147 T-Spark Service problem
 

A little friendly advice required please.
A service is due on my 147 and we were aware that the cam belts would need
replacing and the cost would be quite high. I dropped it off at the dealers
today (Caledonia-Warrington) and when I called to find out when it would be
ready, they said there was another problem that needed fixing. Something
called a "variant" ??
Now I know the basics of cars mechanics, but this is a new one for me. As
it will increase the service price by approximately £300, to over £700 (!!)
I would like to know exactly what this part is and why the hell it is so
expensive. They told me it could be done when the cam belt is changed so I'm
presuming it's to do with the timing.
Any info will be much appreciated.

On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 17:56:20 +0100, "redTed" >
wrote:

>A little friendly advice required please.
>A service is due on my 147 and we were aware that the cam belts would need
>replacing and the cost would be quite high. I dropped it off at the dealers
>today (Caledonia-Warrington) and when I called to find out when it would be
>ready, they said there was another problem that needed fixing. Something
>called a "variant" ??
>Now I know the basics of cars mechanics, but this is a new one for me. As
>it will increase the service price by approximately £300, to over £700 (!!)
>I would like to know exactly what this part is and why the hell it is so
>expensive. They told me it could be done when the cam belt is changed so I'm
>presuming it's to do with the timing.
>Any info will be much appreciated.
>

I got my cam belt changed under warranty by the dealer at its 36k mile
service, as the dealer told Alfa that the variator was on it way out,
so they kind of spun a little white lie and got the job done the other
way around.

Additional cost to me: Zero. Brownie points to dealer: Lots.

Maybe Caledonia could do something similar for you? I'm assuming your
147 is still under warranty of course.

Jake

>
> I got my cam belt changed under warranty by the dealer at its 36k mile
> service, as the dealer told Alfa that the variator was on it way out,
> so they kind of spun a little white lie and got the job done the other
> way around.
>
> Additional cost to me: Zero. Brownie points to dealer: Lots.
>
> Maybe Caledonia could do something similar for you? I'm assuming your
> 147 is still under warranty of course.
>

Variator..sorry. That's it.

No, the car is 3.5 years old so the warranty option is a no go, I'm afraid.
Does the part cost as much as they are saying , or is this going to be an
on-going problem for my beloved 147 ? I realize car parts were getting more
and more expensive, but this seems ridiculous !

Thanks for replying, btw.

On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 18:10:09 +0100, "redTed" >
wrote:

>>
>> I got my cam belt changed under warranty by the dealer at its 36k mile
>> service, as the dealer told Alfa that the variator was on it way out,
>> so they kind of spun a little white lie and got the job done the other
>> way around.
>>
>> Additional cost to me: Zero. Brownie points to dealer: Lots.
>>
>> Maybe Caledonia could do something similar for you? I'm assuming your
>> 147 is still under warranty of course.
>>
>
>Variator..sorry. That's it.
>
>No, the car is 3.5 years old so the warranty option is a no go, I'm afraid.

Hmmm. Out of luck there.

>Does the part cost as much as they are saying , or is this going to be an
>on-going problem for my beloved 147 ?

Don't know, hope not! Mine's still under warranty for another 7
months.

I realize car parts were getting more
>and more expensive, but this seems ridiculous !
>
>Thanks for replying, btw.
>

I'd bitch like hell and create a scene along the lines of 'what a 3.5 year
old car breaking down already'
you never know they might just go halves if you make enough fuss -
especially if the place is full of prospective
buyers...

SS

"simon" > wrote in message
...
> I'd bitch like hell and create a scene along the lines of 'what a 3.5 year
> old car breaking down already'
> you never know they might just go halves if you make enough fuss -
> especially if the place is full of prospective
> buyers...

I think my girlfriend has something along those lines planned !
Especially as it seems to be a well known fault in certain Alfa's .

