[Sir Plug]

Greetings from New Zealand!

Before emigrating here, I was a mad keen Alfa owner, the last one being a 156 JTD SW facelift model but with the cost of and rarity of Alfa's over here, I've not had another one for some time. The wife has now put her foot down and says she wants a little 147, so I've got to start looking.

Couple of quick questions, my old Alfa's were generally moved on before hitting 50,000 miles and so regular servicing was all I ever did to them (company cars) but here mileage's are far greater as new car costs are high compared to UK. This means I'll be buying cars with 120,000km + on the clock. As it's been a while, what do I need to look for with 147's? I'll be looking only at manual gearboxes but can't remember cambelt intervals. I've been told 60,000km (40,000mls), is this correct? Anything anybody else knows of to look for, give me a heads up, please!

Cheers, Paul

 

[sprint_veloce]

Yes the twinspark motor needs a new cambelt and associated stuff every 60,000km. The recommendation is also every 3 years. Cost is around $1200 - $1500.

 

[gibot123]

The cam variator , rusty floor pans and suspension and steering bushes.
One other is the keys the fobs sometimes need replacing and recoding this can be expensive so make sure that you get 2 and they both work properly . Activate the alarm and all the door locks including the boot. A lot of 147s don't have external boot access some have a key lock but a lot have to be opened by the key or button on the dash.
Make sure all the electrics are good . No warning lights on the dash etc.. :thumbs:

 

[Rockhopper]

36,000 miles or three years, whichever comes first for the petrol engines.

 

[Sir Plug]

Yes the twinspark motor needs a new cambelt and associated stuff every 60,000km. The recommendation is also every 3 years. Cost is around $1200 - $1500.

I notice you have a 156 with Selespeed.....I've avoided these so far but only because of what I hear about them.....how has ownership of this been?? As you may be aware, low KM Selespeed are easier to come by than manual models...

The cam variator , rusty floor pans and suspension and steering bushes.
One other is the keys the fobs sometimes need replacing and recoding this can be expensive so make sure that you get 2 and they both work properly . Activate the alarm and all the door locks including the boot. A lot of 147s don't have external boot access some have a key lock but a lot have to be opened by the key or button on the dash.
Make sure all the electrics are good . No warning lights on the dash etc.. :thumbs:

Oh The one we are interested in has a remote that doesn't work....I can get access to a engine EOBD scanner, hopefully that can do the reprogramming??


Thanks all, so far!

 

[gibot123]

Not to sure you will need some specific leads and the fiat multi scan programme to do most things apart from code reading. There are some really useful posts on here and what you need and what you can and can't do .
The dealers still charge a stupidly high amount to programme keys think its about £120 over here that's why I mentioned it.
Not the end of the world but worth bearing in mind .

 

[sprint_veloce]

Only option for new fully functioning remote keys is NZ$700 from a dealer, so you want to buy a car with 2 working keys. There is nothing you can reprogram or whatever on the keys with a generic E-OBD scanner, or even Alfa specific OBD stuff.

Yes selespeed's tend to be cheaper, but the robotic actuator does need work, typically every 120,000km or so. It's not really a biggie, kind of like doing a clutch or a cambelt, but it is in addition to those, so needs to be considered. Apart from the sele work a couple of years ago, mine has been faultless for the 5 years I've owned it. You need to drive a sele to see if you like the way it drives compared to a normal manual - it's different and may not be for you. If you test drive one and it's not perfectly smooth with crisp changes there's something wrong.

 

[imski]

Only option for new fully functioning remote keys is NZ$700 from a dealer, so you want to buy a car with 2 working keys. There is nothing you can reprogram or whatever on the keys with a generic E-OBD scanner, or even Alfa specific OBD stuff.

That's not quite correct, dealers can reprogram key fobs, but when the key not longer works it usually the chip inside that's failed so if they try to reprogram it that fails.
When you buy a new key at the dealer, the dealer programs it on arrival. (The key is ridiculously expensive, I paid €50 for the programming (which isn't particularly cheap either) - in Spain)

 

[sprint_veloce]

If your used Alfa only comes with 1 key, no amount of reprogramming is going to help. And yes, a dealer may be able to reprogramme keys, but a generic OBD scanner isn't going to do the job.

 

[imski]

If your used Alfa only comes with 1 key, no amount of reprogramming is going to help. And yes, a dealer may be able to reprogramme keys, but a generic OBD scanner isn't going to do the job.

We're in agreement, really...
All I was pointing out there could be a sliver of hope that if you have a second key that doesn't play ball with the key recognition, that a reprogrammuing at the dealers could be a fairly low cost solution.
In the grim reality, it's probably going to cost a lot to get a new key, which usually is what you're going to need anyway.

