[tim1547]

Hi all, this is my first post on here as I'm a new Alfa owner and unfortunately not a happy post.
Just thought i'd share my experience with you all. Me and my wife have been looking to buy a 147 1.9jtdm as we both really like the look of them and the value they go for second hand. At the beginning of the year we decided to go for one, we were looking at a few q2 versions which we really liked until a Ducati Corse came up for an incredible price due to the owner relocating abroad so needed a quick sale.
A long story short, we purchased it knowing the car is due a cambelt change and drove it home no problems. After a few days and just before getting the work done the cambelt broke. Completely our fault for still driving it but never thought it would within just a few days. Completely learnt my lesson the hard way.

We got it towed to a local RAC approved garage and they came back and said they will need to take the head off to see the extent of the damage but worst case scenario and all the valves need replacing it will be just under £2000. Even though a shocker of a bill especially after just spending out nearly £3000 for it we knew it wasn't going to be cheap.

So 10 days later now and the garage has had the car longer than we have and they've call up with good news and bad news, just what you want to hear on a Monday morning. The head has been examined and the valves are good but all the rockers will need replacing plus the camcase cover. That didn't sound to bad to me with my limited experience but followed with a bill of £2300.

We've told them to go ahead with the work but thought I would seek advise as to the price we are having to pay.

Many thanks to all who are reading this and have a good week.

Tim

 

[VO2Max]

Sorry to hear this Tim.

In this situation it's very often the case that it's just some/all the rockers which need replacing. The JTD is a non-interference engine, in other words the pistons and valves don't overlap (if it'd been one of the petrol engines then a complete top-end rebuild would probably ensue, along with a big-end failure 6mths down the line).

So, that part is good...in effect what you're having to have now is a cambelt change (make sure you do the water-pump too), plus the rockers, plus - apparently - a new camcase cover.

I am however, completely at a loss as to why they want to charge £2300 for this work? A good independent like The Alfaworkshop or Autolusso would turn this around for inside £1000, I feel pretty certain of that.

 

[broadsword]

Hello. As above I am sorry to hear this. £2300 sounds like an awful lot. Have a look on autolusso website under cambelt failures.

 

[petep312]

and they will recover the car too i expect. get it to them theyre experts

 

[David WB]

That is quite a wad of cash. You'll be paying a lot in labour, because these garages will often follow some standard procedure that they won't do every week; a specialist will be able to work on these cars a lot faster, and they will have all of the tools to do it already.

There are even decent instructions to do it yourself:
http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/alfa_JTDm_cam_belt_broken.shtml

 

[_The_Editor_]

That didn't sound to bad to me with my limited experience but followed with a bill of £2300.

We've told them to go ahead with the work but thought I would seek advise as to the price we are having to pay.

Wow... That's a lot of dosh....

Autolusso will rebuild the top end of a JTD/JTDm for £850 - Autolusso - Cambelt Failures

Would recommend calling your local garage, having them immediately down-tools, and then giving Autolusso a call to arrange collection with a recovery truck to their closest workshop...

For £2300 I'd be expecting at least a new engine..

 

[Autolusso]

Hi all, this is my first post on here as I'm a new Alfa owner and unfortunately not a happy post.
Just thought i'd share my experience with you all. Me and my wife have been looking to buy a 147 1.9jtdm as we both really like the look of them and the value they go for second hand. At the beginning of the year we decided to go for one, we were looking at a few q2 versions which we really liked until a Ducati Corse came up for an incredible price due to the owner relocating abroad so needed a quick sale.
A long story short, we purchased it knowing the car is due a cambelt change and drove it home no problems. After a few days and just before getting the work done the cambelt broke. Completely our fault for still driving it but never thought it would within just a few days. Completely learnt my lesson the hard way.

We got it towed to a local RAC approved garage and they came back and said they will need to take the head off to see the extent of the damage but worst case scenario and all the valves need replacing it will be just under £2000. Even though a shocker of a bill especially after just spending out nearly £3000 for it we knew it wasn't going to be cheap.

