Squealing sound when clutch pressed 159 2.4 20v

[Nikola78]

Hi guys.My 159 has 105000 km on the clock and clutch is changed on 88000.Today a strange noise came when pressing the clutch like ringing, squeling.Can hear it only with window open starts approx 3-4 cm from when I press the clutch and goes all the way down till I release it.Otherwise gear change is same, car runs smooth as before, nothing else unusual.Anyone else with the same experience or any idea whats wrong? Just hope and pray for a small bill.Any help much appreciated. THANKS

[colcol]

Hello Nikola, sounds like a clutch bearing on the way out, when you push the clutch pedal the slave cylinder pushes on the bearing which then touches the clutch pressure plate, no good news, if it is bearing, then its gearbox out to get to bearing, whenever you have new clutch put in, put in a complete clutch kit, 1. friction plate, 2. pressure plate, 3. clutch bearing, 4. clutch slave cylinder, could be a dual mass flywheel as well, don't know much about these, never changed one, won't be a small bill, thats for sure, or turn the radio up louder or buy some earplugs, Colin.

[Nikola78]

Im getting worried now..going tomorrow to Maranello Pur-Sang for a check up.Hope its nothing major.

[colcol]

If you are taking it to Marranello Pursang Motors it will be in good hands, squealing clutches usually mean gearbox out and new clutch assembly, tell us how you go, Colin.

[Nikola78]

Went ones there just for a advice after cleaning Egr and throttle body and putting a restrictor plate..was suprised how friendly and helpful they were.Its very hard to find good and thrustfull mechanics these days.Hope they wont let me down.I will let you know of the outcome..just hope its not four zeros 

[Neil Choi]

Nikola

I assure you absolutely (perhaps with my life) that all the Alfa club sponsors such as Maranello, Monza and Mauceri are all trustworthy and know their stuff, just mention you are a club member.  Given they are all members and two are life members in fact.  On an average day, you will club members at the workshop visiting.

So don't worry.

Neil

[colcol]

You would take your Alfa to any of our club sponsors, because they know their Alfa Romeo's, as that what the work on all the time, don't even think about taking your car to a franchised service centre, as the chances of them ever having worked on an Alfa is low, i was talking once to a service centre / tyre seller and he noticed that i had an Alfa and he mentioned he never works on them, as they are too difficult and only works on cars that regulary come through the workshop, ie Mazda 3's, Camry's, etc, you always see Alfa Club members at Marranello Pursang, Monza and Mauceri, it must tell you something, Colin.

[Nikola78]

Hi guys.I went there this morning, noise was there in the morning but while driving to Brunswick it was gone, one of the guys there looked after me, took a car for a spin but couldnt hear anything.He told me of a couple of possibilities of what might be wrong and if it comes again I have to go back there. At least ive booked a service for next month and I think ill stick to this guys taking care of my Alfa, I feel confident with them for some reason.
Was suprised they dont use Selenia in the engine, he told me they use Martini motor oil which is designed for European cars.To be honest, ive never heard of that oil (even that I came from Europe 4 years ago) so just wondering if any of you have used that one and how is 2.4 jtdm behaving with it.Cause since I own the car I never added oil in it, ones Ive changed it and not a single drop missing.Previous owner used Selenia 5/40 wr, my choise was Liqui Moly 5/40 Toptech.Just want to be on a safe side, you know.Thanks

[colcol]

Service Providers use the oil they know very well and does the job, Martini has a long tradition of support for Italian racing cars, just don't like me, confuse Martini oils for Martini the alcoholic beverage maker.
Alfa Romeo dealers use Selenia oils because Fiat own Alfa Romeo and Selenia oils, that is the only oil that Alfa Romeo recomends, in the olden days of the 33, when Alfa Romeo was owned by the Italian Goverment, they recomended, Agip, Shell, Mobil, IP, or any oil that is good quality with the right specifications, i use Mobil, Castrol, Valvoline, Penrite, Shell and Martini oil in my 156, the main thing with oil is that it is the right specs and viscosity and it changed regulary.
The clutch bearing must have found some grease to shut it up, Colin

[Nikola78]

Hello Nikola, sounds like a clutch bearing on the way out, when you push the clutch pedal the slave cylinder pushes on the bearing which then touches the clutch pressure plate, no good news, if it is bearing, then its gearbox out to get to bearing, whenever you have new clutch put in, put in a complete clutch kit, 1. friction plate, 2. pressure plate, 3. clutch bearing, 4. clutch slave cylinder, could be a dual mass flywheel as well, don't know much about these, never changed one, won't be a small bill, thats for sure, or turn the radio up louder or buy some earplugs, Colin.

No good news.. its the flywheel   

[colcol]

If its good news, then its a clutch bearing, as they may cost $50???, a dual mass flywheel is a lot more money than that, there are some auto spare parts places that sell 'normal' flywheels to replace the dual mass flywheels as the owners baulk at the cost of a new one, but the dual mass flywheels are better than a normal one, thats why the fitted them in the first place.
Ford in Europe started fitting dual mass flywheels to their diesel models to make them more acceptable to people who normally wouldn't buy a diesel, i assume that the 159 has a dual mass flywheel?, i would put money on it, but sorry i don't know much about them, Colin.

[Nikola78]

Went back to Maranelo today as the sound came back, they say its definitely the flywheel.Gave me some absurd price for the last one they ordered from Italy,but God bless eb spares, ive mailed them while I was there and just got the quote of £420 delivered which is not bad at all and its couple of times less then what ive heard.Clutch set has been changed before about 20000 km, so im not sure if should I change everything again or just the flywheel.Anyway the clutch needs to be opened.Scared the labour might cost me more then the parts this time...lots of questionmarks in my head now 

[colcol]

Hey Nicola78, 420 quid from EB sounds good, did you get any prices locally?, the dual mass flywheel is like 2 flywheels in one to smooth out pulses from diesel engines and to stop the gears rattling, like the harmonic balancer on the other end of the motor, it smooths things out, but doesn't last forever, one of the reasons diesel engines are now acceptable for luxury cars, where 40 years ago they were only for trucks and taxi's, Colin.

[AR753.0ltr]

Hey Nikola78

Does EB Spares provide warranty for the part if it fails?
The labour to remove and re-fit the gearbox will, like you mentioned cost more than the actual part itself. You'd hope it doesn't fail within 12 months and not have a warranty for it. You'll be up for more money in labour and a new part again.
Not saying that it will fail, but you always have to be careful with purchasing big ticket items overseas as if they do fail, there is no warranty on the item.
As Colin mentioned, did you try any parts places locally? Was it a Dual Mass Flywheel, or just a single one like others put on to save some $$ even thought it's wrong and will cause problems in the future?

[Nikola78]

Hi AR75,
just got confirmation mail from Eb that it is a dual mass one and ive sent them back question on warranty.As I know they dont have it in stock here, someones car got stuck with open gearbox for a month at Maranelos until they received the DMF from overseas (poor guy).I think even I find it here it wont be under $1500, even with warranty Ill still have topay for opening again labour if something happens so dont think it will be less than $3000 I reckon. Just wondering should I change the clutch too or not (changed approx 20000 km ago)