 

[Rockhopper]

Unfortunately its not the key that gets programmed - its the car.

All the keys you want to use with the car need to be present when the coding is done otherwise they are deleted from the ECU and can never be used again. Also the immobiliser chip needs to match your ECU which means that second hand keys cannot be used with another car.

 

[Peteimpreza]

"Also the immobiliser chip needs to match your ECU which means that second hand keys cannot be used with another car"

Not in my experience.

When I got my 147 it came with both keys but both circuit boards had failed so they did not work. The dealer got me two other working keys from another 147 and Duncan Slade (in Bristol) was able to recode the car and both key fobs so they worked with my 147.

 

[gibot123]

"Also the immobiliser chip needs to match your ECU which means that second hand keys cannot be used with another car"

Not in my experience.

When I got my 147 it came with both keys but both circuit boards had failed so they did not work. The dealer got me two other working keys from another 147 and Duncan Slade (in Bristol) was able to recode the car and both key fobs so they worked with my 147.

Just out of interest what did they charge you .

 

[Rockhopper]

He probably just swapped over the imobiliser chip from the old key into the new key.

 

[webbcar]

Hello
Check the Thermostat works correctly.
I have just ordered one for my wifes 2001 147 Manual.
Feel free to give me a call with any question as there are lots to look for : )
I am also in NZ , Waikato.
Cheers

 

[Sir Plug]

Hello
Check the Thermostat works correctly.
I have just ordered one for my wifes 2001 147 Manual.
Feel free to give me a call with any question as there are lots to look for : )
I am also in NZ , Waikato.
Cheers

:thumbs:

 

[ledaero]

Feel free to give me a call with any question as there are lots to look for : )
I am also in NZ , Waikato.
Cheers

I am in Wellington and looking at a few 147s right now - 2003 to 2006, all 2.0TS with Selespeed.

What to look for? (I couldn't send a message - I couldn't find where )

 

[David P]

You can't send or receive PMs until you've got 10+ posts & have been a member for 14+ days, also the user you've quoted hasn't been online for more than 6 months.

 

[webbcar]

I am in Wellington and looking at a few 147s right now - 2003 to 2006, all 2.0TS with Selespeed.

What to look for? (I couldn't send a message - I couldn't find where )

Hello Ledaero.
I cant PM you either.
a few things to look for.
Drop Links (knock), Anti roll bar bushes (knock), Gearbox bearing noise (whine), if a manual gear stick sticky (easy fix) , Try and buy a Manual. it will save you $$ and time.
Good Luck. PM me when you can.
Cheers

 

[kandlbarrett]

Cam belt change is every 36,000 miles or 3 year which ever comes first.

Most of these engines use oil. Don't let that worry you but check level with every tank of petrol until you know how much yours is using. It can be 1litre every thousand miles and these are NOT fitted with a low oil level warning light.

If it has a short clatter on start up (sounding like a diesel or valve clearances being taken up) that is the variator (changes the valve timing with revs) and while it can sound bad it can wait until the next cam belt change at an extra £100.

I would recommend avoiding anything that has had a broken cam belt and then been repaired. There can be other damage that takes a few thousand mikes to show itself and gets VERY expensive with a full engine strip, new pistons and more!

Drive it over bumps and listen for front suspension noises: a squeak is top wishbone bushes, a clunk is probably bottom wishbones bushes and a clunk that sounds or feels like it is under your feet is anti-roll bar bushes. These are common wear items on the 156 / 147 / GT that all use the same suspension and all need replacing eventually.

If you do need front suspension parts do NOT buy cheap eBay parts as you will be changing again in 6 months or less.

Check the floorpan and sills for rust. Some rust very badly and some hardly rust at all.

Check that you have 2 keys as a replacement is about £300 and despite sellers on eBay there is no cheap replacement; what is sold there does not work with these cars.

If the windows don't go up and down don't let the seller tell you it is the push buttons and easy fix. It won't be that; it is still a fairly easy fix but needs new mechanisms in the doors as they eventually seize up. If it really was an easy fix the seller would have done it wouldn’t they?

If the remote locking doesn't work don't let the seller tell you it is the battery in the key; it won't be that but probably the aerial for the remote locking receiver that is behind the dash or possibly something more expensive.

Airbag light can often be on but that is usually the connector under the driver or passenger seat and an easy fix. Occasionally it can be something a little more tricky but lots of threads here and people who will help you resolve any error lights.

Have a close look at the very inside edge of the front tyres as, like a lot of front wheel drive cars, they can wear the inside edge while the rest of the tyre looks good.

Check that the air con works and gets properly cold. Lots of older cars with failed aircon that needs more than just a regas to fix.

Check that the heater control dash lights all work. Occasional failures and can be a pain to fix.