I bought my 147 on Thursday night and have been looking forward to my saturday morning drive all week.
I notice when i got in the car this morning that the radio had magically turned itself on while the car was off and now I have a flat batter.
Now am waiting for my $85 jump start from Marshall batteries.
My Saab, I have owned for a year or so and for all the Saab jokes, this car has never missed a beat.
Why did I buy an Alfa....
Update: Car back on track and going great. It was a rude welcome back to the Alfa fold though!
You should buy another SAAB too EASY
Quote from: Sportiva on August 14, 2010, 06:18:23 PM
You should buy another SAAB too EASY
Thanks, thats a great help.
Go to your local spare parts shop and buy a battery booster for $50..... you will never need to holla for a Marshall again
Excuse my ignorance on this, but why $85 for a jump start!!!! Reason I comment is that I just encountered a flat battery in my 156 today after neglecting to drive him/her for a month, so I think the 156 is making me paid for the neglect.
Anyway, drove my SAAB 9-3 Viggen up and jump started with no problems and no $$$ spent.
Only minor problem which you might encounter is the radio wants the 4 digit code, so I hope you have that, which should be in the manual or a card in the Alfa pouch.
Neil
My SAAB's have never broken down and I have had over 5.
Quote from: Neil Choi on August 14, 2010, 07:10:20 PM
Excuse my ignorance on this, but why $85 for a jump start!!!! Reason I comment is that I just encountered a flat battery in my 156 today after neglecting to drive him/her for a month, so I think the 156 is making me paid for the neglect.
My mechanic said i should be very careful trying to jump start my alfa so that made me think 'better safe than sorry'.
I know ZERO about engines , mechanics etc....so i dont ever like to pop the hood - happy to pay a professional.
I was quite impressed that Marshalls were honest and didnt try to flog me a batter (ie, sorry, your battery is dead mate)
go to an auto shop and buy a pair of jump leads that have a volt reg on it (not sure right term) but it has a little box in the leads which has a led light on it these leads are safe to use for the alfas because of the box it help with something, anway have used heaps with my 156 and have had no probs at all, re the steoero prob get it to a ster joint and get it fixed or get a kill switch so you can at least control it, i have done it to mine so i can have it on without the keys on
Once you have own a 156 or 147 long enough (which you haven't), you would know that all 156 and 147 radio units can be turned on without having the key in place. So the need for an additional switch is unnecessary, so save your money.
There is probably nothing wrong with your radio unit. If the radio was switched on or left on without the key in the ignition, it will normally turn off after 20 minutes or so.
Just give your battery a full charge and carry some jumper leads. Normal jumper leads are fine, heavier duty ones are better, just don't buy the el cheapo ones.
Happy 147 cruising with your radio going (I switch my radio off to listen to the orchestral symphony of my Alfa motor).
Neil
sorry neil but that is not true as in both of my 156's the key has to be turned on and i have owned mine for 5 years and they are the factory units maybe with the face lift that changed but with the early models need the ign on
my problem was more to do with the radio turning ITSELF on overnight.
Amazingly, this doesnt happen if I set the radio to AM before I turn it off.
If I have it on FM and then turn it off , shut the car down.....then the radio will come back on 10 minutes later even with ignition off.
you car must have that standard gremlin that lives within most alfas you need to shortcircuit it before it eats all ur electrics up ;D
Quote from: paul edwards on August 15, 2010, 08:19:33 PM
you mean to say that the radio, if set on FM, it will turn it's self on, but if set on AM it will stay turned off. Is that what your saying?
Hard to believe but this is correct.
Also, if I turn the radio off manually, then shut the car down....when i restart the car, the radio is on.
Another thing happens....when i am listening to the radio it intermitently beeps....then sometimes says "READING..." on the display or "SEARCHING"...
So basically it has issues....but yes, if I ensure that its on AM before I shut it down, it wont come on in the middle of the night and run my battery down.
No doubting the badge, its an Alfa.
Still....i continue to have problems....
I had the battery charged and again I went to start today and the car was dead.
I cant tell you how flat I feel (more flat than the battery !). I test drove over 10 147s and a few 156s...have 2 independent mechanical checks....did all the right things yet I have had nothing but trouble with this car in the week i have owned it.
I honestly feel like selling it today. I am in very deep depression !
I am not going to pay another $80 to Marshalls to get this thing started again, so its just going to have to sit there until i decided what i want to do with it.
A very very depressing end to a 3 month search for my dream car.
Yes it could just be a flat battery, but the owner "assures" me that the battery is pretty new so i am thinking its needs an alternator so I am up for $700 and I have not even transferred the thing in to my name yet !
it is easy to check if its the battery or the alty....
if you have a multimeter...
you should also own a battery charger too...
if you don't wanna do the work, u gotta spend the $$ to get some1 else to do it... that said, a new $700 alty isn't ur only option, if it is the alternator...
Quote from: wankski on August 17, 2010, 08:07:32 PM
if you don't wanna do the work, u gotta spend the $$ to get some1 else to do it... that said, a new $700 alty isn't ur only option, if it is the alternator...
Its not a matter of not wanting to do the work. Some people are mechanically minded, I am not. I dont know about any of that stuff....so yes, I will have to pay.
Anyway, a quick search on google shows that there are other people that are dumbfounded why their 147 batteries keep draining....so my real concern is that its some obscure electrical problem.
My main gripe is that its all happening within the first week of ownership. My wife is using all her charm to stop me going to the sellers house and decking him. Obviously he would have known what he was selling me. How people can do that will never cease to amaze me. I just sold my Saab and I listed every possible problem with the car....even down to the trim.
Still, my fault / risk for buying a 7 year old car rather than a new one.
who did the inspections? not that i'm blaming them for missing that one mind you...
shame u're not in Vic, I could recommend you a list of people... a good auto electrician is a must, but a few of the top alfa specialists would also be able to figure it out...
