new guy

chops · January 06, 2011, 08:34:06 PM

Owner of a 156jts 2002 manual. Just got it in the last month. Some good and some bad so far, good economy 700klms+ out of a tank, car drives quite well for its age. The bad, rattles like a diesel at idle, and uses oil has gone from the full mark to half way between the two marks in under 2000k's.

colcol · January 06, 2011, 11:18:25 PM

Welcome to the club, chops, your car is the same as mine, 2002 JTS manual, the rattle at idle that sounds like a diesel could be the variator on the way out, these variators don't last forever, they are attached to the cam and vary its position in the rev range, JTS's have a reputation for oil burning, just make sure you have the right oil in it, 10-60 fully synthetic and make sure its always topped up, great to hear from you, Colin.

John Hanslow · January 07, 2011, 07:45:33 AM

Welcome to Alfa Ownership.

I would plan on getting a service (mabe a minor one to check it over) as you want the car performing at its best to get the result of a rewarding and comfortable drive.

A good Alfa Specialist is recommened. Some others do not use the correct spec oil. As for oil and ColCol comments, go to Autobarn and get some Castrol Edge Sport so you can top it up on a needs basis.

I think only the 932 series Twin Spark engine had a variator and not the JTS - is that right ?

Cheers.

chops · January 07, 2011, 09:45:05 PM

Quote from: John Hanslow on January 07, 2011, 07:45:33 AM
Welcome to Alfa Ownership.

I would plan on getting a service (mabe a minor one to check it over) as you want the car performing at its best to get the result of a rewarding and comfortable drive.

A good Alfa Specialist is recommened. Some others do not use the correct spec oil. As for oil and ColCol comments, go to Autobarn and get some Castrol Edge Sport so you can top it up on a needs basis.

I think only the 932 series Twin Spark engine had a variator and not the JTS - is that right ?

Cheers.

Bought from a dealer so it's under stat warranty, have it booked in with them to sort out the issues the motor control system failure light just came on today, if they say everything is normal it's off to an alfa specialist to be sure.

Thanks you Colin and John for the tips on the oil

wankski · January 14, 2011, 07:15:47 PM

Quote from: John Hanslow on January 07, 2011, 07:45:33 AM
Welcome to Alfa Ownership.

I would plan on getting a service (mabe a minor one to check it over) as you want the car performing at its best to get the result of a rewarding and comfortable drive.

A good Alfa Specialist is recommened. Some others do not use the correct spec oil. As for oil and ColCol comments, go to Autobarn and get some Castrol Edge Sport so you can top it up on a needs basis.

I think only the 932 series Twin Spark engine had a variator and not the JTS - is that right ?

Cheers.

Nope. Both the fiat block TS and JTS have a cam phase variator on the inlet cam only.

The arese V6 is the engine of the same period that lacks variable cam timing.

wankski · January 14, 2011, 07:18:25 PM

Quote from: chops on January 07, 2011, 09:45:05 PM

Bought from a dealer so it's under stat warranty, have it booked in with them to sort out the issues the motor control system failure light just came on today, if they say everything is normal it's off to an alfa specialist to be sure.

Thanks you Colin and John for the tips on the oil

good stuff - how hands on are you with maintence? I highly recommend u check your own codes - it can be as little as FREE to do (aside from the cost of the OBDII cable)

if you live locally - i might be able to do it for you. Well worth researching cos u'll always stay ahead of teh garage who may charge u up to $150 just to bring up the fault code....

problem with the MCSF is that it could be serious and u may be better off not driving the car with it on.

chops · January 16, 2011, 11:16:45 PM

The error seems to be from an O2 sensor, and the the valve seals have all been replaced, hoping this has solved the oil consumption. Have been impressed by the guys dealing with the service side of the car yard, manager is enthusiastic and has done some things that they are not obliged to do (injection cleaning, wheel alignment and a few other things that legally are not their worry), pity the sales side of things was so dissapointing (warranty wasn't unlimited per claim as they had stated and the supposedly misplaced log books showing a good service history never showed up, instead they just got me new blank books from alfa).