A) BeltS should read belt; you only have one on a TS engine (so that saves
some costs

B) I guess they mean the variator motor, the "thing" that operates the inlet
camshaft
This is a typical Alfa problem dating from the period 1998-mid2000
When defective you will hear a sound as when the hydraulical tippits are
still without oil pressure.
Only difference is that the tippet sound disappears after a few seconds, but
the defective variator sound will remain (sound like a diesel engine)
Nothing will brake or so, only the sound AND the inlet cam shaft will not
"vary" as it should, so you lack some (top)power.
If there is no abnormal sound in the engine, it will hardly be the variator.
All 4-cil TS engines suffered from this problem; those manufactured after
April 2000 are o.k.
Some earlier engines have been "repaired" using a new variator with the same
problenm as the original one so had to be repaired more than once.
Engines from after April 2000 don't have this problem anymore; variators
usually last as long as the engine (200.000km's is normal), but you can be
unlucky when any engine part fails after the official guarantee term!
--
Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000) (soon: GT 2.0JTS)
Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)



"redTed" > schreef in bericht
...
>A little friendly advice required please.
> A service is due on my 147 and we were aware that the cam belts would need
> replacing and the cost would be quite high. I dropped it off at the
> dealers today (Caledonia-Warrington) and when I called to find out when it
> would be ready, they said there was another problem that needed fixing.
> Something called a "variant" ??
> Now I know the basics of cars mechanics, but this is a new one for me. As
> it will increase the service price by approximately £300, to over £700
> (!!) I would like to know exactly what this part is and why the hell it is
> so expensive. They told me it could be done when the cam belt is changed
> so I'm presuming it's to do with the timing.
> Any info will be much appreciated.
>

> A) BeltS should read belt; you only have one on a TS engine (so that saves
> some costs
>
> B) I guess they mean the variator motor, the "thing" that operates the
> inlet camshaft
> This is a typical Alfa problem dating from the period 1998-mid2000
> When defective you will hear a sound as when the hydraulical tippits are
> still without oil pressure.
> Only difference is that the tippet sound disappears after a few seconds,
> but the defective variator sound will remain (sound like a diesel engine)
> Nothing will brake or so, only the sound AND the inlet cam shaft will not
> "vary" as it should, so you lack some (top)power.
> If there is no abnormal sound in the engine, it will hardly be the
> variator.
> All 4-cil TS engines suffered from this problem; those manufactured after
> April 2000 are o.k.
> Some earlier engines have been "repaired" using a new variator with the
> same problenm as the original one so had to be repaired more than once.
> Engines from after April 2000 don't have this problem anymore; variators
> usually last as long as the engine (200.000km's is normal), but you can be
> unlucky when any engine part fails after the official guarantee term!
> --
> Ciao from Holland
> AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
> Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000) (soon: GT 2.0JTS)
> Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)
>

Thanks very much for the insight.
As my car is a 2001 model, it seems strange that this "variator" is faulty.
Perhaps I should look deeper into the cars service history.
Also, I'm pretty certain that the service manager told me that failure of
this part would cause serious damage. Could I hold this against them when I
go to pay up ?

Hi There

The Variator is best changed (if broken) when the timing belt is
changed as the belt has to be removed to change the variator. On the cost
front the variator its self is about £80. The whole job cambelt &
variator,belt tensioner and bearing change cost me at a local specialised
£303 including labour. The cost of the service (48k) was at the same time
was £98
The tensioner is the bit that generally fails more often that
the belt its self. Hope this is of some use to you all. My advise find a
good specialist and stay clear of the Alfa dealers they will only flees you.


Cozy

156 1.8 T Spark 1999 T Plate




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"redTed" > wrote in message
...

> Thanks very much for the insight.
> As my car is a 2001 model, it seems strange that this "variator" is
faulty.
> Perhaps I should look deeper into the cars service history.
> Also, I'm pretty certain that the service manager told me that failure of
> this part would cause serious damage. Could I hold this against them when
I
> go to pay up ?
>
I'm pretty sure I've read in this group that a variator costs about 75 UKP
plus a small amount of additional labour if you're already having the timing
belt, tensioner and pulley done. BTW, make sure you get all these bits done,
as it's often the latter components that fail and take out the belt.

Lots of stuff about variators on google groups:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L138264A9

I would guess a total bill of 7-800 UKP would be expected from a main dealer
for this work plus a major service.

HTH

Mark