[LJ_GQV]

Just a quick question really, its coming up for me having my GTA a year now and it had the full belt service (cambelt, water pump,plugs etc) just after i bought it ( its done roughly 4000 miles since). will it need anything doing to it again after the year?? or just keep things topped up and checked as i have done over the past year? i always check the oil and water etc but if theres anything else that i should do i'd prefer to get it done

 

[Guest]

Just a quick question really, its coming up for me having my GTA a year now and it had the full belt service (cambelt, water pump,plugs etc) just after i bought it. will it need anything doing to it again after the year?? or just keep things topped up and checked as i have done over the past year? i always check the oil and water etc but if theres anything else that i should do i'd prefer to get it done

The main jobs are done it seems mate.
I've serviced the GTA myself for the last 4 years(since it fell from the dealer warranty).

Oil and filter change.
Air filter change (Alfa recommend every 2 years but I changed every year)
Pollen filter change.
General check of everything visible, from brake components to cooling system, suspension, wheels/tyres and exhaust.

My next service will be due next January (annual time basis) and then I'm probably just going to change the oil and filter....because she won't have covered more than about 250 miles

 

[LJ_GQV]

:thumbs: thanks

 

[Guest]

:thumbs: thanks

I can't quite remember what you said Vospers did to your car regarding prep, but it's always a good idea to keep an eye on the rad if it's original, and also the coolant pipe (metal) that runs underneath it.....they like to corrode:lol:

Also, keep an eye on any leaks from the cam covers, especially the rear which tends to fail first due to all of the heat build up at the back of the engine bay.

Keep an eye on the oil cooler pipes/unions too.


These are all simple things to check but can save a load of money in terms of being 'properly prepared':thumbs:

 

[Guest]

After a year it'd just need the sucky slippy stuff changed, air filter, oil filter, oil and pollen filter.

I intend to get mine done at somewhere like Halfords autocentre or the like. They do an annual service Inc oil and air filters and an MoT for £199. Not bad deal I think.

 

[Guest]

After a year it'd just need the sucky slippy stuff changed, air filter, oil filter, oil and pollen filter.

I intend to get mine done at somewhere like Halfords autocentre or the like. They do an annual service Inc oil and air filters and an MoT for £199. Not bad deal I think.

Please don't go to Halfords for a service on your GTA.......have you not seen them struggling with roof racks???:lol:....

.......seriously......

I'm sure they would get very confused regarding changing the oil filter, and I'd bet money that your pollen filter wouldn't even get touched.

 

[LJ_GQV]

I can't quite remember what you said Vospers did to your car regarding prep, but it's always a good idea to keep an eye on the rad if it's original, and also the coolant pipe (metal) that runs underneath it.....they like to corrode:lol:

Also, keep an eye on any leaks from the cam covers, especially the rear which tends to fail first due to all of the heat build up at the back of the engine bay.

Keep an eye on the oil cooler pipes/unions too.


These are all simple things to check but can save a load of money in terms of being 'properly prepared':thumbs:

its had a new radiator, new brake hose ( it had a hole in when i bought it apparently) ill give the coolant pipe a check as i didnt know about that so thanks for the advice

 

[Guest]

its had a new radiator, new brake hose ( it had a hole in when i bought it apparently) ill give the coolant pipe a check as i didnt know about that so thanks for the advice

Happy to help mate

 

[fa57gta]

Halfords!? Are you a mad man!? I wouldn't trust them with my Gta! Take it to your local Alfa indi, or do you not have one?

 

[Darth Vader]

You will regret it if you do

 

[silvervalver]

I'm sure anyone at halfords can change the oil but I bet they don't bother changing the oil filter when they see where it is.

 

[Alfa Vincent]

i'm sure anyone at halfords can change the oil but i bet they don't bother changing the oil filter when they see where it is.

+1

 

[willttqs]

I cant believe that anyone with any sort of performance car would even contemplate getting it serviced by somewhere like that. if you are that fussed about saving a few quid on servicing a car then perhaps buy something that requires less maintenance and cheaper consumables

 

[Guest]

Hey Ho, not made of money here. Halfords autocentres aren't Halfords shops! Agreed, complex jobs need someone with specialist knowledge. However, at my local Halfords autocentre you can sit and watch them do the work from a comfy viewing area. You can actually see what they are doing. No independent 'specialist' I have used has one of these. Being in Peterborough there are no local independent Alfa Romeo specialists within 30 miles. I can't begin to justify wasting a full day to drive it somewhere special to do an oil change!

Any way, next time you get a car back, have a quick look for the White or yellow oil crayon marks where a trainee has done the work after a mechanic has marked the things to do.

And suggesting that my feeling towards servicing means I do not, it would appear 'deserve' a GTA and that I should replace it with something else are both ludicrous, rude and unnecessary.

 

[willttqs]

a fair comment Andy, and i did not mean that you did not deserve it. Jamie Porter is in Royston, which is not that far and for a similar service only charges about 120, as per his website. when i was looking at purchasing one of these, i looked at previous history and would have been put off if it had been serviced at a non specialist or alfa

I apologise for my insensitive comments

 

[AYAT]

I don't think an oil change needs to be done at a specialist, took both mine to a local Mot and service place near my shop, gave them genuine oil filter and oil, told them to be careful with the sump plug, he said wasnt the easiest but now he's done it no probe in the future, charged me 25 a car and they felt spot on when I took it away, later he fitted my decat pipe for not alot as a well.

 

[aziraphale]

sorry to jump in on this thread, but regarding Halfords:

get under your car just before you take it to them for an oil change, and mark your oil filter with something like a ring of electrical or gaffa tape. if it hasn't been changed, you will be able to tell.

my brother-in-lawtook his car to halfords once, and was watching them in the viewing bay when he saw one of the "fitters" (term used loosely) spraying WD40 on his shock. gets to the desk to pay for the work and is told his shock's leaking....much kicking off ensued. if he wasn't watching he might have believed them.

 

[silvervalver]

Only real issue with that is if you are under the car you may as well be doing the job yourself. Personally I have no issue with a non specialist doing an oil change and when I used mine daily I had the oil changed in between services by the very same local garage who have ****ed the lid on my passenger headlight. If you can watch them there is no real problem. Any monkey can drain the oil, change the filter (ok maybe not so easy) and top the fluids up after.