[Brerafin]

Hi all,

I'm the proud new owner of a 2.2 JTS Brera and I absolutely love it! It looks, sounds and drives amazing. Its a 56 plate with 36000ish miles on the clock.

However, I have one worry as a result of the engine management light being on and off. This started when I test drove the car, the light was on and the dealer promised that when I picked it up the light issue would be resolved. I picked it up and was told that the variable valve timings were reset and this had resolved the issue. I'm not particularly technical when it comes to cars and in hindsight should have looked into this more but I just wanted to get it home and drive it. Since getting it home the light has been on and off a few times. It's under warranty with the dealer until October and it's already been back to the garage once to have the alternator in the battery replaced, which they thought would be the solution but it's not helped because the light is on and off again.

I'm hoping one of you guys can shed some light on this or share any similar experiences, I'm covered in terms of cost because once the warranty with the dealer runs out I have another warranty starting that I took out from an independent provider so my main concern at the moment is whether the car is ok to drive. I have to drive 200+ miles to London in a week or so for work and I'm a bit nervous of something happening to the car because of this light. It's going back to the dealer soon for further tests but they're not an alfa specialist so they might not even be able to find the actual fault.

Any advice is much appreciated, cheers.

 

[alfacool]

What the dealer has told you sounds pants to me.
Could be the early signs of a stretched timing chain, have it looked at.

 

[Brerafin]

Cheers for the reply. Ye I've read a few things about the timing chain in other threads. I specifically asked them to check it last time it went in and they said it was fine but like I said they don't necessarily know Alfas. I was guna take it to a specialist place just for peace of mind but if it's classed as a 'wear and tear' issue I can't get it fixed anywhere other than with the dealer I bought it from until October. How urgent would I need to have the chain replaced if it is just early signs of a stretch?

 

[JON156VELOCE]

You need to have the fault codes read asap by someone not connected to the selling garage.
If the fault is the cam sensor then that does point to a stretched timing chain, what happens is as the chain stretches the cam and crank sensors go slightly out of sync to what the ecu is expecting so it throws up the fault. you can keep resetting the faults which may last for a few days but it will come back on.

To answer your question about how urgent it is, there havnt been any reports of the chains snapping prematurely but you need to get it sorted before the warranty runs out. I think a new chain kit fitted is about £600 which you dont want to be paying for

 

[Brerafin]

Too right I don't want to be paying that! Thanks for your advice I'm going to ring my nearest alfa specialist tomorrow and get it looked at then I'll just have to tell the dealer what it is that needs fixing and hopefully they'll sort it.

 

[dc]

Welcome to the Brera 2.2 club. I've had mine for about 3 months now. Already had a remap, different air filter and lower Eibach springs fitted. Great improvement..

 

[mockney46]

Welcome to the Brera 2.2 club. I've had mine for about 3 months now. Already had a remap, different air filter and lower Eibach springs fitted. Great improvement..

Hi, I was reading the thread as I also have a 2.2JTS (spider version). I am interested in the remap, I would like some extra power from mine but dont want to spend silly money a remap sound like a good compromise. I put a K&N filter on it last service but to be honest it made no difference. I am keen to understand more about re-mapping possibilities. Does it make a decent difference to the power and drivability?.

Also living 'down under' is it a standard offering that I coud go to my local Alfa dealership to re-map or is a a specialist job?.

Thanks

 

[Brerafin]

Went to an alfa garage today and they confirmed it was the timing chain! Just need to get the dealer to replace it for me which might be hard work....

Ive also considered the remap would you say it makes a noticable difference? Out of interest where did you get it done? Im based in the north west so im thinking of taking it to gus in st helens within the next few months and once the timing chain issue is sorted