Alfa GTV shite bought. Broken down already.

[CortinaDave]

Well as I've moaned about on other threads - my MG ZT has a list of woes, is out of tax and has a fortnights MOT, so I decided the best course of action would be just to buy another one.

 

Set out with a grand budget but despite scouring the country I was struggling, and needed wheels urgently so...

 

I spied an Alfa GTV on eBay locally. Always fancied one but am well aware of their reputation for unreliability. Decided - what the hell, if its nice I'll buy it, get myself out of the hole, play with it for a month then sell when I find a ZT.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-GTV-2-0-Twin-Spark-Lusso-/111394905781?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item19efa75eb5

 

 

Advertised for £850 buy now, he pulled the auction as someone had hit it and caused some minor damage to the door,

 

I decided to go see it today. Its tidy, has been painted in the past and its not an amazing paint job - but theres a thick wad of history, the engine seems bob on, tyres are new, the leather is mint and it drove beautifully.

 

Offered him 500 quid and after a bit of haggling we ended at 600. I drove away happy with a bit of a bargain I thought, and still some cash in the kitty to sort any issues that may arise.

 

Out for a drive this evening and all of a sudden - the headlights packed in. sidelights fine, full beam fine - bugger all headlights. checked fuses - found nothing.

 

Ran it out to my garage owning mate who was farting about with his cortina at 10pm this eve for a look. After a fair bit of general prodding about we couldnt find the fault so decided to leave it til tomorrow and I jumped in the car to go home on the sidelights.

 

It wouldnt start.

 

Multimeter reveals - Its not charging. Battery light is out yet zero output from the alternator. THAT will be why I got it cheap then...

 

Seller = a cock.

 

 

Looks a pig of a job on the GTV too. Luckily said mate is willing to do it for 100 quid if I get an alternator which still makes it a reasonably cheap car if not quite as much of a bargain. Doesnt solve the headlights problem though..

[Guest Breadvan72]

How is the seller a cock?   You bought an Italian sports coupe for well under a bag.  A relatively minor thing has gone wrong with it.    

[Cavcraft]

'This is a private listing and your identity will not be disclosed to anyone except the seller.'

 

When I see that, alarm bells always ring. Nobody ever has private listing for a good reason, they've always got something to hide.

[Parky]

I think Dave is suggesting that the seller was aware of the non charging issue and sold it on so it became someone else's problem. I dunno, you can't even trust people selling sub grand motors these days, tsk, etc....

[CortinaDave]

^^ This. He was well aware it didnt charge. The battery was on loosely and when I was about to drive away the headlights were on and he said - "oh the lights are on, I'll just put them off"

 

When he wrote out a really comprehensive listing but didnt mention that?? Bit cheeky.

 

Know what? its a cheapo... I'm quite happy with it. But I still think the sellers a cock. Had i not had a mate able to fix it then it would have been an expensive job as the alternator is deeply buried.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Am I missing something?  How does anonymising bidders show that the seller is dodge?

[skattrd]

That looks quite nice. Even when broken it's still pretty

Headlights shouldn't be too complicated, switch would be my first guess. They may come back to life with a new alternator, probably not, but there's a chance.

[twosmoke300]

You are right though , the alternators are a right cock to change on those

[CortinaDave]

Five hours apparently! It looks hellish. Headlights hopefully will just be a bit of farting about - I'm going to check the bulbs in case the alternator has caused a surge thats blown them both at the same time.

 

Its summer anyway, I dont need them

[richardmorris]

My money is on switch contacts being burnt out.

[CortinaDave]

I might nip up to U Pull it and see if I can get a switch. Are they common with the 156 etc?

[Cavcraft]

Am I missing something?  How does anonymising bidders show that the seller is dodge?

 

 

Because other bidders can't check his feedback history (for what he's sold etc), on auctions it's a cover for schill bidding and even in the case of 'submit best offer' he can get his mates bashing a few offers in to make it look popular. 

 

Why would you want to have a private listing?

[Guest Breadvan72]

I have only sold two things on eBay and know nowt about listings.  How does a private listing stop people seeing the seller's feedback?   I can see the seller's feedback just by clicking on the link above.

[cort16]

Has it got leather? The leather seats in these things they are da-sex.

 

I alway take a break down on the way home as a re-assuring sign that it's venting all the problems out there early doors rather than harbouring some lingering fault for months.

