Joined
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9 Posts
Evening all,
During the spell of cold weather, I noticed that my 159 was a bit whiney on start up but returned to normal after about 30 seconds. I traced the sound to the power steering pump and went on alfaowner to see if other owners shared the same experience.
On doing this i learned that our 159's had originally been given the wrong p/s fluid and to check if it was the correct type based on it's colour. I did this and was dismayed to see mine was red, the wrong type. Then i got to thinking about how the steering had become a bit vague over the last few months and constantly needs little corrections when on a straight stretch.
Into my local (non-alfa) garage who informed me today that the inner tie rod end/drag link has play (though the track rod end remains perfect). A phone call to my usual alfa parts main dealer revealed that alfas do not have serviceable parts on this part of the rack, only track rod ends.......€1200 plus vat for a new rack is your only option or a recon unit for €650 plus vat. and thats without labour.
My alfa is a 2006 model, so i'm assuming my warranty is ended (the alfa fiat dealer i bought it off went bust last year). But with 50k miles on the clock, and the wrong p/s fluid from factory do you guys think i have any comeback regarding what this is gonna cost me??? My mechanic reckons that because the ram and rack are contained in the one housing, the type of p/s fluid used is a factor rather than if it were the usual ram bolted onto rack set up. He thinks i have a case regardless of the warranty,given the mileage invloved.
what do you guys think? any suggestions?
thanks guys
During the spell of cold weather, I noticed that my 159 was a bit whiney on start up but returned to normal after about 30 seconds. I traced the sound to the power steering pump and went on alfaowner to see if other owners shared the same experience.
On doing this i learned that our 159's had originally been given the wrong p/s fluid and to check if it was the correct type based on it's colour. I did this and was dismayed to see mine was red, the wrong type. Then i got to thinking about how the steering had become a bit vague over the last few months and constantly needs little corrections when on a straight stretch.
Into my local (non-alfa) garage who informed me today that the inner tie rod end/drag link has play (though the track rod end remains perfect). A phone call to my usual alfa parts main dealer revealed that alfas do not have serviceable parts on this part of the rack, only track rod ends.......€1200 plus vat for a new rack is your only option or a recon unit for €650 plus vat. and thats without labour.
My alfa is a 2006 model, so i'm assuming my warranty is ended (the alfa fiat dealer i bought it off went bust last year). But with 50k miles on the clock, and the wrong p/s fluid from factory do you guys think i have any comeback regarding what this is gonna cost me??? My mechanic reckons that because the ram and rack are contained in the one housing, the type of p/s fluid used is a factor rather than if it were the usual ram bolted onto rack set up. He thinks i have a case regardless of the warranty,given the mileage invloved.
what do you guys think? any suggestions?
thanks guys
