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BigMac

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About BigMac

  • Rank
    newbie

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  • What car do you drive?
    156, and 147, and Chrysler 300M
  • Location
    Kigali, Rwanda

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  1. Done some more research - it seems early selespeeds became much improved on later models (mine is a 1999/2000 car), and someone also said that new software can be installed...that sounds very interesting too! Where can I get this software upgrade, and how is it done?
  2. This is interesting! I was just lamenting elsewhere at how slow my 156 selespeed is at changing gear - much slower than when I'm in my manual gearbox 147. Now you are telling me that selespeed is awesome, and Smaky says, so I have to believe, that the selespeed changes quicker than any manual...! How I wish that to be true, and then I need to wish for someone to tell me how to achieve that on my selespeed. There are probably less than 4 or 5 Alfa Romeos in the whole of Rwanda (I've only seen one, other than my two), so finding a garage that knows squat about our cars - highly unlikely! If Smaky, or anyone, can tell me what to look for/how to test/diagnostic codes etc. I would be most grateful!
  3. OK...so how do I know if the gearbox is set up properly? To me, the gear changes when in City mode are s l o w...certainly way behind changing manually on my 147. At least I've now discovered that with my right foot planted, the gearbox brain realises not to change up until we hit near maximum revs...which is a relief! But still, even though the 147 is smaller and lighter, it out-performs the 156 with ease... I guess the wife can have the 156 and I'll just have to "make do" with the smaller 147
  4. Well, got the 156 back today. Car no longer stalls, which is a relief! However, the selespeed change does feel slow and clunky compared to the rapid changes on my 147 manual. I have to say as well, the 147 feels mightily quicker than the 156, even though they have the same engine...is this normal?
  5. Hah! Stumped everyone, not just me! I can only pray that the rpm sensor does enough to stop the car from switching off the gearbox every time you slow down...
  6. Hello! I have seen a 166 for sale at a low price (750 euros), but the engine is 'broken', though the seller does not say how (2 litre TS). 180,000km, black leather, grey paintwork. Looks reasonable for a car from 1999... I've been trying to get my daughter in Spain to replace her Fiat Bravo with an Alfa. She likes fast cars, so a jump up to the 166 with 2 litre TS would be good. My question is: are there 2 litre engines out there for sale? I'm guessing there won't be any new ones, but are there any available, and how much would it cost to buy and fit one? It's probably an uneconomical project; she could have a 166 recently completely serviced, 120k km, for well under 3 grand...prices in Spain are probably higher than in the UK. Failing which, when her Fiat finally bites the dust (turbo already knackered, no power in it now), she'll just have to slum it in my old E38 750iL (she complains it sucks the petrol too much...)
  7. Engine and gearbox fault codes were: P1691 - Control Unit faulty, intermittent, control unit faulty (microprocessor 2) P0335 - RPM sensor, intermittent, requested, signal not feasible. according to the garage notes when they put on their $10,000 diagnostic machine... But I still don't know what the "selector switch inside the gear selector stick" is mentioned above. There were six other engine error codes for the 147, but it drives like a dream! I am worried that I will need this unidentified switch to fix the selespeed...
  8. Greetings from Remarkable Rwanda! The questions, answered... What's your AlfaDriver forum name: BigMac Whereabouts in the world are you?: Kigali, Rwanda What are you driving these days?: Alfa 156, Alfa 147 (both 2 litre ts), Chrysler 300M, BMW 750iL How did you find AlfaDriver?: From a member on another forum Describe your introduction to the Alfa Romeo brand: Bought two cars unseen on internet from Japan Outside of Alfa Romeo, what are your interests?: Music, Hi-Fi, sports What do you do for a living?: I work in Hospitality Tell us an interesting/crazy/unusual fact about yourself: I have little patience…but I’m working on it! What's your "special skill"?: I’m just all round special If money was no object, what four vehicles would be in your dream garage?: - Dream daily driver: M5 - Dream track car: - Dream all-rounder: New Giulia - Wildcard entry: Toyota Soarer TT What are you personally hoping to get out of AlfaDriver?: Advice on how to fix them! And finally, describe yourself in five words: Impatient, complaining old fart.
  9. Dear All: My first post since discovering this great web site! I recently purchased a 156, made in 1999, with a selespeed box (I also bought a 147, manual). Both are 2 litre TS. I've read many of the threads here, but none that match my problem... At low speed, the revs reduce to tickover, and no gear is selectable, neither can the car be revved. This happens in City mode as well as 'manual' mode. The only cure is to switch off, and start the motor anew. The garage I use over here (I'm in Rwanda; there are probably no more than six Alfas in the whole country - and I have two of them!) says I need a new rpm sensor, which I have bought, and also some other part, which I have yet to identify : GEAR SELECTOR STICK(CHECK THIS 606 587 470 SELECTOR SWITCH IS INSIDE THE GEAR SELECTOR STICK-----1P). Any idea what part that is, and will it be necessary to get the gearbox functioning well again?
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