[EssDeeWon]

Because other bidders can't check his feedback history (for what he's sold etc), on auctions it's a cover for schill bidding and even in the case of 'submit best offer' he can get his mates bashing a few offers in to make it look popular. 

 

Why would you want to have a private listing?

 

That just about confirms my suspisions on a car I am watching at the moment, its a private listing and its taken almost 30 bids to get to just over £300. Reeks of shill bidding to me, still 4 days to go too!

 

Car now unwatched, its getting rather rediculous now.

[Cavcraft]

You can see the feedback but you can't see what it's for and most importantly the bidding pattern. The odd time I've bid without checking it was a private listing and won the item, I've put something like 'Vauxhall Corsa N236 WTB item no....'

 

 

 

Edit: was watching a decent cycle the other day with a buy it now of £350 and it'd been bid up to £330 in record time on a private listing. I can't believe for a minute a genuine bidder was on to it or they'd have bought it.

[Junkman]

If that Italian whirry electrickery sparks and cable fire creator is such a bitch to change, and no no-charging light is on,

I'd first make absolutely sure, whether it really is the culprit by having it properly tested.

I have this vision of you having worked your arse off changing it, and not a bloody difference it made.

[CortinaDave]

Aye that's a thought. Tested the feed under the bonnet... But can't get anywhere near the alternator with a multimeter. Looks like exhaust off MIGHT get me somewhere near, going to give that a try.

 

Cort.. aye it does have leather. In really good nick too. Its a lusso so its a nice place to be inside while you're waiting for the RAC.

[Guest Breadvan72]

If that Italian whirry electrickery sparks and cable fire creator is such a bitch to change, and no no-charging light is on,

I'd first make absolutely sure, whether it really is the culprit by having it properly tested.

I have this vision of you having worked your arse off changing it, and not a bloody difference it made.

 

 

Alfas actually have German electrics, mostly. Nar nee nar. 

[EssDeeWon]

What are the chances that alternator went only as you drove it away Dave? Exactly.

 

The guy knew very well it was duff. What goes around and all that...

[Station]

I say put the car into the garage for the alternator. Ask them for a quote.

Headlight and alt could be realted - maybe it's somehow burnt the wiring out?

[Guest Breadvan72]

When an alternator fails it fails.  You don't tend to get much warning.  This is an old and cheap car bought from a private seller.  If you want a warranty buy from a trader.  Sheesh! This thread makes me think that I have wandered into Pistonheads by mistake. 

[cort16]

I don't think it's illegal to be pissed off when a car you've just bought conks out on the way home especially when the seller was covering up the fault.

Dave's not saying he's going to take him to small claims court or firebomb his pigeon loft he's just annoyed as would anyone be.

[Danblez]

Does the battery light come on at all and is it part of the charging circuit on these?

[skattrd]

I reckon there's no bulb in the battery light on the dash.

 

The alternator and headlight could be something as simple as a loose wire ... it probably isn't though.

[Rocket88]

I reckon there's no bulb in the battery light on the dash.

 

The alternator and headlight could be something as simple as a loose wire ... it probably isn't though.

Rule 217 b of Autoshite bible.................it's NEVER  a loose wire. In fact . "as simple as a loose wire" should be in the ebay mongspeak thread. 

[Junkman]

The alternator and headlight could be something as simple as a loose wire ... it probably isn't though.

 

It was exactly that in my '74 Impala, but that could be a tad irrelevant...

[Spiny Norman]

Does the battery light come on at all and is it part of the charging circuit on these?

 

Aren't there some cars where if the dash bulb for the battery blows the alternator doesn't charge because it's in circuit?

[spike60]

I found Alfaowner site helpful when I've owned them, if there's a trick to removing the alternator they should know.

Alfas commonly have about 6 heavy fuses on top of the battery that feed the main fuse box by your knee inside, it's worth looking carefully at them. On my 156 they were a bit crap and as each one fed several other fuses you would lose several functions at once. If you think the battery has been out definitly have a dig at 'em.

Fine looking car!

[Guest Breadvan72]

Rule 217 b of Autoshite bible.................it's NEVER  a loose wire. In fact . "as simple as a loose wire" should be in the ebay mongspeak thread. 

 

 

Mostly true, I am sure, but there's always the one.  Not quite a wire, but my old Lotus Excel would utterly die if a single pipe that fits loosely to the crankcase breather became disloged, which it easily did if you fiddled about near the air box.   

 

My HPE Volumex is currently on its arse because of a probable but as yet un located wiring fault in the supply to the fuel pump.