Alfa156Melb

Actually i think its closer to german psy trance, but who's quibbling... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a squeak in my engine, it sounds to me like it's probably a belt, but I'm not entirely sure. The sound goes away after the engine's warmed up and the cam belts have been changed 20,000km's ago... I am planning on taking it in to the mechanic, but as the noise is completely gone after the engines' warm, outside of leaving it with him overnight, I'm not sure he'd be able to shed much light on it.. Here's a youtube, you can just hear it in the background.. the frequency changes with revs and then fades away as the engine warms up. Any ideas?

Smaky, Was there any specific reason why the ARB was positioned above the subframe as opposed to below?

1 Ant power? Thats worth the effort then As long as it wont decrease performance im happy. Thanks Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Water is a risk and although its not been an issue, i'd like to keep it that way.. and yes the filter does clog up quicker as you say.. So when you say that having a GTA pipe fitted will improve performance - from what reference point are you talking? In my case, I have no pipe at all, would there be a gain or a decrease if I fitted one? To clarify, i am not asking for a comparison of a standard pipe to a GTA, only from nothing, to a GTA..

My car has never had one of these, the previous owner must have removed it for whatever reason - I can only assume it was to bring out some induction noise, which my car has truck loads of. Anyway, what this means is that I have a gaping hole on the side of my airbox, filter exposed and I'm sure there must be a risk of water damage?? Although I've had the car 6 years and it's never been a problem.. always a first time though huh. So, a couple of questions - apart from induction noise, what advantages, if any, are there by removing the pipe? And, if i were to refit one, is it worth fitting a GTA pipe in its place, will I see any change in performance?

Dammit Smaky - How am I meant to talk her indoors into this?! Mind you, I notice you can get them in the UK for 700 pounds odd.. given their only 8kg, it wont be much for shipping.. But... the labor to fit them.. eh.. expensive. Cork hats??? It's no wonder.. here's a typical Australian road sign But we don't use cork hats anymore.. we just spray each other with....

The car has 16inch wheels, pro kits springs and soon will have billy B6 dampers.. ARB's are stock standard, including the front which is brand new. I didnt see your reply until now otherwise I may have gone for a GTA bar, but it doesn't matter... I am planning on buying a GTA in the near future anyway so I don't want to go too far with this car.. I just want it right... thats all. I plan on keeping the JTS for a long time, the GTA will only be for fun As far as a quaife goes - wouldn't that be overkill? I assume they're fairly costly?

Freezing bits on your cars huh... Just so you all know, it was 36 degrees today in Melbourne :Big Grin:

I saw them tightening the subframe bolts, not sure if they were the culprit or whether it was the tunnel.. I decided to walk out the front and leave them too it. So i didnt see. Its funny how much difference silence makes to drivability.. The car feels so much better.. I know its only in my head though. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Smaky, it was loose bolts on the subframe.. just as you suggested. Although wow, the car feels fantastic now, smooth, firm, tight.. no noises.. Next job - Dampers! Woooooo! :Big Grin:

I'm leaning towards that conclusion too.. OH well, hopefully I'll have it sorted soon.

Had the ARB and lowers replaced last week.. Took the car for a long drive to visit my parents, they live 3 hours north of me.. and this morning, I noticed a mild knock in the rear of the car? Its strange, its really only noticeable when you apply throttle and lift off the throttle. Also only at low speeds, at least that's when i can hear it. It sounds like its coming from the centre of the car. maybe the rear? My first thoughts were drop links, but the fronts were replaced less than a year ago. Then I thought, maybe the rear drop links need replacing.. or possibly the trailing arms are due? All the transverse arm are brand new. Another thought was that maybe when they replaced the arb, they may not have refitted the tunnel heatsheilds properly.. or even an engine mount? as the knock only occurs where there's torque on the engine, as it twists forward and rear. Before the ARB was replaced it made a hell of a noise, which may have masked this new one - so it may have always been there for all I know. Anyway, I'll take her back next week for the guys to check, but if you have any suggestions Smaky, I'd appreciate it.

