Blown head gasket in 2004 alfa156JTS 2litre

[Docvoc]

Dear Alfisti,
I wonder ifanyone has had my experience. My alfa at 93000km, well maintained and running well, blew a head gasket, letting coolant into cylinder 4.
It is now awaiting an expensive repair job.The cause is obscure. the mechanic said that the ignition coil to No4 was gone and the thermostat was stuck in half opened position , but other than that, the car had been running well except for misfiring over the last week when first started.
I was given aquote of between $4000 and $ 5000 to fix.
I'd be grateful to hear of anyone else's experiences
The joys iof motoring! DocVoc

[John Hanslow]

Call Alfamotive.  He is a Brisbane Alfa Specialist who is passionate about the marque.

Let us know what his quote is as you should be pleasantly surprised.

Cheers.

[Navman]

I have just replaced my Cylinder Head Gasket with new cam belt and balance shaft belt on my 156 twin spark.. Along with all  new valves.. Any questions on this job can assist with info..

[colcol]

Whenever you get the cambelt replaced, it would be a good thing that the cylinder head bolts be retorqued, the bolts stretch and then the head clamping forces are not what they should be and then the gasket starts to lift and then the head gasket starts to leak, when the cam belts are replaced and the tappet covers are off, you have access to the cylinder head bolts, loosen them one quarter of a turn and then retorque them to the specs, and use the correct bolt tightening seqeunce, start at the centre and work outwards, i do this to my 33 every time i set the valve shims and when i change the cambelt in the 156, you need a special torx or ribe or star socket, i just can't remember which one!, and the thermostat failing is a bugbear in these cars, i am on my 3rd thermostat and its 10 years old with 104,000klms on the clock, when you have had a 156 for a while you get to know when the thermostats on the way out, the coil packs on these fail too, as they do on other Marques, with only 3 cylinders firing, did you notice it was down on power and running rough, or was it on the way out and about to fail?, Colin.

[Navman]

I agree I also replaced the Cylinder Head Bolts as well, as well as balance shaft belt adjuster. As the Twin Spark Engine has Hydraulic valve adjusters no need for shims.. Yes I will also have to replace my Thermostat,    

[colcol]

Replaceing bolts is not a bad idea, in Falcans the bolts are notorious for stretching, don't know if the bolts stretch on a twin spark or JTS, but while the cam covers are off, its good to retorque the bolts and check the camshafts for wear, the JTS are known to scuff camshafts if the oil gets old and diluted with rubbish, i would always replace the engine balance belt, as you have to take it off to do the cam belt, if the balance shaft belt breaks, it will fall down to the bottom and get tangled up in the cambelt, followed be a loud bang and then silence, and yes, no shims in a 156 4 cylinder, hydraulics there, i was refering to my 33, which i nip up the cylinder head bolts after doing the valve clearances, Colin.