Just joined wanted to say hello

[bloomers1176]

Just bought my second ever Alfa.

I had an Alfa Sud many moons ago and have just got myself a 2003 156 JTS manual.

I live in the bayside area of Brisbane and can from time t time be seen taking her for a spin.

The JTS is a stunning looking vehicle and has been on my wish list for some time. I have read many reviews on them and all have been either kind or mad for them, haven't seen a bad one. Although I know they do have a reputation for certain things. (well its not an Alfa otherwise).

Anyone know of any meets of any kind? would be nice to take a drive out at some point meet a few like minders.


I am in the process of trying to locate one of two things.

1) A decent workshop manual

2) A decent (not too pricey) OBD scanner that will read my 156.

3) small dent removers and alloy gutter rash renovators  (bayside area or covers bayside)


Any pointers would be great.


Right back to cleaning up that Leather. Been "soft" cleaning ready for some decent leather conditioner. fair bit of grime has been building up. Its the Tan leather and wonderful against the black paint work. Even the missis was won over.

Well I hope to chat some more with you guys as the months roll-on.

Cheers and thanks in advance 

Bloomers


ps can we post pics on here if so how and if I can I will ....................cheers )

[colcol]

Hello bloomer1176, welcome to the Forum,
I also have a 2002 Silver JTS manual with about 125,000klms up, i have had it for over 5 years.
Join the Alfa Romeo club in your state, Queensland and start getting to know like minded Alfisti.
A decent workshop manual in hard copy is several hundred dollars from the UK, or you can get a CD of ebay for about $30, i have a CD and i have a program on my computer where i can print whats on the screen, so handy for doing repairs, just print out whatever you are fixing and off you go, also you can get on the various forums throughout the world, and google what you are fixing and bring it up on the screen and print it out, my program is Gadwin printscreen.
A scanner that you will need is an OBD2, that is On Board Diagnostic 2, the 156 JTS has a Canbus wiring system and needs this type, i have no idea which one to buy, i purchased a scanner off ebay, and don't know how to use it, there are people out there with far more knowledge on these than me.
For paintless dent removers in your area, just google it, telling you who are good paintless dent removers in Melbourne would be a waste of time, join the Alfa Club in Queensland and talk to some members and they will point you in the right direction and the dent removers sometimes do rims as well, you can buy a do it yourself alloy wheel touch up kit off ebay, that has fillers, undercoats and paints, i have one, but have not used it yet, so i can't comment.
I use Kitten brand leather cleaner - rejuvinator, it seems to work ok, cleans the grime off and leaves them soft and smells like armor all dashboard presevative, Repco and armor all seem to work ok and dry quick, i used a brand, which i won't mention, that was a creamy liquid, that took ages to dry and looked disgusting, like there a bottle of cream loose in the car!
Hope you enjoy your 156, Colin.

[krysRAW = AROCA-Vic PR =]

Hey Bloomers! Welcome to the club/obsession/curse 

I myself purchased a 2004 156 JTS 5 speed 2 years ago and have not stop playing with it and working on it since I bought it (as some of the Vic boys can vouch for having seen my 156 at a few displays already).

Regarding the OBD2 scanner I bought a fairly cheap one that does the job of reading and clearing codes if necessary: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/OBD2-OBDII-CAN-BUS-Code-Engine-Memo-Scanner-Reader-Auto-Car-Diagnostic-Tool-U480-/321374469534?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4ad3693d9e

Good for diagnosing codes that trigger the 'check engine' light, along with either Google or a good OBD2 Code App on your phone, and for clearing silly codes such 'catalytic errors' which the JTS can have as sometimes the sensors can be a little touchy. But for anything more serious, should always see a specialist.

Also hopefully you're using a good oil with good levels of zinc as our JTS engines needs it, so as much as Alfa manuals say mention Selena, don't use it    When my car was under 100,000km I was using a 10w40 Royal Purple performance oil, but after 100,000km (which I'm now at 150k) I use a 10w60 Castrol Edge.

[colcol]

The oil that has 'extra zinc' is Penrite 15 - 60 Fully synthetic, but too much zinc can poison the TWO catalytic convertors at the bottom of the engines, genuine cats are about $3,500, so i am told, oils in the olden days had high levels of zinc, but the advent of cats forced oil companies to remove the zinc, just make sure your oil is clean and changed when it gets dirty, the twin sparks and early JTS's used 10 - 40 oil, with the JTS being direct injection, it drinks a bit more oil, Alfa Romeo upspecked the oil to 10 - 60, to cut down oil consumption, Colin.

[John Hanslow]

Welcome to Alfa ownership.  God colour ombination of black and tan interior.

ColCol has covered your comments.  Oils aint' oils.

Post some pics when you get the leather seats done.

Cheers

[bloomers1176]

Hey guys sorry for tardy reply. Bloody bigpond more like big pain in the arse!

Anyway,

Thanks to all for the info and greetings.

I still aint bought a scanner but I will. Its on the Alfa "to do list"  )

As for Oil. I must admit I do have the Selenia  "pure energy"  K 5w-40 Multi air. (Cripes that's a mouthful just for oil)

Reason being the geezer who owned it before me  (first and only owner full alfa service history...gotta love that) said that's what he has been recommended?

Thoughts? he gave me 2 litres he had too.

I have washed gently the front passenger seat and it has made the others look old and dirty so result there. looking forward to the rest. Pics of that to follow.

right im going to attempt to add some pics for you guys.

Oh BTW........ A local outfit quoted me 525 dollars for all four alloys to have the gutter rashes removed. About right im thinking??? thoughts???

Take it easy guys and thanks

Bloomers

[colcol]

Hello Bloomers1176,
The oil for the JTS engine is 10-60, look on the radiator support, it will tell you, if thats whats in the engine, use it as a top up, if not, shandy it down a bit as its a bit thin, being 5-40, and will burn more than 10-60, the wheels are not the standard 156 JTS wheels,, the quote for the rims sound good if the tyres are removed and gutter rash fixed and wheels resprayed, it may just mean that the rims are smoothed out and filled and spot painted, find out whats involved, Colin.

[krysRAW = AROCA-Vic PR =]

Oh BTW........ A local outfit quoted me 525 dollars for all four alloys to have the gutter rashes removed. About right im thinking??? thoughts???

$525 is a pretty good price to repair and respray all 4. 

[colcol]

Its quite a big market now for mag wheel resto's now as 20 years ago steel wheels were quite common, now not so, therefor a market has sprung up for this service and if you charge too much you go broke, and the wheels are getting more common and cheaper, Colin.

[Craig_m67]

It's still a very good price, the best in Brisbane I could find for repair and repaint was nearly $200./ a wheel.  So I had a crack myself