolleyes:
Still I passed an hour in Pizza Hut looking at my 156 thru. the window, itching to get back behind the wheel. After my usual empty roads to and from work it was interesting to see just how well she covered the ground next to all the other traffic. Nice:D
Bad points, got ignored by several non waving Alfas:rant: what are they doing, fancy driving a GT and not waving back:confused:
Also worryingly I saw a nice looking Volvo:eek: A C30 ? A 3 door a bit like a Stilo :)) ) on steroids- I must really be getting old:cheese:

Today I met my pal from work on the road in his old Golf GTi, which he always wants to race me in, so I caught him up, behind three cars, got to a short straight and gave it third, past the lot:D , slowed down to wait for him to catch up and then have another go, but he wasn't seen again 'till work:cheese:
He did say just how nice it sounded as I went past him tho. fair play;) I almost wish I was in his car to hear my Bella singing.........not.
 
#190 ·
i'm yet to wave at an alfa, because - and this may see me slapped - it's just a boggo 156.

now, if i was driving a GTA and saw another GTA i think there'd be at least a nod, as i used to get from the very ocassional fellow ST200 driver.

my mate's missus has a beetle and a few years back, all the new beetle owners seemed to wave at each other, but he says that no one waves anymore. maybe they have gone down in price to the level where they are bought as 'just a car'.

right, 156 question:

is there anywhere that provides a step-by-step approach to replacing the MAF on a 2.0TS, particularly with photos.

just got my car looked at by a garage who reported it was a MAF fault (probably caused by the K&N panel filter put on by the previous owner) but they don't have the part. so, i saw it for £117 at alfaworkshop and thought i'd do it myself, as i've replaced it on other cars, but i'd need some help round an unfamiliar engine.
 
#191 ·
Its the only electrical connector between the airbox and throttle body. Disconnect cables, unscrew it (You'll need a hex set), then just replace it, rescrew in and reconnect cables.

Its a very simple job, I'm sure if you use the forum search feature you'll find any extra info should you need it.
 
#192 ·
What he said BigZ.
Took me 10 minutes to change it on my 2.5 and then 20 to stop my legs shaking after my first test in it - Whoa baby.

I saw loads of Alfas yesterday as I went out on site, covering for the lads. Spent the day in Wavertree - Liverpool somewhere. Lots of 147's on the m62 and a couple of nice 156's :cool: I normally only see a couple a week, pity I was in an Iveco Lorry or I'd have waved and been ignored :cheese:
 
#194 ·
ah. balls.

i ordered one for the CF3 (my engine) from alfaworkshop for £117 as the garage i went to said they could get one for £170.

i've had a gander at the engine bay and i see its nothing more than undoing a few jubilee clips and faffing about. i'll see about fitting it myself and then getting the garage to reset the warnings.

as for alfa's, there's 4 other 156's in the car park near my work in Bootle, plus a fair few 147's.

one of the 156's is a lovely burgundy sportwagon with the 2002 onwards interior change. looks brilliant.
 
#195 ·
I think you can reset the ECU by disconnecting the battery for a short while, check on other threads tho. first, and remember any codes for the stereo.
 
#196 ·
mines an aftermarket stereo, and i haven't got anything for it that shows a code.

it might be double balls!

if i can fit it, disconnect the battery to reset the ecu, let it idle for 15 mins then go for a nice brisk drive, then thats good enough for me.

i'll just have to settle up with the garage for the diagnostic check.

ta very much for your advice.
 
#197 ·
Your welcome:)
 
#199 ·
Thats me Dazza, Very respectfull. Even with my low post count:cheese:
 
#201 ·
I don't know why my count is so low....

I think it could be 'cos I don't post as much these days:cheese:
I don't seem to be able to get online as much as I used to.

ps Congrats in the Mitsi, nice motor and a bargain too.
 
#202 ·
After owning 2 V6 156's I was actually quite suprised at how well the 2 litre TS (Manual) version goes. (Hence why I bought it). Most of the time its not a lot slower, it handles a lot better and is far better on fuel.

The engine note is also good but is nowhere near the V6, thats my only real gripe with it.
 
