320touring gets an Alfa Romeo 156..

[sporty-shite]

Top bombing. I also seem to have won one of these in eBay. I really don't know why I bid on it. No MOT, intermittent misfire. 2.4 jtd estate.

 

It'll either be really good or REALLY bad.

 

Place bets.

[Lacquer Peel]

They are great-looking cars, I'd love to try one.

[Inspector Morose]

Dibs on the 306. It's really not you.

[320touring]

Nice purchase, the belt interval on these is 36k or something daft. I assume it was cheap enough to play cambelt roulette with though.

Lookie wot I found..

 

Mot mileage in 2012 was 62k, its on 77k now..

[Skizzer]

Winner winner chicken dinner.

 

I was very taken with Breadvan's (now FOAD's I think?) V6 Sportwagon when I borrowed it a while back, a proper good steer.  Gorgeous interior too.

[320touring]

They are great-looking cars, I'd love to try one.

 

happy to meet up and you can have a shot!

[skattrd]

How many cars have you got now Neil ? you seem to be increasing the fleet quite a bit this winter.
.

[RoadworkUK]

I've got a right lob-on for 156s.

 

Again.

[HMC]

well done that man! Lovely looking cars, and such good value right now. I love the colour combo. Skizzer the ex breadvan 156 is now sixcylinder's. I so very nearly bought it, instantly regretted it, but have made amends since (x3)

[320touring]

Ehh.

 

4x e30s

2x 5 series

1x 7 series

1x Citroen

1x Peugeot

1x VW Golf

1x Clio 172

1x Avensis

1x Seat Toledo

1x 156

 

14 I make that..

[Skizzer]

14?  Oh good, that makes me feel better about my addiction.  

 

Skizzer the ex breadvan 156 is now sixcylinder's. 

 

Of course, thanks.  I knew it was someone with a yardful of quality chod.

[Six-cylinder]

My 156 (Ex breadvan) is not back from the Alfa specialist in Northampton yet, I have not been chasing it as I am not keen on running a 156 in winter salt because the 1st one I had needed welding.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

My 156 (Ex breadvan) is not back from the Alfa specialist in Northampton yet, I have not been chasing it as I am not keen on running a 156 in winter salt because the 1st one I had needed welding.

 

I believe we discussed Colin Wing when I came down!

[Six-cylinder]

I believe we discussed Colin Wing when I came down!

It is with Andy Blake who used to work for Colin.

[Six-cylinder]

They are lovely cars, it looks very nice- the grey leather is a bit different from the usual black!

I always wanted one with that SEXY RED leather but no luck yet.. 

My first 156 had Red Leather and I really liked it. I think the red suits silver better than the Tan I have in the Ex breadvan Sportshatch, in fact I am thinking of suing the last owner of the Sportshatch for not providing the best interior colour!

[richardmorris]

Red leather every time.

 

 

 

 

After all, when you're on the side of the road waiting for recovery you may as well enjoy the ambience.

[320touring]

Have a lame video walk round of this turd...

 

[320touring]

I did a wee bloggery on the alfa here-

 

https://fuguttycars.wordpress.com/2016/01/25/becoming-the-alfa-male/

[Bamboocarman]

 

 

''Coolant service and thermostat (car appears to be running cool – only warms up when stationary, a common known fault)''

 

Hi, my 146 has the same symptoms; is a replacement thermostat the acknowledged cure, then?

 

Thanks, K.

[320touring]

''Coolant service and thermostat (car appears to be running cool – only warms up when stationary, a common known fault)''

 

Hi, my 146 has the same symptoms; is a replacement thermostat the acknowledged cure, then?

 

Thanks, K.

Hi, yep seems to be based on my reading-itfails open so the coolant always goes to the Rad.

[Luckythirteen]

Second that. If it's running cool, it's often that the stat's stuck open.

 

Looks alright that Alfa. I was watching that thinking 'fussy bugger, he'll be selling it against a white background', but I see your point. It's not far from being a really good car.

What is the story with the rev counter module causing shorts?

[Bamboocarman]

Thanks for the friendly advice fellas, all the best, K.

[320touring]

Second that. If it's running cool, it's often that the stat's stuck open.

 

Looks alright that Alfa. I was watching that thinking 'fussy bugger, he'll be selling it against a white background', but I see your point. It's not far from being a really good car.

What is the story with the rev counter module causing shorts?

As I understand it, part of the circuit overheats and shorts out the bulb warning light.

 

this in turn powers ip the rear lights so they glow even when car is off and locked. ergo flat battery!

[Luckythirteen]

That's mental...! And I thought French electrics were random.

[320touring]

That's mental...! And I thought French electrics were random.

the last 3 cars I have bought have been frech or Italian..

 

I must be going mad!

[BavarianRetro]

My mother has an old Punto to get to the shops once a week.

 

I got a call to the effect that the automatic gearbox was u/s. My responsibility, naturally.

 

We got it here and right enough every few seconds, it announces "gearbox failure". It drives OK, just chimes and displays a warning.

 

The local mechanics had told her it'd need a gearbox and wasn't worthwhile.

 

Driving it, it chimed when you braked and indicated.

 

Taking both rear light clusters out stopped it chiming. Putting one back in started it. Taking it out and the other back in and it stopped. Clean up and remake all the connections and it drives fine. No chiming.

 

I'm guessing a short circuit caused the reverse lights to come on when braking or indicating and the gearbox ECU can't compute moving forward and reverse lights on and throws a hissy chiming flashing lights fit.

 

Ludicrous.

[mrcitroen]

the last 3 cars I have bought have been frech or Italian..

I must be going mad!

I have been a glutton for punishment by having French and Italian cars for years. 156 is a top drive. Enjoy!

 

My 159 eats top wishbone bushes for brekkie and I think the 156 does too.

[stripped fred]

My mother has an old Punto to get to the shops once a week.

 

I got a call to the effect that the automatic gearbox was u/s. My responsibility, naturally.

 

We got it here and right enough every few seconds, it announces "gearbox failure". It drives OK, just chimes and displays a warning.

 

The local mechanics had told her it'd need a gearbox and wasn't worthwhile.

 

Driving it, it chimed when you braked and indicated.

 

Taking both rear light clusters out stopped it chiming. Putting one back in started it. Taking it out and the other back in and it stopped. Clean up and remake all the connections and it drives fine. No chiming.

 

I'm guessing a short circuit caused the reverse lights to come on when braking or indicating and the gearbox ECU can't compute moving forward and reverse lights on and throws a hissy chiming flashing lights fit.

 

Ludicrous.

I wonder how many cars get binned because of simple problems wrongly diagnosed as major faults? Not asking you to tell me obviously just pondering. Mmm...

[hairnet]

are you now dq from glf cos alfa petrol

 

racecar innit

[stripped fred]

The problem with 156's is that as soon as you've just sold one you're hankering after another!