I heard all the same story's before i bought mine, everyone advised me not to get one. I did, and so glad i did.

Much better than a standard automatic with a torque converter. The kickdown is addictive!

It turns out that nearly everything else on my car has been replaced\upgraded but the original selespeed system is still going strong at 98k.

Yes you might have a situation of not getting into gear etc but this is usually caused by simply the relay sooting up (ive had this myself), running low on oil or the accumulator on the actuator failing (£60 for the part). The pumps can go aswell at a cost of £200 to buy or you can get it recon'd. I rekon 90% of the time selespeed faults are something simple. Dont forget that this is still a manual box behind it which can develop faults itself - the selespeed system is then blamed. Dealers eyes light up at selespeed faults as its instantly blamed on the actuator which is £1200 or so to replace - there has been many occasions on here where it has just been a simple fault.

A few tips:
Make sure the car has a good battery (selespeed draws over 200watt every 90sec's to power the pump)
Check selespeed oil occasionally (although a healthy system should not use any)
Get the selespeed re-calibrated if it has not been done - also clutch push-rod adjustment

 

Good sound advice here.

I've have one too. I'll admit that I've had some issues with mine, but it's a drop in the ocean compaired to the other troubles I've had. My poor baby was very abused by the last owner.
Most of my problems looked like big issues and huge bucks till I learned not to trust the stealers. I've spent maybe 20 to 30 pounds on the sele. I should get a new ECU though, but that also isn't badly priced. However, I also needed a new engine ECU, so the abuse extends to the electrical systems too.

 

at 90K mine worked like a dream!

 

I wouldn't want one. I prefer the way the manual drives and it would worry me when it went wrong.

 

No. They are worse. I think you should have looked here FIRST, done a little research. Too late now.
However, you may be lucky, and when they're actually working properly, they can be fun. Like so many other things with Alfa, it's a good idea badly executed; another 2 years testing/development might have produced something more refined and reliable. Enjoy it (while it lasts)!

 

Nothing Wrong with selespeeds,my present one has over 140.000mikes and is on everything originall,and its towed trailers all its life.

 

Good luck with your alfa.Totally agree with matt,all alfas need that extra tlc,sillyspeeds that lil bit more:thumbs:

 

Hi, as you're in lancs Gus @ Alfatune Motorsport: see 3 posts above, he is "the man" as far as seles are concerned, and yes i do have one, a 156 sele SW and i had a 156 jts sele before that which my sister now has :thumbs:

 

You just need to read into how the system works and get an idea for where the components are that can go wrong. If something does happen you can run through a checklist and hopefully you can resolve the situation yourself.

I was stranded once, popped the bonnet and swapped the big red selespeed relay for the fan relay - hey presto sprung into life. Changed it for a new one the next day and never had another problem.

 

Got a 156 GTA with Sele, only has 18k on the clock but no hint of a problem so far, in fact only two manual gearboxes in my personal experience have been better, One in a 1971 1750 Spider and one in a Civic Type R.

Mind you they do say the Sele gubbins in a GTA is 'different' something usually totally ignored by every single buyers guide you care to mention - including the one on here.

 

I want one

 

so have you collected? does it work

 

collected the car last nihgt and its fine. love the feel of it kicking down a gear and flooring it.

hopefully this will be the start of many happy alfa romeo driving years.

 

Brilliant

 

I had a Sele and loved it, did 20,000 miles in about 9 months in it and with the exception of the clutch (natural wear and tear) it gave no issues at all.....

Shortly after i sold it the guy who bought it blew the box up, i found out later it was because he was knocking it down 2 gears at a time :tut:
Treat the system with respect ensure that the levels are ok, and some people suggest having the system recalibrated on an annual basis if you have a laptop and want to do it yourself then get Alfa diag and a OBD cable, there are some members who sell them on here, total cost for the 2, about £90.

Having read and seen a lot of sele issues, many of them are caused by associated component failure and not the sele unit itself

enjoy the Sele :thumbs:

 

they take a lot of getting used to i had to completly change the way i drove. Gears cant keep up with sudden decelleration and acceleration ie roundabouts lost count of the amount of times i sat revving waiting for first to engage. Does not happen quite so much now you soon learn and youll love it.

 

Alfa specialist doesn't like Selespeed

Hi All.
I live in Adelaide, South Australia. I always loved Alfas and finally bought a 156 Twin Spark three years ago, :cheese: and a 3 litre Gtv 18 months ago.:thumbs: Both are manual and I wouldn't have it any other way. I have them serviced at an Alfa specialist and we got a rapport going. I said a few unfavourable things about the Selespeed and he said to me, "Don't go near a Selespeed, :tut:they're more trouble than they're worth and a real driver would prefer the manual anyway."
I wish you happy motoring if you bought any Alfa at all. They are a car with real character and quite beautiful to look at.

 

Two years late

 

The side of my actuator blew off shortly after writing this and got a brand new one fitted along with a brand new gearbox with quaife lsd.

A selespeed is a true Alfa, nutty temperamental design that only the Italians would use but very fun to drive

 

I've owned 2 and loved them. There is an issue with Selespeed that both of mine suffered from which is that they were fine when cold, when warmed up they would start dropping 3rd gear, going from 2nd straight to 4th.

It's going back a few years now (3ish) but at the time, dealers, specialists and everyone on this forum couldn't provide any sort of conclusive solution to it. I'm not sure this is still the case?

If your going to test drive one, i'd be looking for a 30 minute test drive minimum, give it a chance to get warm and drop 3rd gear.