#203 ·
As I've said may times the 2.0 is a great motor, I would have no problems, with getting one, on the roads I use every day I think the handling advantages would outweigh the 1.3 seconds that the 2.5 reaches 62, before the 2.0 litre.The top speed is very close and to be honest I havent had mine over the top speed of a 1.6 yet!
I just fell for that engine note and as I only do 22 miles a day the fuel wasn't the biggest issue. All I really wanted was to own such a nice looking car, the performance and handling and nice interior were just a huge bonus...
In fact the other factor was the 6 speed box, I think that was what swung it for me....:inlove:
 
#204 ·
i think little things like comfort, the style and number of gadgets of the interior and, most importantly, the engine noise matter a huge deal nowadays, especially as there is little opportunity to really enjoy driving to the car, or your own limits (in safety, obviously).

the sound of a V6 from 2k to 4k is a lovely noise - burbly at the lower end, then increasingly metallic.

oh, and i think that everyone here has been very helpful and supportive!
 
#208 ·
i thought my v6 was running poor, mind you it still is no doubt but had a calibra v6 for breaky on a privite road near here today.
i'd say 4-5 car lenghts by 120+, we swapped places as well for slip affect and my bella still pulled away no problem 5th into 6th is where id say I gained the most.

I recently put on a cda thing, really deep burble sound, but I find it too much and it takes away my new equal lenght downpipe sound that I have so I may sell it if anyone offers me what I paid!
 
#209 ·
That depends if you only paid £2.50 or not:cheese:
 
#212 ·
I would describe mine as adequate, just.
I do believe that things can be improved by changing the pollen filter...
Also close the vents to the rear of the car, to increase the amount of air to the front.
I have found the screen de mister is best on the auto mode, which uses the A/c as well, and also puts the rear demister on.
 
#213 ·
Hi all
I read all the posts here and, I too have not been an alfa owner for long ( agreeing with some of you) not quite got the knowledge to keep up with some of you long term owners.
Anyway I purchased my 156 sportswagon in May this year, I was just browsing autotrader and forecourts for something like a merc or BMW, but when i saw the Alfa i loved it and I think I got a bargain, Its in a standard red not sure of the name of the red, I had the rear 5 windows tinted which i think makes it look very smart. I'd love to put a picture up for you all but i can't work out the upload, it says my file size is too large, can anyone help me with this.
 
G
#216 ·
Christ Jay, this Thread of yours has gone on forever!

Sadly you made it BEFORE I had changed my 'Update Setting' to 'No Updates', meaning every night at 1:08AM I get a 'Life With a 156!' E-Mail come through!!! :mad:



:lol:
 
#217 ·
Sorry mate, but you can delete me from your life if you want to.:tut:


Its sort of like a blog I guess, but I like the way people jump in and out of the conversations, and a few old mates who have stuck with me, 'till now:cheese:

So to business, I'dlike to tell you all about round two of my Races with my mate and his Golf GTI (D reg.) which he had assured me would surprise me with its performance, which I was, for the 1/4 second he was up my 4rse, he then had to admit I'd blown him off the road, however he then said it'd be different on a back road, which it could be as his car is still doing 20mph faster than I can manage in the 156 in the same place:confused:

I got the Alfa wave on Friday evening, just popped out to help the better half at work and a couple both waved back in a Silver 147, thanks guys:thumbs:

Oh Dazza, just click on Unsubscribe to this thread on the bottom of your e mail, if you aint my mate no more.
 
#218 ·
you can just unsubscribe from the thread, can't you?

more trials and tribulations with my 156.

the bonnet catch is well and truly knackered, though the garage that did the diagnostics for my warning light failed to tell me that they couldn't close the bonnet properly. so for a week i was driving around with a bonnet that could have flipped up at any time.

thanks. for. that.

oh, and my airbox is knackered - a bolt on the downpipe attaching the lid to the box had sheared off and the tape that was holding it together wore off. i say tape, i looked at past invoices and there's all this talk of airbox/maf/head gasket work, but i think the previous owner was ripped off.

mayonnaise on the engine oil cap. and what is the normal water temperature reading for a 2.0 TS? mine sits at 90 degrees and goes higher if sat in traffic.

grumble grumble, smegging grumble!

but at least the car looks good!
 
#219 ·
Hi big Z,
Mine had a few woes in the air box dept. too, same old story nots and bolts siezed. I undid a few, pulled some apart and glued new nuts into place and fastened straight thru. in other places, jobs a good un now tho.
I have seen "max power" air filter assys for sale on motorworld for £20 or so, they would replace filter and air box. Cheap fix but I don't know if they're any good.

Mayo on cap, may not be as bad as you think, many cars used for short journeys often get moisture in the top end of the engine which then gives the mayo effect- or your head gasket may be gone.:eek:
If the HG has gone then you will have some of the following;
steam from your exhaust
water bubbling in your expansion tank
a funny smell in your oil filler cap
loss of power

I hope you have none of these- good luck
 
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