Well, The new ARB and Lower wishbones have been fitted today.. I decided not to do them myself so I had the mechanic do it... After 3 years of that embarrassing creak.. its gone!!! Car is silent.. sure footed, just generally perfect I'll fit Billy B6's early next year and that will be job done.. I'll need something else to occupy myself.. although on reflection, no doubt the Alfa will throw up another challenge before then..

Alfa's....

Hey guys.. Something that's irked me for a while but not so much to do anything about.. until now with all this rain. The rain sensing wipers on the 156.. Mine have progressively been getting worse over the years in that, when there is rain the wipers activate, but when the rain stops, the wipers keep going, it doesn't seem to be able to detect a lack of rain - so they just keep on wiping a dry screen, rather pointlessly in my opinion. Is this common? Is there anything I can do to improve things at all? I recently replaced the windscreen so the sensor is new... not sure what else i can do..?

the pegs are fine.. so there's not much i can do there. Oh well.. the local dealers wanted $110 for this switch But EB Spares can get them for 23 pounds.. so thats not too bad.... I'll add it to the next order I make The blu tac idea may just work though.. hmmm.. I shall have a play tomorrow and report back..

The window switch for the rear passenger door window in the drivers door switch cluster has started to rattle.. As I slowly replace all my suspension, the car is gradually getting quieter.. Which means the rattling switch is slowly getting...louder.. I've had it out, its not broken.. I guess its just worn... is there a fix for this? Otherwise are there any good suppliers that supply just the switches?

OK - thanks Smaky.. the arms arrived today so I'll be fitting them on the weekend.. Do those torque settings apply to the bolts fastening the arms to the subframe as well as the long bolt on the shock ends? Also, assuming i will be dropping the subframe, where can i position the axle stands? Obviously the jacking point will have a jack there...i cant seem to find any other suitable place for the stands....

Smaky, do you have the torque settings for the short and long transverse arms - fasteners for shock side, and cross member side.. Cheers.. Dave.

Smaky, I have to replace the arb soon as its creaking like a mad man. The car has Pro Kit Eibachs and will soon have Bilstein b6's (or B8's)... I have heard its worth upgrading to the GTA ARB for that extra 'stiffness' What's your thoughts on that? I've also heard that rather than upgrade the front, I should leave it standard and fit an GTA ARB to the rear.. apparently that reduces understeer.. So is any of that valid? If i do fit a GTA ARB to the front, does it bolt straight on without mods?

Thanks mate I appreciate it.

Smaky, After i've done my transverse arms, sway bar and lower wishbones, I will be upgrading my dampers to B6's... I found a guide here: http://forum.alfa156.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45177&KW=suspension&PN=0&TPN=1 But I get the impression that you weren't impressed with it. So that leads me to ask, do you know of a better guide or better still, would you be in a position to post one yourself? I wont be doing the job for a couple of months so I'm in no hurry.

Haha.. you may have a point! If you grab the wheel at the 3 and 9 position. . there is play - about 4 mm. It's as if the rear wheel has a steering effect. I haven't had the opportunity to look behind the wheel with someone wobbling it to see for myself yet, however last week, a wheel bearing shagged its self and that's when we found the problem. I was waiting to order the wheel bearing from EB Spares, I intended to fit it myself, but it shat itself earlier than I wanted it to! So, off to the mechanic.. again.. and so it goes. I'm thinking of emigrating to the UK with my car so I can have a Smaky handy! Anyway I'm in the mood to get this car as perfect as it can be.. so, when I have spare cash - the next job gets done.. not much left now though! Apart from the rear wheel wobbling around.. its in pretty good condition.. but small niggly things upset me.

Well, after a few other things suspension related, I will look into that. The sele is ok now, but it's not perfect.(certainly better than it was!). Who knows what other improvements can be made..