HELP ONLY BEEN AN OWNER FOR FOR 5 MONTHS

[Kriptylr]

Hi all.

Having big problems with a 2004 156 Selespeed about 65,000 when bought. Had read all the forums before buying so was really careful when I did. Sweet books everything was changed done etc etc
My 156 was serviced in fact prob over serviced if that can happen- bought it 5 months ago and since then has been in to Kings in Geelong 3 times and last night again- had issues.

1. Only Had a few weeks and the Motor system failure came up- but would go off within a few seconds took it to Kings Geelong as it was listed as the mechanic to use on Alfa Website- they said had been a couple of backfires but no issue- so I got them to do a full service.

2. Motor system fail going off every once in a while- then one day lost power couldnt drive it over about 30km so had it towed to Kings- all the spark plugs had gone.

3. In the past month every so often it would slip out of 5th or 4th in to N while driving- took to Kings told no problems.

4. Last night the Motor System failure came up in Amber but staying on permant- car seems to drive well.

I feel really stupid for buying an Alfa when i really dont know cars- I really just need someone who knows them to tell me if I am better to cut my losses.

I called the mechanic who used to do the servicing and he said it was a sweet car and the owner was still his customer and she had traded it in for a BMW. He said car had no problems.

I love my Alfa- 

[Kriptylr]

Also forgot to add- I live on a property about 60 km from Geelong- Last week had pulled over to talk with a local sat in car for about 30 minutes chatting went to start car and wouldnt turn over- as farmers do he had a battery pack and he started the car up and it went sweet he said the battery was fuly charged and thought a wire might have slipped. DOnt know if that adds but thought I would mention it

Cheers

[Joe Garra]

Hi, I have no knowledge of Kings so can't comment. Where is your original mechanic? How about making the trip into Melbourne and having it checked out by one of the places here? They all see lots and lots of Alfas. I can recommend Maranello PurSang in Brunswick.
Joe

[AikenDrum105]

Maranello PurSang is quite handy as they're right next to Moreland Train station - so you can drop the car off and be on the train pretty quickly..

Cheers,

[branko.gt]

this may not be the cause of your problems but dodgy batter can cause a lot of electronics related problems. Do you know how old is the battery in the car ?

[Davidm1600]

Hi Kriptylr, I can well sympathise with you, as I also know about the dreaded old engine management system failures.  Am currently also experiencing this issue. So with the benefit of my experience, plus excellent advice I also received from Colcol, let me explain a few things.

In the first instance the engine management system failures most likely are due to lambda sensor failures. You will need your mechanic to hook your car up to the diagnostic computer to tell you which lambda you need. In simple terms these sensors monitor the emissions in the exhaust and send a signal to the computer if there is a problem, ie. a misfire etc.  However, with age the sensors (and there are four, 2 top and 2 bottom) will fail. I would imagine that most alfa owners who have a JTS will have experienced this issue. 

Upto fairly recently I had only had to replace the two bottom ones.  Not long ago I needed to replace one of the top ones, but unfortunately I still seem to have similar problems and so have just ordered the 4th one (top sensor).  Now they are not too expensive, if bought from the UK, ie EB Spares (costs about 70 quid for a top one) plus postage of between 12-26 quid depending if you wish for slow or fast delivery.  I went for fast delivery as I need to get my car sorted.  EB Spares are great to deal with, fast response, and have a good website.

Next problem, if you having possible battery issues, get a new one; the advice I have been given, since as Branko notes, is that if the battery is playing up (I too have this issue), it also can give false readings to the computer etc, so also potentially can cause the engine management system failure problems.   

Other possibilities can include the coil pack, what you need to have done is to swap them over to see if one has failed.  Apparently the diagnostic check should be able to tell you if this is a problem as the readings are different, apparently also the sparkies may also need to be checked out, (eg if dirty brown/black or wet). 

The mass air flow meter can also give problems, if it is dirty, this needs to be checked by your mechanic, and lastly the catalytic converter can fail.  If this does you have essentially 3 options, a brand new Alfa unit $2800 so damned expensive, a generic unit for around $1400 still ouch and lastly look for a second hand unit off evil bay for hopefully not more than say $200 as you are taking a bit of a gamble with a second hand unit.  If it rattles or there are breaks internally due to a weld failure, you will know this is the problem.

Col also advised that apparently the tacho can also give problems in draining power from your battery, but how many people have suffered this issue I don't know.  I don't think I have this issue.  The battery in my car is likely to be the original one (approx 9 1/2 years old), so definitely time to be replaced.

I can't help out re advice on the sele unit, though am aware that certainly in the past they have had a chequered history, re selector failures, actuator issues etc.  I would think there should be plenty of advice out there in forums, on the net etc and probable solutions, especially if this becomes a problem.

The one thing I would strongly advise you though is that if the engine management system failure light comes on and stays on, then you have a real problem and definitely it is better to get it looked at and fixed, the sooner the better, for otherwise you might be stranded.  I had this happen to me the first time, I suffered this issue.  Loosing power is one of the issues,  my car in the end simply would not start.  I had to have it towed.

Good luck and hopefully you can get it all sorted soon, so that you can continue to enjoy the good side of alfa ownbership.

[Steve S]

Don't give up. Or at least don't give up untll you have the fault properly diagnosed. The probability of 4 plugs failing at the same time caused your problems is near zero or zero. This is a good example of poor diagnostics, there is definatly something else wrong. Take it to a mechanic that will not just put it in the too hard basket and tell you there is nothing wrong. I can also recommend Maranello. 