So 10 days later now and the garage has had the car longer than we have and they've call up with good news and bad news, just what you want to hear on a Monday morning. The head has been examined and the valves are good but all the rockers will need replacing plus the camcase cover. That didn't sound to bad to me with my limited experience but followed with a bill of £2300.

We've told them to go ahead with the work but thought I would seek advise as to the price we are having to pay.

Many thanks to all who are reading this and have a good week.

Tim

Have they actually taken the head off?

If they have that would have been unnecessary as you can check for bent valves with out removing the cylinder head so if they have taken the head off and find it to be good they have waisted a lot of labour time with unnecessary work

We would have done this repair for £850 inc VAT, there may be bits and pieces on top it needs but not £1,450 worth

Ned

 

[Alan Walker]

Have they actually taken the head off?

If they have that would have been unnecessary as you can check for bent valves with out removing the cylinder head so if they have taken the head off and find it to be good they have waisted a lot of labour time with unnecessary work

We would have done this repair for £850 inc VAT, there may be bits and pieces on top it needs but not £1,450 worth

Ned

My local Italian car independent did mine for £1000 about 5 years ago. Your quote is way too much.

 

[armoore]

Sorry to hear this Tim.

In this situation it's very often the case that it's just some/all the rockers which need replacing. The JTD is a non-interference engine, in other words the pistons and valves don't overlap (if it'd been one of the petrol engines then a complete top-end rebuild would probably ensue, along with a big-end failure 6mths down the line).

So, that part is good...in effect what you're having to have now is a cambelt change (make sure you do the water-pump too), plus the rockers, plus - apparently - a new camcase cover.

I am however, completely at a loss as to why they want to charge £2300 for this work? A good independent like The Alfaworkshop or Autolusso would turn this around for inside £1000, I feel pretty certain of that.

It is an interference engine otherwise why would the rockers break? I'm led to believe later engines can suffer valve damage as the stems are thinner and I seem to remember reading somewhere, or being told, that the rockers are more robust on later engines.
http://replace-timing-belt.com/how-to-replace-timing-belt-on-alfa-romeo-156-1-9-jtd-16v-2002-2005/

Applies to 147 too and from the quide very similar to my 2.0 JTm 2 Giulietta.

 

[VO2Max]

Oops, my bad, the JTD is indeed an interference engine :embarrassed:. But yes, the relatively weak rockers failing rather than valves in the event of a cambelt snap is a somewhat desirable trait, and something that has happened to a few here, and in my case, a cambelt-slip on my old 1.9 JTD 156. If indeed later engines have stronger rockers and weaker valves then the Ducati Corse might well hopefully be of the earlier type?

 

[joeymannero]

that quote is huge........


its amazing the minute a garage see's an alfa badge they stick another 50% on the price. the fact is the 1.9 JTDm is the same as the SAAB and vauxhall lump and being made by fiat in on many fiats as well..

its no different internally to those engines, the differences are often with ancillary's and state of tune. as stated above Autolusso do the job for £850, alfa workshop do a similar price as do the alfa/maserati shed.

all of these guys are top draw and will get the job done quickly and properly.

get the vehicle recovered to one of the above mentioned.

BTW sorry to hear this, it's not a nice introduction to Alfa ownership, we would all say though unlike most German or Japanese marques with Italian cars in general you MUST adhere to the servicing and cam belt intervals and even adopt a policy of preventative maintenance...as a rule of thumb knock 20% of the service/belt intervals to be safe.

on this occasion whilst you are in there make sure the water pump thermostat and tensioners/idlers are replaced, I would also take the chance to remove the swirl flaps whilst you are in there and do an EGR delete and re-map.

don't know what the mileage is on your car but due to the torque JTDm engines generally tend to require clutch at around 60-85k on average...if you are unlucky flywheel too.


what I am saying is at a good specialist £2300 should do all of the above with a good bit of change...:thumbup: so take this as a chance to get it all sorted and go away with a stronger and faster car.

the ducati corse with the q2 is a peach and the best 147 this side of a GTA it will be a hoot to drive when its all done.

best of luck!

