I know you said you can’t describe it....but have a go! <img src="http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Smile" class="inlineimg" /> It’s always possible the fault isn’t serious? A common problem with them is caused by the selector mechanism seizing up and making gear selection difficult or impossible. Thing is, it’s an easy and cheap fix.
I’m using a 156 V6 gearbox with a 3l engine in my current project for the shorter diff ratio. I won’t need massive top speed and it won’t be doing lots of motorway miles but the extra acceleration will come in handy.
You asked for it, so here I go.
One week ago, my car started to make a more "masculine" sound when I was accelerating, let it go, and do the engine brake. The car was a little shaking somehow. I met this sound when I change the gears too, like, from 1 to 2, when the engine goes in neutral when you press the cluch to change the gears. The sound is like a purr. Like a cat purrs. Then, because I neglected it, It wasan't my intention really because I thinked the fault is from the exhaust system and maybe I have a hole in it, the shake and vibrations give me this idea. But, anyways, the damage was done, I did a 350km trip, first 140km, was all good. When I headed home, my car hesitated to go, like, feeled like failures when you accelerate and the engine hesitate to accelerate. I tought maybe the engine has a problem. Let in neutral, accelerate, oh, the glorious sound of Busso, nothing here. Then, again, I tought maybe this time the planetary, I hope that's the name, the thing that spins the wheels to go. I bought a new one. Go to the mechanic, he said all is good at this part, the problem is from the gearbox. It has a massive oil loose and the entire time I driven it without oil and something from there grips out.
So, now if I want to move the cat on her wheels, I need to accelerate between 2500 - 3000 and slowly unpress the cluch until I get an ok speed. The first and second gears are the problem, then, in third and the rest is more ok, not great but ok.
Now, I can't climb hills, she doesn't have the power. Every accelerate it feels like the engine wants to go out and be free, It has a knock sound, and jerks every time.
I know my english is not great, I learn it by my self with a little help from videogames. But I hope that put you on the perspective and give an idea of what happened exaclty.