[Baacow]

Hello everyone in here, it seems like a nice forum.
I've already learned a lot, I need to as my wife is about to buy a Spider 2000 2.0, and I will be maintaining it where I can. I maintain several other Vauxhalls, Mazdas and VW diesels, including doing cam belt changes etc, so hoping the Spider will not be TOO different!

It's a black lusso with red interior.
It has 48K MILES. and is in extremely good condition having been garaged all its life, with the addition of 2x car covers, some carpet and a plastic sheet! Its only used occasionally in summer months, and has been shown in local classic car shows.

My wife has been looking at owning an Alfa for a while, been to see several 147's, but to be honest, after looking at this for just two minutes I had made my mind up to buy it. Maybe foolish, but as far as I can make out that's the way it is with Alfa's!

The owner seems like a nice guy (if a bit chopsy) and all aspects of the car make me think it is all genuine and as described.

There is one problem though. The owner states cam belt have been changed as per the service schedule (so I would assume at 36K Miles - I will check service history of course before I part with any money when I go to pick the car up next week!) My wife drove, it and she said it felt underpowered, and I could hear a dieseling noise that since reading on here I now realise is probably a worn variator. (I have read the v good buyers guide for Spiders on here- many thanks to the author!)

Would one of you kind souls be good enough to answer the following questions please?

Q1- would a worn variator result in reduced power?
Q2 - should the variator have been replaced along with the cam belt at 36K or is this dependent on its condition at the time?
Q3 - If it is the variator, can I leave it until the 72K cam belt change? (24K to go) or should I change or repair it (and do the belt while in there of course)

Thanks in advance, Sean - Swansea

 

[goose]

Hi there, welcome to AO! Have a look at the Spiders buying guide at the top, lots of juicy info!!

In general I think it's wisdom to change the belts every 3years or 36km, which ever comes first. Usually doing all the cambelts/tensioners and perhaps even spark plugs ( I may be wrong) are recommended to be done at the same time.

It's not recommended to leave probably anything til 72K!

I am not sure about the reduced power, I think this can be a number of things, do a search on the MAF airfilter..

Someone will be along soon to help a bit further than my limited reading experience on here..

Cheers
Goose

 

[EauRouge]

The answer to all three of your questions is simply Yes! replace variator at next belt change 3 yrs or 36K miles whichever is sooner.

1.) Variator is ignition timing therefore a failing one will affect performance.
2.) It is recommended by many that the variator is changed at 2nd belt change, but many only change when it starts to get diesel sounding.
3.) Belt change 3 yrs or 36K miles WHICHEVER is sooner.

 

[wayne-dear]

Hi Sean, welcome in, i thought the variator would rattle like a diesel, i am unsure about reducing power, i thought you could leave them rattling for ages with no damage.
What was your wife driving before this, reason i ask is that when i bought my first GTV twinny (loved it so much just bought it back again) i came from a Subaru STI with a reworked ecu, flying machine, i drove my GTV home and thought it was terrible (won over by the looks and style) then on a trip to show my brother the car it all clicked, going down the motorway in third gear holding the revs about 4k i got a gap and put my foot down, she picked up her skirts and fair flew down the road, it was just a case of getting used to the different engine, it's even better now with the Alfatune re-worked ecu......:thumbs::thumbs:

 

[Baacow]

Thanks for replies.

Yes it might be just that Wayne - she normally drives my sons's Golf diesel GT TDI which has been remapped and is very quick to pickup from low revs, so maybe she needs to adjust to the Alfa.
It's what the current owner thought when she said it was underpowered.

also thanks Goose, I'd read about the MAF thing, so will bear that in mind as well.

cheers, Sean

 

[jillyflower]

Welcome to the wonderful world of spider ownership

 

[Mitch916]

Hi Sean, welcome in, i thought the variator would rattle like a diesel, i am unsure about reducing power, i thought you could leave them rattling for ages with no damage.

You can, it wont damage anything, but the engine will not be performing to it's best. Far better to bite the bullet and start of fresh with a new cam belt kit and variator.