 

[DNG]

I saw that car for sale. Even with a £1000 bill you got a bargain. I immediately thought the advert was a con so well done for getting it. Although I guess you are not thinking that right now

 

[Pud237]

Why does it need a new cam carrier (rocker cover)? These are £500 on their own new. Shame they took the head off, what a waste of time. A leak down test with the cam carrier off would have told them if any cylinders were not holding pressure due to bent valves. Yes the CF4 engines do have thinner valve stems and slightly more robust rockers but they still more often than not get away without any bent valves.

 

[tim1547]

Thanks everyone for all the advise, I really appreciate it. I'm going down to the garage first thing in the morning so I can get a run down of everything that needs replacing and discuss the price. I guess we will decide what to do after going to see them. Will keep you all updated.

 

[armoore]

Thanks everyone for all the advise, I really appreciate it. I'm going down to the garage first thing in the morning so I can get a run down of everything that needs replacing and discuss the price. I guess we will decide what to do after going to see them. Will keep you all updated.

Which garage was it? I've just noticed that you're in Croydon, same as me.

 

[tim1547]

Which garage was it? I've just noticed that you're in Croydon, same as me.

It's B&W motor company along the Brighton rd.

 

[tim1547]

so we have the car back now and the engine seems all good. Decided to just stick with the garage in the end as when I went there they were just starting to rebuild it. I will not be taking my car back there for sure, way too expensive.

Thanks again all for the advise and Ned from Autolusso for willing to help repair the car, I'll keep you in mind for next time.

All the best

Tim:thumbup:

 

[ALFADOIT]

Hi all, this is my first post on here as I'm a new Alfa owner and unfortunately not a happy post.
Just thought i'd share my experience with you all. Me and my wife have been looking to buy a 147 1.9jtdm as we both really like the look of them and the value they go for second hand. At the beginning of the year we decided to go for one, we were looking at a few q2 versions which we really liked until a Ducati Corse came up for an incredible price due to the owner relocating abroad so needed a quick sale.
A long story short, we purchased it knowing the car is due a cambelt change and drove it home no problems. After a few days and just before getting the work done the cambelt broke. Completely our fault for still driving it but never thought it would within just a few days. Completely learnt my lesson the hard way.

We got it towed to a local RAC approved garage and they came back and said they will need to take the head off to see the extent of the damage but worst case scenario and all the valves need replacing it will be just under £2000. Even though a shocker of a bill especially after just spending out nearly £3000 for it we knew it wasn't going to be cheap.

So 10 days later now and the garage has had the car longer than we have and they've call up with good news and bad news, just what you want to hear on a Monday morning. The head has been examined and the valves are good but all the rockers will need replacing plus the camcase cover. That didn't sound to bad to me with my limited experience but followed with a bill of £2300.

We've told them to go ahead with the work but thought I would seek advise as to the price we are having to pay.

Many thanks to all who are reading this and have a good week.

Tim

Tim you should have had her taken to AUTOLUSSO! They would have made sure the job was done properly. And i am sure they could have beaten that work quote!

Damien.

 

[gazza82]

so we have the car back now and the engine seems all good. Decided to just stick with the garage in the end as when I went there they were just starting to rebuild it. I will not be taking my car back there for sure, way too expensive.

Thanks again all for the advise and Ned from Autolusso for willing to help repair the car, I'll keep you in mind for next time.

All the best

Tim:thumbup:

Did you give them the ok to do the work ie formally accepted the quote? I'm sure there is something legal about that ...

 

[Chris155]

Wonder if they're replacing the big end shells, head bots, water pump etc