Common Problems in an Alfa 90

[Rory Sutherland]

Hi guys,

I have just acquired an Alfa 90 which I'm picking up on Monday. The car has been sitting for bout 10 years so hasn't run during that time, but at the time it stopped being used was all good. I'm planning on fixing her up as a project so I wanted to know any common problems these cars had i should look out for. The car has the 2.5 V6 fuel injected motor and I believe was the top spec model with all the features including the star wars type cluster.

[Beatle]

Hi Rory,

Specific to the 90:
Rust at the base of the B-pillars
Rust where the vent inlet plenum meets the firewall (especially if the factory soundproofing is intact).
Rust around the boot at the base of the C-pillars/glass.
Rust around the rear guard lip (caused by blocked drains at the lower extremities - if the panel joins are tight, tease them open with a screwdriver so the area can drain correctly).
Rust at the rear lower edge of the front guards.
Headlights are VERY expensive and rare.  Make absolutely certain that the glass is correctly glued to the back shell.  Fix some clear tape over the lights to reduce risk of stone damage (I'm attempting to manufacture some lexan headlight covers).
Electronic dash can be a problem, though mine seems to work fine.  Unreadable in direct sun.
ARC panel can tell lies, though not a bad as the one in the 75.  Plenty have the circuits bypassed for brake wear, coolant level etc.
Seat motors
Window motors
Vent plenum can fill with leaves and catch the car alight - Not as bad as in the 75.

Other problems are more general in nature.  For a start, tend to all those problems arising from a car sitting stored for so long:
All fluids
Be careful of the brakes (moisture settles in slave and master cylinders, causes corrosion, tears seals).
Ensure you give the handbrake mechanism at the rear calipers a good soak with penetrant. Handbrakes can get sticky (on any Alfetta).
If you don't have the history showing a recent cambelt change, fit a new belt now.  If it's ten years+ old, don't even start the car until you change the cambelt.  Easy job and a real risk of trashing the engine if the belt is old.  Do waterpump while you are at it.   Check for a leaky cambelt detensioner. 
Check for oil in water/water in oil (headgaskets leak).Check other threads for issues with the V6 engines.

***  Do a search using 'ALFA 90'.   I've tried to use this phrase in all my recent posts to make searching easier.  Most websites won't allow a search with '90' as it's a number and too few characters.  'Novanta' might also reap some information.


   

[dehne]

How's the 90 going. If you require any parts let me know as I have a heap

[Beatle]

Going slowly Dehne.  Plenty of parts, no TIME!!!!!!

[AikenDrum105]

If the ARC has the random blinky lights syndrome (or is dead)  there's a possible fix by replacing the main voltage regulator on the ARC PCB  that I read on the alfabb a while back.

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/milano-75-1985-1993/69476-real-fix-arc-blinking-lights.html

Apologies if you already knew this one

Cheers,

Scott.

[VeeSix]

Throw up some project pictures so we can follow progress