Welcome to the forum by the way

 

[whisky romeo]

Welcome to Alfa ownership.

It's a shame you couldn't afford a proper one with a roof, but I'm sure you'll enjoy anyway - and black with red interior is the best combo IMO.

 

[Turtle4288]

Haha WR is right!

Keep the revs up and ignore the looks you get, they are jealous ;-)

 

[Ruiner]

Hello and welcome to Spider ownership !

 

[Guest]

Congratulations on buying a good one.

It's an 11 year old car and so far has only had one new cam belt. They should be replaced every 3 years as, as I'm sure you know, they deteriorate over time just sitting in a garage! So sod the mileage and do the belt and variator asap. (You must use cam locks as the timing must be spot on)

As far as power goes it's dog slow by modern standards and it's completely gutless below 3K and must be revved. But they do love to be revved.

 

[alfatan]

Welcome to the fun n fab world of the 916. Piccies please piccies please piccies please. I guess it will look like mine.

 

[alfapash]

If it was more than 3 years ago since the cam belt etc was changed, I'd get that done straight away. A short time ago, a guy bought one knowing the belt needed doing when he saw it, and it went on the way home after picking it up, very unlucky. Also it needs a good few runs, It's all very well it only having 48,000 miles, but cars don't do very well just sitting looking pretty. I'm sure your wife will enjoy her spider. Welcome, post some photos when you have time.

 

[Baacow]

Ta folks. Thanks kungfu and Alfabash, you make a really good point re the 3 years rule! It's so easy to ignore that and just base maintenance on the mileage.
Regarding the variator and the resultant diesel noise, what is actually making the noise?? The variator assembly itself, or is it the engine actually dieseling because the timing is incorrect?

If I were trying to pinpoint the noise, where should I listen ?

Will do some pics once I collect the car (fingers crossed!)

Cheers, sean

 

[alfapash]

I doubt the timing is incorrect, the variator if worn will be noisey. The noise will be be low down where the cam belt is.

 

[Guest]

It's the variator itself making the noise when starting as it's empty of oil and the worn parts inside rattle a bit.

I've noticed some confusion in a few posts about the variator recently. Some one said it alters the ignition timing. It doesn't. It alters the cam timing at high rpm. When it's broken you just end up with low rpm cam timing throughout. No harm done.

 

[Baacow]

Welcome to the fun n fab world of the 916. Piccies please piccies please piccies please. I guess it will look like mine.

Yeah it looks like that as I recall, but with red carpet

 

[dmc]

As far as power goes it's dog slow by modern standards and it's completely gutless below 3K and must be revved. But they do love to be revved.

The guy who bought my 2.0TS 156 showed up in a rented BMW 120d, then complained on the test drive that he thought it lacked power. I kept saying to him "Just keep your foot in!" but even then he'd still shift up at 4500rpm

They do need to be ragged out a bit - the power's there though.

 

[JFK]

Welcome to Spider ownership. Don't believe any old tosh about garaged low milers being an issue. I have owned mine for 8 years now. It has 47k on it and lives in my garage and comes out on mostly summer but dry winter days too to keep it in shape. It has passed every MOT first time without any sort of pre-MOT work or inspection work and it runs like a Swiss watch. Cambelts done every 3 years though as stated above.

They are not dog slow by modern standards either. Like any non turbo 16v they lack torque, particularly compared to a diesel ( but an R32 lacks torque compared to the Golf GT diesel!). Yes they need revs and some driving finesse does n't go amiss, to get the most out of them.

Enjoy it.

 

[Baacow]

Picked the car up today. It's a typical Welsh wet day, so unable to get top down or have a real good look over car, but first impressions are good.
I did test the top when we went to view it and it all worked fine under power.
It only just fits down my steep drive !, the exhaust catches over the hump so I will need to cut a patch of the drive out.:lol:
It's a bit wet to do proper pics, and I haven't cleaned the car..but here are some.

I know, I know..... the white wheels and picnic hamper rack are not my tastes either, but it came with them on.