March 2003
I would very much like to hear from anyone who has replaced the existing speakers to improve the sound quality. I wish to use the standard factory apertures as far as possible. Read more
Considering one of these at local garage. Have consulted Car by Car Breakdown and would welcome input from current owners as to MPG etc. Car is the Neon (1) Coupe, 4 door, LE model.
Thank you, petel@clara.co.uk Read more
Thank you all for your replies. Your input is much appreciated.
No futher information required.
Rgds, Pete.
I purchased a new Alfa 156 T Spark in November 2000, through an import company.
During the first year I had various problems that were dealt with by the manufacturer's warranty.
One persistant problem was the 'slapping ' of the windscreen wipers on the side of the windscreen.
I took the car to CD Bramells of Plymouth (my nearest Alfa Dealer) who tried on two occasions to cure the problem, stating that they were having this problem with the 156.
Eventually they said the only way to 'reduce' the problem was to remove the 'deflector blades' or the things attached to the wiper blade to push it onto the screen.
This they did, and it alleviated the problem, though the wiper travel was still excessive and the blades still caught the surround of the screen on occasions.
I could live with this and made no more of it.
In October 2001 I took out the two extended dealer warranty for the vehicle which covered the 'main components' of the vehicle.
In February 2003 whilst out driving my wipers packed up and I took the vehicle to Bramells who stated that the wiper motor was defective.
It would cost £157 to replace and as there were none in the country it would take a month to get one in. Also it was not covered by the warranty.
After some phoning around they found that if I replaced the motor and the wiper linkage/assembly then they could source one in seven days but it would cost me £20 more. Obviously I had to accept as my car was off the road.
Seven days later job completed and I am back on the road.
I spoke with Bramells who stated that they were not aware of a problem with the wipers, I spoke with another dealer who stated that there had been a problem and that was why there were none in the country and also that the 156 wiper set up had been changed in 2001.
My questions to you are,
? Was the original fault a design fault on Alfa's?
? Was it contributory to my wiper motor packing up?
? Were the wipers changed because of this fault?
? Should Alfas have covered the cost of replacement or at least made a contribution?
Any help you can offer would be much appreciated.
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Hi there,
I had a 156 1999 1.8TS, and I didnt have any problems with the wipers, although I did note that they very nearly touched the surround, especially at speed.
I would not think that this would contribute to wiper motor failure, as removing the deflector would actually lessen the work of the motor??
As for the warranty, they are insurance based, so tend to very specific as to what is covered, you`d have to check if it was listed.
Hi guys, can anyone tell me if these fuel injection cleaning additives. such as Redex, available at petrol station forecourts are worth buying,. If so what is the best brand on the market?
Secondly are their any benefits of running a car on premium priced unleaded petrol.
Thanks
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Hi Kal, is your engine in the 318i an M44 1.9? If so I think the somewhat lumpy tickover is a "characteristic" of this particular unit. I have an e36 1.8ti auto compact, and the idle quality is poor (not a patch on my L-reg carina!), I kid myself that this due to a sporty twin cam tickover but in reality it is just poor!
I took it to a dealer and he said some versions of this engine have sticking valves but when this happens the engine is rocking all over at idle. He reckoned mine is quite smooth, he also suggested additives (Wynns he said but I'd try the VW one first).
I read somewhere about a TSB (no. 110798 sept 98) out for the M44 idle quality involving different EMU software. Not sure when it is necessary.
One of the family has a 6 month old rav4 and is finding the limited door opening angle a real pain - for loading etc. I read a motoring magazine recently which contained an article about the uk law which says tail lights must be visible when the door is open hence the rav4 door doesn't open to 90 degrees. The magazine gave the part number of the US door strap that could be changed to allow 90 degree door opening - US law allow this. Unfortunately my memory is not what it used to be and I can't remember which magazine it was - and despite looking haven't been able to find it again! Can anyone help, either remember reading the article or advise on the part number?
thanks
KW
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The door probably only opens to about 75 degrees as std for the UK. The door wouldn't obscure the rear lights - its the spare wheel mounted on the door that covers them if its opened to 90 degrees.
Still risky I know, but a better idea would be a removable pin that stays in place 99% of the time, then could be removed for that 1% of time where a realy big opening is needed. Dont think there is such a thing though
I am planning to buy a secondhand BMW/Merc. I have found that a car about 2 years old has 2 or 3 owners with various reasons from the dealers. Can these be imports? How can you tell please? Read more
I'm not sure about the HPi check. When I bought my 156 I knew it was an import, the seller was quite open about it, but it did not show on the HPi check that I did on it before I bought it. I had receipts from a garage in Ireland, the manufacturing certificate etc.
The time has come to consider getting a family car that will take take five comfortably with space for an extra two if needed, diesel plus auto preferably.
I loathe people carriers, won't buy a Discovery as I want reliablity, and sadly a look today at the much acclaimed Nissan XTrail indicates it's only a five seater. So, an initial cast around narrows it down to a Volvo V70 or slightly elderly Merc estate. Any other ideas on this one to help? Looking to spend an absolute maximum of 20K, hopefully less as it'll ease the pain of the first round of internal and external damage by the kids. Read more
My heart says a Landcruiser, because I've always hankered after a chunkier vehicle, but the sensible side of me says V70 or Merc. In terms a Merc, does anyone have any views on the year(s)that build quality started to get poor, as I don't want to chuck too much cash on a newer vehicle when I could spend less on a better quality model.
As soon as I switch the air con on my S98 Daewoo Lanos, there's
a fairly loud vibrating noise that only stops when i switch it off.
Any suggestions what it could be ? as far as i know (have had the can for 18 months) it has never been recharged, thanks Read more
thanks all, problem is I can't find the air conditioning pump
you've mentioned Agent K ! Where the hell is it ?
What do readers of this board think about** the pfd who are so fashionable that they have to drive around with their foglights on at night, especially when it is not even slightly foggy?
I saw one recently who came up behind me at traffic lights with his ever-so fashionable foglamps lit (no headlights, just the fogs). A police car, coming the other way stopped at the lights, pfd then switched his Oh-so-fashionable fog lights off and his headlights on. When the lights changed and the police car passed us by, pfd, then switched his headlights off and his Oh-so-fashionable foglights back on again.
Is it just me, or are there lots of these people about and what (if anything) do the officers of the law do about it?
** about the same that I think of people who cannot write a note without bad language. Mark. Read more
Sorry, but I don't agree. I had two idiots follow me home last night with there front fogs, there'd be quick to complain if I was driving with my rears on. This may be a generalisation but it always seems to be people who have cars that aren't quite as good as they used to be. This means you, the moran in Buckingham last night with the knackered old XR4i!
I have often travelled on French motorways and noticed what look like the marks made by bare wheel rims, especially in the nearside lane.
The marks look for all the world the sort that would be produced by someone running for mile after mile along a soft surface on just the wheel rim (no tyre). They wander about a bit, but are nearly always on the nearside lane only. They can last for 20+ miles.
Anyone any idea what they are and how they were made?
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as French motorway tolls are (among other things) per axle, do you think there may be a money-saving scam behind this?? ;)
pat
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Thanks very much. Plenty of good pointers there. I'm not looking to shake the street, just quality sound!