I have a 2001 147 - replaced timing belt at 55 000k.. Am getting conflicting reports from Alfa Service people here in Tassie as to when I need to replace timing belt again, have just reached 100 000. has any one got any ideas?
Hi Lisa,
Welcome to the forum! This is a subject I've heard a lot of debate about, however there is one fact - if a timing belt breaks then you are looking at a very large repair bill as the engine will almost certainly bend valves. I've seen two 4-cylinder Alfas and one 6-cylinder Alfa with broken timing belts in the last year at my local garage, so it definitely does happen. One of those was only at 50,000km (in a 5 year old 147). I think the official recommendation is still to replace the belts at 60,000km OR 3 years.
My opinionated opinion would be to change the timing belts and take away any risk. Do you have any options other than the main Alfa dealer, an independant specialist might be a bit cheaper?
Hope this helps... even if it's not the answer you might like to hear.
Evan.
Change every 50 to 60k. It is not worth the risk. I had one break at 60k.
Alfa recommendations are 60k ... but i have heard that the tensioner pulleys are weak and cause the timing belts to break
Is this true?
yes - this is what happened to mine. Mine broke at 60k when the reccomended interval was I think 80 or 100k.