[colcol]

You need to take it to an Alfa Romeo specialist who works on these cars all the time, they will plug it into an Alfa scanner to tell you where the problem is, as opposed to replacing bits until you stumble upon the faulty part, all modern cars suffer from these issues, you want the problem fixed properly so the car doesn't let you down again, have a look at the service providers adverts on the website, these mechanical places have been with the club for over 30 years and a lot of club meembers have their cars fixed by them, Colin.

[Craig_m67]

It will be the battery.
Have a battery specialist load test it - as opposed to simply checking voltages.
If it's older than five years, just get it replaced (good brand, correct CCA!!).

A battery is a consumable, when it starts to fail (low volts on load) it sends the ECU into a spin.

[colcol]

 Have the battery load tested by an auto electrician, and see if the battery needs replacing, also check the battery terminals for good contact and check the earth wire where it goes to the car, with 147's and 156's, auto electricians and Alfa specialists put another earth wire in to stop these kind of problems, Supercharge are good batteries, thats what Alfa Romeo's are fitted with when they come to Australia, Colin.

[Kriptylr]

My goodness you have all been so great with your advice!!! I didnt even realise anyone had replied....I re read my post and realised I said sweet to many times so will refrain. It had been serviced by Zagame & 1 other of the listed mechanics on this site.

So I took it to Kings-Geelong they hooked it up and said it read a Misfire, they re-set it. Said if it happens again that it may be catalytic converter ?, to me that seemed a huge issue tat should be able to be diagnosed, but I am flying blind.  So we are two weeks and a bit on since my problem but it seems all is good. I havent driven it much as I have been away over the Christmas Period. So I pick it up from the Airport parking lot tonight and drive home, I am about 4 km from home and having seen 4 + roos on the road I am driving slowly about 40kms an hour. When again the MCSF go to dealer comes on. So I am even more confused!!!!

It would seem that everytime I get it hooked up it is going to cost me $200, well thats what they charged me.

I have read you can get soft wear and hook it up how do I do this.

I think it might have something to do with the Battery so will check that out....

Im just worried!!!!!

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVICE AND WARM WELCOME 

[Davidm1600]

Hi mate, like all, that is a part of the reason for such forums that we can try to help each out, inform and provide encouragement etc. 

Definitely do watch out for those roos as I am sure they could do some damage to your car, apart from which it is not really a nice thing to be hitting our wildlife  .

Damn, I know how it feels re the message.  I would disagree with your mechanic given my past experience, while it could ultimately be the Cat, in the first instance I would be looking at the lambda sensors.  As I mentioned all 4 sensors over time will fail. I just received the last one I need to replace (one of the two top sensors) prior to christmas.  When you hook the car up to the reader, it should tell the mechanic which one failed and therefore needs to be replaced.  Misfires are the symptom. 

I replaced the battery prior to christmas on my car and it seemed to help, and especially as the error message did not come on straight away.  But it did a few days later, and the car seems to be jerky with power surging as I accelerate.  Does the power delivery on your car seem to be in any way different from normal ?? 

I will be replacing the last of the lambda sensors after the new year, once my mechanic comes back to work.  At the moment I am using my car as little as possible and confining it just to small/short trips.

Once thing, there is no way your mechanic should be charging your $200 each time you need to hook up your car to check out what is going on, both Alfa mechanics (inc our dealer down here in Hobart) have always done this for free for me.  Afterall it only takes but a few moments to hook the diagnostic tool up to your car and to download/read the info.  If you are being charged that amount, I am afraid IMHO you are being ripped off. 

[Kriptylr]

I agree with the charge I was a little bemused and unsure as to why it cost, I only choose Kings because it was listed on the Alfa site as the preferred service facility. Could I ask another question.. I think it might be the battery, what type of battery do I buy and is it pretty easy to change over, I am sure one of the local farmers could do for me - I remember in the book it has instructions.

I think even though it has been very well serviced and maintained that it was traded for a reason and that reason being it was coming up to needing some $$$$ work.

I will dig out the receipt and let you know what they charged me for and if it was for simply hooking it up I will be placing a call..and asking why??? cause so far I have spent $2000 since I bought it. I just get the sense that Kings dont really understand the car or how to service it as they are pretty new to Alfa.

Thanks

[colcol]

I notice you are located in Ballarat, you could always give Peter Stapleton a go at Howitt St. Wendourie, he was the Alfa Dealer in Ballarat between 1972 - 1992, last time i was there he was rebuilding a motor in a 156, it may be an alternative, or you could try one of the service providers in Melbourne, look on our service providers page, they have links with the Alfa Club going back 40 years, and thats all they do is Alfa Romeo's, find one thats close to trains, trams and buses, so you can leave it there and get a lift back home, the type of battery in my 156 JTS is a Supercharge, model MF - 55, CCA - 545, [CCA = Cold Cranking Amps], Supercharge batteries are fitted to all Alfa Romeo's when they land in Australia, the batteries are quite easy to change over, HOWEVER, make sure you have your security code for your radio, as when you dissconnect the battery the radio looses power and thinks it has been stolen, and won't switch on until you punch in the 4 digit code, it should be in your service / owners book, my brothers 147 Supercharge battery lasted 10 years....., must be some sort of record, Colin.

[Kriptylr]

Thanks so much have been away over the Christmas break with Google the man you suggested now and let you know... Lets hope I am a Happy alfa owner for 2013