Alfa156Melb

Ironically it's raining, so when it stops I'll check. They are meant to be fitted, as you say, the parts are there, the manual says it should be there.... So the ECU is under the scuttle, I was wondering where that was.. as it's either that or the sensor. Assuming the wirings ok.

So this is something that's been eating at me for a while.. but diagnosing the problem will be hard at best i think. There seems to be considerable confusion on how the 156 rain sensing wipers work, even amongst specialists... The way the system is meant to work is one click down to where 'intermittent' is on other cars - that's "auto". The wipers will wipe as needed from a random wipe, to full speed depending on the amount of rain. Turn the car off, and back on the system is deactivated until you squirt the washers, or click the stalk up, then back down again to the 'auto' position... easy - and on the JTS, that's worked flawlessly for 8 years of ownership.. Now.. the GTA... it has a rain sensor in the windscreen, it has 'auto' written on the stalk.. it is specified with rain sensor wipers.. but...... When you select the usual 'auto' position, the wipers wipe.. intermittently, exactly like a car without auto wipers... It's as if this car has no auto function at all. Here's where I'm confused.. its either auto or its not.. if the sensory part of the system isnt working, surely the wipers wouldnt wipe at all? So why would it revert to normal intermittent.. a wipe every 5 seconds? So how to fix?? No idea... no idea where to start even. Has anyone else come across this problem?

Hmm, I re-posted them Smaky and this time it worked.. I'm not sure what i did wrong...

Whats going on with images? It wont et me post dropbox photos?

Thanks fella's... I ended up doing other bits and pieces too using the same method... Some of the trim in the car was abyssal. It was as if someone had smeared UHU Glue all over the plastic.. or maybe they just had a wank in the car? god only knows... here's some pics of what it used to look like: Be careful pulling apart the 147 switches - if they're anything like the GT's you need to be very careful pulling hem apart - see this post, page 2 about half way down posted by Rookie Rox: http://www.ausalfa.c...t=9551&start=15

While refurbishing the interior last weekend, i pulled the centre console out and had a look at the gear stick linkages and found the moutning bolts to be loose.. tightened them up and now 6th gear slides in like a prostitutes.... :Big Grin:

They probably do, I didn't look.. This was a satin finish.. specific to interiors.

Thanks Although now the door pulls are 'blacker' than the door trim.. its not as bad in real life... I'll have ot think abiout how to treat the trim to match up the colours a little better - I'm trying to get the car back to showroom.. close to it anyway.

Before: and after:

Yeah, no worries

The plastic trim in my GTA is disgusting.. it’s sticky and soft and covered in scratches.. especially the switch gear plastic.. where the door pulls are. I’ve read all sorts of ways to clean these things from using Eucalyptus oil to metho and a lot of hard scrubbing.. then I read a post on Ausalfa.com from a few years back suggesting that Napisan is the miracle cure! The whole process from start to finish is about 20 minutes. No Scrubbing, No scraping, No elbow grease.. Just soaking… Here's what my trim looked like before treatment... very tatty - and VERY Sticky.. it really buggered the look and feel of the car.. So assuming you have removed the switch trim and removed the windows switches.. all you need is: 1. A bucket - large 2. Napisan - Oxi Action of course! 3. Scotchbrite pad - no name 4. very hot water Fill the bucket up with hot water and add two lid fulls of Napisan and mix.. drop said trim in bucket and leave for 5 minutes... Then with the scotchbrite - gently rub any remaining coating off the plastic - it will almost rinse off. Here's what it looks like after it's dried - My Son wanted to help - thankfully he pointed to it, just in case we missed the subject of the photo :Big Grin: OK, so now we're ready for the first coat of Vinyl Spray... Just follow the instructions - if you can't find the Motospray product, VHT make one too. Motospray are clients of mine - so please support them, and you will support me Slice carrots while 1st coat is drying... oops sorry - I was making Spaghetti Bolognese while doing this job... Let me know if you want the recipe. :Big Grin: Open a nice bottle of red... 2 or 3 coats later... They need 24 hours to properly cure, so I won't put them back together today.. Once their back in, I'll take pics and upload em. Seriously, this job, if i wasn't drinking and cooking at the same time, would have taken 30 minutes. You'd have rocks in your head if you replaced them.. this job is piss easy to do, and they look perfect - like they're brand new! Well worth the effort!!! Bon appetit!

Ok thanks mate ill give it a go..

I haven't even looked at it yet.. Since i fitted new top hats its been much better but not perfect.. Smaky has made another suggestion which ill follow through on and let you know how i go ..

I spose so, weird that the improvement has been progressive rather than instant though.. Anyway, im happy.. Ill still order those pads u suggested because its still not perfect.

I havent had a chance to revisit this yet but for some strange reason the problem has almost cured itself. Although not perfect, its pretty good now...

Ok, im not surprised. Thanks.

I tried to source that part locally and they told me that it was only suitable for the 147 GTA.. Can you confirm that this is the right number please Smaky?

Thanks Smaky - Much appreciated :Big Grin: I'll let you know how I go.

here, this may help -

So i took her for a decent drive today and now its much easier selecting 6th, as long as you come straight from 5th... that is to say that i don't have to force it any more but it still has to be a swift, assertive action otherwise it still wont select. Big improvement on what it was, but still not there.

eh. it just gets better and better! OK I've checked elearn and removing at the selection mechanism doesnt look too bad - if I have to replace it, what part do I order? Can i order one from a 2.5lt 6 speed box? or does it have to be from a GTA box?

Doesn't seem to make any difference.

I went to do as you suggested Smaky, but looking it and not knowing how it all fits inside the gearbox with the selector out, I thought I'd get a pro to look at it.. I replaced the top hats while i was there though, which has improved things, but not fixed the 6th gear problem.. So the car will go in next week to get that and a couple of other things sorted out.

OK well i was going to replace the top hats this weekend, so I will look into that as well. Thanks Smaky.

The only way to select 6th is to slam it in from 5th, if it doesn't select the first time - it wont at all.. you have to back to 5th and try again. I've bought some top hat bushes for the linkages above the gearbox, but reading through various threads, I am beginning to think that they will not sort me out as the lateral movement on the stick is perfectly fine. All other gears, including reverse are perfect. Any thoughts on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated! :Big Grin: