Used car 3 months Warranty.

[kimsidae]

I recently bought a ALFA ROMEO 166.

I inspected and i found some problems in my car.

Alternator less recharge.

Oil found in inlet tube.

Will all these be covered by warranty right??

[John Hanslow]

Firstly make sure that an Alfa Specialist (or Dealer) checks out the car.  You get a lot of car for your money and the relative value is a discount for things that may need to be done.

Get the advice of what is causing the problem and how much to fix it.   Some issues are not that significant and livable, others can be annoying and problematic.   Some are particular and guaranteed to occur with the car i.e. auto door lock failure, leaking heater behind the centre consol/display and associated electrical issues with said display.  As there are not a lot of 166 being wrecked and those that do have the same unusable parts.

If its worth it, return it quick smart.  I know in Victoria we have a 3 day cooling off period when you purchase (sign up) for a car and my experience was after trusting a very well known dealer to service and correct some outstanding issues, a pre-purchase inspection by an alfa specialist resulted in discovering hidden and unknown problems.   The car had been in an accident and to fix this and that was more than the car was worth.  Under the polish and shine, it was a car that was not serviced correctly and it was just run into the ground. And they they did not service the car at all.  Don't by an Alfa from a Toyota Dealer.

Thankfully after some discussion venting their unacceptable service, a had my money returned.  Some folks in your state will advise what to do other wise call Consumer Affairs in your state.

Regards.

[monoman]

It s true that Victorian law allows the buyer a 3 day cooling off period from the date of signing the contract.  Used car dealers get around this by holding back the car until the cooling off period had lapsed.  Sounds cruel, but the law only states that the dealer must give a full refund during the cooling off period without requiring the buyer to physically return the car.  They could drive it to Brisbane, call the dealer and demand a refund.  The dealer would then have to find and recover the car themselves.  Not so fair.

Anyway, read the warranty carefully.  Ensure you are not voiding the warranty through your own actions, such as failing to service the vehicle, etc. 

Oil in the inlet sounds normal to me (unless it is an excessive amount of oil) because I expect your car has positive crankcase ventilation, and a faulty alternator doesn't sound too much of an issue.  Read the warranty.  All will be revealed.

[ProvaRacing]

It is important that you feel comfortable with your purchase so if these faults appear to be the start of larger or more expensive faults then get out of the contract. Doesn't matter if you take possession of the car or not, you can cancel the contract within three clear business days. Write or print out a clear statement of canceling the contract and fax and e-mail to the dealer (ensure you state the time and date of the notice) and then ring the dealer in an hour to confirm their receipt. If any denial then take a copy in person and deliver to dealership with date of delivery on the envelope.

Sounds strict but this is a legal contract, and I have needed to do this (4yrs ago) after having organised the dealer to do a comprehensive independant inspection (paid by me) which did not satisfy my concerns of excessive leak trail hidden from top view but between the engine and the firewall. I then had the car put up on a hoist in their dealership and an overseas trained specialist indicated certain weakpoints. That was enough for me contract ended after faxing and e-mailing. Deposit returned. But I believe there may be a right for the dealer to withhold a percentage (maybe $100-200) for costs. But I wasn't charged. You can find this on the web and ring Fair Trading etc.

I will say once again there is rarely a car called a bargain - the lower the price means you generally pay more overall for a longer period. Buy fair price (not a low price) for a well kept/serviced car.

[kimsidae]

i bought it about a week ago.

do guys think oil in inlet tube cost alot to replace or repair?

[John Hanslow]

I really suggest that a Alfa specialist check out the rest of the car too.  This is where the suprises are.  The 166 is a great car but you want to know all the facts to determine if the car is an ok purchase.  An inspection should be around $100 and you shound get a good estimate of furure costs and repairs.

Things like timing belt change every 3 years and previously mentioned matters are important and potential damage costly. 

Cheers.

[kimsidae]

What is the main difference betw Normall mechanic and Alfa specia...

[John Hanslow]

It is just that people who know the cars, repairs etc are of value to the owner.  You get the correct info, good service and the correct cost estimate.

Too oftern people are on the forum get a surprise and did not know the timing belts need changing every 60 thousand kms or 3 years, and you change the water pump from plastic blade to new upgraded one with metal blades.  Also the pretensioner needs inspection and replacement depending on wear.  A broken belt means an engine rebuild.  Some non Alfa mechanics did not pick up on these things.

Is there an issue with the elecric door lock/release? How about the heater on the 166 ?

They are great cars but like most modern European cars, they require a bit of specialist knowledge and that does not have to mean expensive. 

Check with your state car club web site for contacts for servicing.

[kimsidae]

Thanks for that...

Ma 166's heater works great.

and no problem with central door locking.

[Sheldon McIntosh]

Thanks for that...

Ma 166's heater works great.

and no problem with central door locking.

It's not that the heater stops working, but that it can leak onto the computer for the gearbox, which costs a lot of money to replace.  An Alfa specialist could check this isn't happening, and/or ensure it never does.

An Alfa specialist is usually no more expensive than mere mortals, but they know what to look for on these cars.  But I think John already said that....