I know it ought not be so, but not being mechanically minded with second hand (or even new!) alfas is akin to gambling.... That said, don't be quick to rule out the simple answer!
a multimeter and a charger could easily rule the battery out... we're talking $35 worth of tools here... i mean in total.
You haven't got a handsfree hooked in through the radio or anything simple like that have you? And is it the standard stereo or an aftermarket?
Sounds like it would be a simple thing to fix, finding it might be the hard part. Have you asked the previous owner about the problem?
I would suggest joining alfaowner.com. It's a British site with many more members than our one, and answers to most problems. I just searched for 'battery' under 147/156 and got 9 pages of results.
Quote from: Sheldon Mcintosh on August 17, 2010, 10:21:24 PM
You haven't got a handsfree hooked in through the radio or anything simple like that have you? And is it the standard stereo or an aftermarket?
Sounds like it would be a simple thing to fix, finding it might be the hard part. Have you asked the previous owner about the problem?
No, nothing is plugged in that would drain the radio. As I said earlier, first time this happened i noticed that the radio had come on by itself.
This time when i got in the car was totally dead - thats not to say that the radio might not have also been to blame.
Its a standard ALFA 147 stereo. I'd actually feel more confident with an after market one because it would be far less likely to be riddled with the electrical problems that come with everything ALFA.
I cant tell you the stress this is causing me - thats why i am writing this at 4.30am. I have taken out a finance for 13k on this car and I can see myself paying off a loan AND having to buy another shit box car to get around while this ALFA is off the road.
Have spoken to the previous owner and guess what - "has never had a flat battery in the whole time he owned the car". Yeah right.
The FIRST time i went to start it it was dead as a door nail!
Quote from: wankski on August 17, 2010, 09:46:40 PM
who did the inspections? not that i'm blaming them for missing that one mind you...
shame u're not in Vic, I could recommend you a list of people... a good auto electrician is a must, but a few of the top alfa specialists would also be able to figure it out...
It was just a normal inspections company , not an Alfa specialist. So theres another lesson.
Quote from: wankski on August 17, 2010, 09:46:40 PM
I know it ought not be so, but not being mechanically minded with second hand (or even new!) alfas is akin to gambling.... That said, don't be quick to rule out the simple answer!
a multimeter and a charger could easily rule the battery out... we're talking $35 worth of tools here... i mean in total.
Yes I agree with you. Dont worry, it wont be happening again. I absolutely love Alfas to look at and drive but the stress and inconvenience this is causing us is just not worth it.
So forgive my ignorance, but what would the multimeter do for me at the moment, with the battery being dead?
thanks
Update - my mechanic has replaced the radio.....so far so good.
Luckily i was able to source a used one for 170 rather than the 1200 replacement part cost!
hopefully i can fall back in love with the car this weekend.
Quote from: tony8028 on August 20, 2010, 12:11:21 PM
Update - my mechanic has replaced the radio.....so far so good.
Luckily i was able to source a used one for 170 rather than the 1200 replacement part cost!
hopefully i can fall back in love with the car this weekend.
what now???!! >:(
crims.
worst comes to worst, aftermarket... bit harder to make look good in a 147 cf 156... thats why i hate integrated stereos...
to answer your question... below 12v switched off, the battery is toast. below 14.4v while running, alty suspect.
HTH
Quote from: wankski on August 20, 2010, 12:46:37 PM
Quote from: tony8028 on August 20, 2010, 12:11:21 PM
Update - my mechanic has replaced the radio.....so far so good.
Luckily i was able to source a used one for 170 rather than the 1200 replacement part cost!
hopefully i can fall back in love with the car this weekend.
what now???!! >:(
crims.
worst comes to worst, aftermarket... bit harder to make look good in a 147 cf 156... thats why i hate integrated stereos...
to answer your question... below 12v switched off, the battery is toast. below 14.4v while running, alty suspect.
HTH
You can buy an adapter on Ebay for $30 that allows you to fit an stereo in the dash of a 147. It has the metal surround with a square in it for a standard deck. i like the look of the alfa one. Just wish it had an Aux in.
Quote from: tony8028 on August 20, 2010, 01:15:23 PM
You can buy an adapter on Ebay for $30 that allows you to fit an stereo in the dash of a 147. It has the metal surround with a square in it for a standard deck. i like the look of the alfa one.
Oh yeh, it's possible, just bit harder than 156. Insert HU removal tool (or wire coat hanger/ 4 pop rivets) pull out unit, job done...
By integrated i don't mean 147, i mean those ugly big contiguous front ends on some cars out there that combine MFD/stereo/climate control in one... eg, current ford GT... that would be an operation...
Also i did use the key words 'look good'.... ;D very few HUs suit that facelift interior IMHO
Quote from: tony8028 on August 20, 2010, 01:15:23 PM
i like the look of the alfa one. Just wish it had an Aux in.
it does... well can...
U can plug modules into the cd stacker input that allow ipod/mp3/sdcard/aux in connectivity... (not all in same unit)
not perfect, but at least in the case of 156, u can have 5 folders of x99 songs ea per usb stick or sd card...
better than nothing.
I'll let u know how i go with mine...
Quote from: wankski on August 20, 2010, 01:42:12 PM
I'll let u know how i go with mine...
Dont you need a special sort of cable ? like, not something readily available....
I know it doesnt charge it, but that would worry me because i have a cig lighter charger for my iphone anyway....
it's a stand alone cd-changer emulator, so it's a module box.
Whole unit with everything u need tho only cost around 50 quid +shipping.
the iPod version may well charge it, (uses proprietary connector)... i'm buying the USB version.
The module in question is the 'connects2' usb or iPod. Google away!