Bit in shock tonight. My pride and joy, my 156 V6 burst into flames on the way home from work tonight and is now a smouldering hulk in the towies yard. No idea what happened, just lost power as I was cruising along, I started to pull over and then I noticed the orange glow. Within 5 mins she was gone.
Sorry to hear that. Talk about your all time bad luck. :'(
So sorry to hear that, are you ok?
I'm wondering about what could have happened.
Maybe a fuel line popped off, causing a lack fuel therefore a lack of power. The fuel could have then squirted over the hot exhaust manifold causing it to ignite.
Anyway sorry again,
Andrew.
Cheers guys, no idea what caused it. Definitely started under the bonnet, and then spread along the fuel line.
Wasn't anything I could do to stop it. Best car I've ever owned. And one that over the last 3 years I've progressively replaced most key bits from suspension, through brakes, exhaust and so on like repainting the Harbour Bridge.
Just hope the insurers pay a fair price - I could only find one other private sale V6 in WA as a comparison, so I fear they will try and low ball me.
On the upside, I'm already excited about getting a replacement. Looking for something slightly older - a 75 3.0L maybe. But not many of them around either.
My commiserations :-(
Alway Look For Another.
Cheers Evan. Will be checking out a tidy sounding 81 GTV on Saturday. Would prefer a GTV6, but getting hard to find.
The 75 3.0L I had my eye on is no longer available. Bugger!
Here's a pic of my former love, being loaded up and taken away.
Next car, have a fire extinguisher on board, have seen a few burnt V-6 motors in wrecking yards.
Also, seen a few JTS, 156's burnt out in wrecking yards...apparantly, they run the fuel injection at high pressure, always good to have agreed value with your insurance company, so they don't give you an unrealistic low price.
When i applied for insurance for the 156, they asked, had i ever claimed for a burnt out car, as it stays on your record, Colin.
Good advice Col. Though even if I'd had one yesterday, it would have been too little, too late. Took the firies about 4 attempts to put it out - kept on reigniting.
Sad.
Kulwinder Singh
Very sad. Just one thing , how did the bonnet manage to come off the hinges at the fire wall and become front hinged on the locking mechanism , explosion ??
Quote from: Paul Gulliver on June 04, 2015, 08:39:18 AM
Very sad. Just one thing , how did the bonnet manage to come off the hinges at the fire wall and become front hinged on the locking mechanism , explosion ??
I would be guessing fire brigade. The bonnet cable would probably have melted and jammed... assuming they even bothered trying to open it normally. ::)
Oh no, I really feel for you as I had a similar incident with my 24v 164 a few months ago. Also fuel rail related but didn't get into my car luckily, and only destroyed plastics and wiring as fire never really took off. Anyway, I've decided to attempt to repair my car when time & budget (& wife) allow so it's sitting in my shed. Hope your insurance co treats you well (I was with Shannons) & somehow you end up with a nice replacement.
Hi stustu,
What happened with your 164? Is it a common fault and if so can it be prevented?
Don't want my 164 burning to the ground either 😟
Thanks, Andrew.
Less an Alfa V6 issue and more an age of any vehicle that uses fuel, especially one with a high pressure fuel rail... That said ever seen a kombi burn, it's impressive.
It's more probable the older any car gets and the less maintenance or checks it has. Go open the bonnet and check the fuel lines, rails, connectors etc., cheap and easy peace of mind. If they look frayed, weepy, nicked, dodgy in anyway - get them replaced.
Quote from: Craig_m67 on June 05, 2015, 09:06:36 AM
Less an Alfa V6 issue and more an age of any vehicle that uses fuel, especially one with a high pressure fuel rail. It's more probable the older any car gets and the less maintenance or checks it has.
Coincidentally, I had just that morning booked it in for its regular 6 monthly service, and 3 year cam-belt change (I have always followed the recommended maintenance schedule very closely). Would have been in the workshop next Tuesday. Missed it by that much...
No point crying about it now - I'm checking out an 81 GTV tomorrow!
Quote from: Paul Gulliver on June 04, 2015, 08:39:18 AM
Very sad. Just one thing , how did the bonnet manage to come off the hinges at the fire wall and become front hinged on the locking mechanism , explosion ??
