[kabutto]

Hello !

So I've been researching AR GT 1.9 jtd for a while now. I've seen a lot of the "common problems" threads mentioning timing belt every 3 years, EGR valve clogging up, swirl flaps and their amazing design, rattling tailgate, suspension arms.

However, what I have not found is how it is to actually own one. By that I mean, is it easy to work on? If something goes wrong, can I take my tool set and fix it. Does replacing a light bulb require dropping the bumper? How about the air filter? etc etc.

Please tell me that the universal approach is not "bring it to the dealer, let him fix it while i make it rain money"

Thank you for the info :teacher:

 

[_The_Editor_]

However, what I have not found is how it is to actually own one. By that I mean, is it easy to work on? If something goes wrong, can I take my tool set and fix it. Does replacing a light bulb require dropping the bumper? How about the air filter? etc etc.

Please tell me that the universal approach is not "bring it to the dealer, let him fix it while i make it rain money"

Thank you for the info :teacher:

In order of your questions...

1. FUN!

2. Relatively.. Some things are easy, some not so...

3. Yep. I'd never done any car maintenance before owning my GT, now pretty happy with the basic maintenance stuff.. Still take it in for important things like timing belts... But filters and oil I do.

4. Nope. Some people struggle with the sidelights, but the front bumper is easy enough to drop off if you need to! If you're blessed with flexible digits like myself, you can get them out in 5 mins without removing anything!

5. Air filter is a bit of an arse, but once you got the knack it's ok. Suggest some protective eyewear as well, because you're gonna get a load of road crud fall in your face!

 

[CarlR]

Love mine

Do an 80 mile round trip to work every other day (car share) up the M1 but love it on the back roads round Derbyshire

Yes the hatch rattles, and the suspension some times but so what.

And the electric windows have been known to do strange things, but never let water in. The aircons a bit eccentric too.

Only done one job on it in 3 years, changede the turbo hose which split, but so did the one on my mates Mundano. Changed it easily in an afternoon.

Just finished changing the cam belts on a K series VVC so may have a stab at the Alfa one next time, can't be any more difficult, can it?

 

[Binji]

Timing belt interval is 5 years/120.000km though. Only TS (JTS) engines have a 3 year interval.

 

[halftone]

Officially, yes, but most people will tell you 4yrs or 70k MLS or even 3yrs/50k MLS is safer. It's the water pump that is risky, it can seize and shred the belt. If you have the timing tools (£15 - 20 ebay) and some mech ability it's an easy job and belt, pump, tensioner and idler are £100ish. Once you've done it once you'll wonder what the fuss was all about and why people neglect the job.

 

[koostick]

Had my gt jtdm 3 years now and is a car that stands out from the crowd great looks , now to ownership my experience 1 suspension is rigid you'll be playing dodge the pot holes 2 wishbones are made of toffee , in fact having another one replaced this wend .3 Clutch can be another issue had mine replaced with flywheel at 50k not cheap. 3 turbo, luck of the draw had to have mine recon before xmas due to loud whistle seal inside had perished again not cheap 4 door handel hinge snapped, common fault, easy fix 5 headlights ar'nt that brill, upgrade bulbs and they will be better, mind you had a 156 and they were terrible 6 engines great had a blend remap , and egr delete-blanked , that should sort the worry over swirl flaps so I've been told by my Alfa man, still sounds like a London taxi on start up tho, but after all of that I love the car and wouldn't get rid. Happy ownership

 

[Raffinatoa]

Hello !

So I've been researching AR GT 1.9 jtd for a while now. I've seen a lot of the "common problems" threads mentioning timing belt every 3 years, EGR valve clogging up, swirl flaps and their amazing design, rattling tailgate, suspension arms.

However, what I have not found is how it is to actually own one. By that I mean, is it easy to work on? If something goes wrong, can I take my tool set and fix it. Does replacing a light bulb require dropping the bumper? How about the air filter? etc etc.

Please tell me that the universal approach is not "bring it to the dealer, let him fix it while i make it rain money"

Thank you for the info :teacher:

It was an excellent choice to choose the JTDm. I love to drive it and when I've been away I crave a quick excuse to 'get some milk'. As you are reading a forum of enthusiasts you will naturally see many threads on the woes. Don't be put off. After 4 years of driving and a 50 mile round trip to work everyday, I still average 45mpg and I've never experienced a serious problem. Any problem that I couldn't undertake (I'm not that mechanically able) has been cheap to pay for (using either normal or specialist garage). I've stayed away from main dealers as for a car of 11 years of age, I see little point in gracing their forecourts. I leave the timing belt to the garage but change bulbs (which can bring out the best of your vocabulary).

