TiggerK

I checked it a few weeks ago and it was 28.4, so could be a touch lower, but not too bad. Still working just fine by the way. I can't understand how a possible mechanical issue with the clutch or gearbox suddenly disappears for weeks/months? Does that not more likely point to sensors/electronic glitches? Or does the EOL calibration compensate for the mechanical faults somehow? Would love some answers to my other questions guys, no matter how brief! Cheers Tim P.S Had the clutch changed about 50K miles ago... but I do a lot of stop start city driving, sometimes in traffic jams so the gearbox and clutch do get a workout....

Back in business with the new house (well sort of, work in progress). The Alfa news is that it continued to play up intermittently during the house move and one day it totally refused to go into R. Going into 1 was no problem (but 2 was also no go), but I was at the end of the driveway and had no option but to go backwards!! Disconnected the battery etc, to no avail. Plugged into AlfaDiag and did the EOL calibration, the routine succeeded with no errors, but still no R. It would make all the clunking noises, but just not engage R. No fault codes. Arrgghhh. So having few options other than a tow, I did the EOL again. For goodness knows why, it worked, and has been changing into R, 2 and 4 perfectly for 2 weeks. Go figure, any theories people, esp the legend Smaky? It's going in for a much needed service on Monday - timing belt, bubbling radiator hose, oil/water filters etc. Also found a new steering wheel with new paddles at a wreckers that I'm hoping to score! So... few questions please?? In approx order of importance. As Smaky mentioned, as a precaution against future dramas (as per above), should I ask them to replace the Gear Insertion Sensor on the Selespeed system? Working OK for now, but going into R, 2 and 4 have been regular offenders!! It sounds like a diesel on startup. Should I ask them to change the variator while the timing belt is being done? How bad (or $$) does it get if I leave the brakes too long before getting them sorted? She brakes just fine (but quite a judder on a rare emergency braking scenario), but wary that I've never really spent anything brakewise for 7 years and the tyre place warned me it was heading rapidly towards the 'discs'. Mechanic will check, and no doubt say do them, so prob a silly question....?? Is it just me or is the silver bit on the glovebox a complete nightmare to re-screw in? Any tips? Detailing - I'd love to make my bella more pretty again. I have some touch up paint, but the surface is in Serious Need of a Major buff on the roof, and the side panels have a few fairly deep and quite a few minor scratches. Should I get her a proper buff, then look at touching up with the paint, or do in the opposite order or what?? I don't need perfection, it's a 2002 car, but would like her to look a bit better without a whole new paint job. And lastly, does anyone remember where a fix was mentioned or know how to improve the look of the window controls and interior door handle plastic bits which are looking really manky and sticky. I think I saw a post somewhere about using Napi-San or something perhaps? Cheers everyone! Tim

Thanks Smaky, really appreciate the guru advice. No progress yet (chaos here in the middle of moving house) and car has been fine so far, but will have a look at all that next week. Cheers Tim

Hi again everyone, I thought that since my car history is listed in this thread, I may as well continue the thread instead of start a new one, considering it's no doubt related. So all has been going pretty well with my beloved 147, although it's defintely juddering quite a bit if I don't gived it enough revs when starting off in 1st, almost like an L plater learning a manual gearbox! Bit more boot fixes that though, but concerned the clutch may need sorting? Or perhaps my clutch calibration reoutine was done poorly (the whole start in 2nd, foot flat up to 3000RPM, let it off and coast to a stop thing - tips?) But the main issue now is it regularly refuses to go into R, 2 or to a lesser extent, 4. It will sometimes find those gears, either going up or down, but getting worse each day. I unplugged the battery for a bit and it seemed OK for an hour's driving, but issue returned. Could be more when car is warm, not certain. Drives happily in 1, 3 and 5. No fault codes showing, cluch rod position is a touch high at 28.55. New battery, SS fluid is OK, pressure normal, pump runs etc. I know/think there is an EV2 valve that relates to R, 2 and 4 gears, could that be an issue perhaps? Last time my problems were 1 and 3, now it's the other way around! Funny. I'll do my usual fix this afternoon of readjusting rod down to 28.1, cleaning loom and relay, EOL calibration and see how it goes.... Given the fact that sometimes it will drive for a while with no issues, again it feels more like funky Alfa electrics and sensors than physical gearboxy stuff? Would like to look at cleaning the contacts on the SS system as well, but no idea how they disconnect and what ones are more important than others, so any advice there would be appreciated.... Cheers Tim