No explosion - that was the firies' fault. They couldn't open it from the front, so attacked it from the rear. Not sure if that was because they thought the bonnet opened forwards or whether they couldn't get to the latch because of flames.
Quote from: poohbah on June 05, 2015, 12:17:23 PM
No point crying about it now - I'm checking out an 81 GTV tomorrow!
I wasn't having a go btw, and yeah shitbadluck! :)
I noticed a black 156 V6 manual in Melb. On gumtree a few days back, needs a VIV for a parking accident apparently, still.. Would be a cheap entry to manual V6 motoring.
Cheers Craig - No offence was taken. I thought about getting another V6 156, but I like a bit of variety, so that's one of the reasons I'm going to look at the GTV.
Coincidentally, my desire to get an Alfa was instilled in me as a kid in the early 80s when our family doctor purchased a brand new GTV6. Took 30 years for me to actually do it, but now I'm hooked. A pristine GTV6 is still my dream Alfa, but this could get me one step closer ...
Time to sign off this sad and sorry tale on a positive note. I have moved on, taken the plunge, and bought myself a replacement for my incinerated baby.
Probably against all sense, I went ahead and bought the 81 GTV.
She's mechanically sound, with rebuilt motor a couple of years ago, and bodywork very straight. No major rust, the major issues were dealt with a few years ago. Rear hatch is absolutely rock solid. Sills are in great shape. But there are a few spots starting to emerge along the shoulders immediately beneath window trim. Shouldn't be too much drama to sort out.
Interior is ok, but showing its age. The best thing is the noise she makes - she's nowhere near as quick or as growly as my old 156, but what a fantastic bark. Sounds and feels like you are doing 100mph at 25kph!
Sad to hear about the 156 but the gtv wont disappoint. This one looks a beauty and if it's the one I think it is I was considering it myself a while back. Nice buy.
That's a good looking thing, and all the better if rust free :)
Shouldn't it have one of those black plastic bonnet bulges (which model had that?)
So ,any Alfa's, not enough garage space. I should start a club where we hot share cars
The V6 GTV (GTV6) had the plastic bonnet thingy, the 4 cylinder did not have it.
I personally like it without it, looks cleaner.
Andrew.
Cheers guys. I'd have loved to get my hands on a GTV6, but couldn't find one in reasonable nick and at a reasonable price.
She's a good starting point. So far anyway!
A workmate from Perth emailed me today: "I saw an Alfa 159 on fire the other day (I think it was a 159)". I sent him this thread and he said "That's it. Poor guy".
Funny, in a not-so-funny way...
Mmmm poo, no Alfas on west coast! Peace out East Side out 8)
PS sock GTV, Simmons and all. Very jelly
Quote from: Evan Bottcher on June 08, 2015, 11:30:28 PM
Funny, in a not-so-funny way...
Even I was laughing about it by the time the tow truck arrived. Wasn't anything else I could do - and laughing is better than crying!
:)
Quote from: VeeSix on June 12, 2015, 06:54:27 PM
Cherish every drive.
And Drive 'em like you stole 'em!
well its for the better! now you have an alfa's alfa
and there is no better trade than a rightoff
reminds of my favorite joke
les is walking down the beach on the gold coast and sees Con
walks up to to con and says "what are you doing here"
con says" my fish and chip shop she burn down ,I'm too old to start again so insurance give me $1m and I look at the girls here!
Con says Les what you do here "ah my friut shop she flood!water everywhere ,I'm too old to start again so insurance give me $1m and I also look at the girls here.
CON leans over to Les and whispers"How you start a flood"
Now Im not saying Poobah started the fire but good things can come from it ie a GTV
cheers and welcome
Ps No greeks were hurt in making of this joke!
Cheers Carlo, but how did you know I was Greek?
I'm already loving the GTV, by the way. Completely different driving experience to the last of the Busso V6s that I had previously, and the gearbox takes some learning to get the changes smooth, but she is a magnificent thing.
Takes me back to my high school days in the mid 80s when most of the Yr 12 "mediterranean" boys had souped up Sprints, Suds, or 124s. Well those that didn't have fake SLR 5000s or 350 GTS' anyway!