Unusually for a modern car pedestrians have knocked on my window in the past and commented on the aesthetics and only yesterday I was approached by someone who offered to buy my car and left me their business card in case I decided to.

It's not built with German attention to detail, things squeak but like the VW ad of the 80s, these can be cured with some lube, or Velcro. A fantastic blend of modern with classic car needs (let's you tinker, largely, to the point of your limits before professional help is required). Cheap to insure and run and will always stir the emotions.

 

[kabutto]

Haha, can't have a description of an alfa without including something about emotions :thumbup:

Do the wishbones themselves fail, or the bushings? Surely there have to be uprated aftermarket parts ?

How about the turning circle of the moon and poor rear visibility?

 

[_The_Editor_]

Do the wishbones themselves fail, or the bushings? Surely there have to be uprated aftermarket parts ?

Bushings usually, although there aren't any replacement rubber bushings readily available... Weren't intended to be a service item I believe... That being said at least one person has managed to source a replacement set of rubber bushes from an aftermarket bushing specialist...

Powerflex/Strongflex Polyurethane bushes are an option, they won't wear like the original rubbers... But they have downsides worth reading about..

All of that aside, the balljoints will go bad eventually no matter what you do with the bushes... and these definitely aren't serviceable.. So either way you're replacing the whole arm eventually.

There are aftermarket pattern parts available, but the general consensus is that OEM/TRW parts tend to last the longest and overall perform the best (honorable mention for Birth parts too!).. The cheapo eBay kits (e.g. £100 for a full set of arms and links) wear out extremely quickly in comparison..

As for the wide turning circle and lack of rear visibility... Yep.... Not a lot to say about that really.. I picked up a set of convex blind-spot mirrors that I stuck to my wingmirrors, give me much better rear visibility for reverse parking, and a good look into the blind spot when on the motorway.. Otherwise it's something you jsut get used to... I felt like I was wearing blinkers to the first time I drove my GT coming from a Mk3 VW Polo (a greenhouse in comparison), but now it feels completely normal!

 

[pubsinger]

The GT JTDm is a gem, to start with it looks effing fantastic. It's a 2 door coupe with a hatchback, fold the rear seats and it's cavernous, it'll seat 5 and return 45mpg. The leather seats are the most comfortable I've ever sat in, and the engine is a peach.

Only Xenon headlights need the bumper dropping to change the sidelights, which do have a habit of blowing regularly. Replace them with LEDs, last much longer.

Does have it's well documented problems.

Suspension
Door Handles
Heated seat switches
Turbo Hoses
Undertray
Crushed sills caused by incorrect jacking
Thermostat
Door mirrors not folding
Clutch cylinders

But then *all* cars have their issues. With regular maintenance and fixing problems as they occur the GT is a pleasure to own. I'll have had mine for 8 years soon, it was 2 years old when I bought it and it has just gone through 150K miles.

But the very best thing is there isn't another one in the car park.

Love it.

Pub

 

[kabutto]

Are clutch cylinders prone to failure ?
I just had a slave cylinder leak in my fiat resulting in a clutch change. What an expensive pain

Assuming the car is designed OK, changing a thermostat or fixing the handles and mirrors can't be that terrible, right ?

 

[Pud237]

Are clutch cylinders prone to failure ?
I just had a slave cylinder leak in my fiat resulting in a clutch change. What an expensive pain

Yes they are fairly prone to failure, however they are on top of the gearbox rather than inside the bellhousing so its a quick and easy job to change them.

 

[purple145]

best put together version of the 156/147 range of cars, some say quality is not up to that of the Germans, but every failed component on my car has Bosch stamped on it. Grrr. Not yet had to go to a garage in two years, all DIY able, although nothing too major has gone wrong. And best of all, after 10 years it still looks gorgeous,whereas a 10 year old German looks obsolete.
My only gripe is I wish the 156 facelift dash was in it instead of the 147.

 

[ferret-ears]

Haha, can't have a description of an alfa without including something about emotions :thumbup:

Do the wishbones themselves fail, or the bushings? Surely there have to be uprated aftermarket parts ?

How about the turning circle of the moon and poor rear visibility?

As for rear visibility fit a vauxhaul number plate light reversing camera and a double din stereo.