Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: poohbah on January 18, 2017, 03:33:32 PM

Title: The joys of Italian design
Post by: poohbah on January 18, 2017, 03:33:32 PM
This kind of thing drives me nuts about Alfa ... but I sort of get a kick out of it too.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/buying-maintenance/videos/a32313/alfa-romeo-4c-refill-wiper-fluid/ (http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/buying-maintenance/videos/a32313/alfa-romeo-4c-refill-wiper-fluid/)
Title: Re: The joys of Italian design
Post by: V AR 164 on January 18, 2017, 03:48:18 PM
Typical Alfa indeed, although am I the only one who doesn't use the washer system?

I also love the fake bonnet, I'm sure they could have made it a functional bonnet and boot with only a couple of kg's added.

Anyone have a similar quirk with their Alfa? Would like to hear some!

Andrew.
Title: Re: The joys of Italian design
Post by: poohbah on January 18, 2017, 04:13:58 PM
Plenty of classic quirks to name - like the central hatch strut in the 116 GTV making it a hatchback in which you cannot fold down the rear seats. Or the finger-amputating handbrake in the 75.

And of course, the need to clear half the engine bay of the V6 156 in order to change a rubber cambelt ... making what should be a $150 job a $1500 job.
Title: Re: The joys of Italian design
Post by: bazzbazz on January 18, 2017, 06:07:56 PM
$1500 !!!!!   :o

I gotta raise my rates, I am just waaay too reasonably priced!   ::)

;D
Title: Re: The joys of Italian design
Post by: bazzbazz on January 18, 2017, 06:12:32 PM
Quote from: poohbah on January 18, 2017, 03:33:32 PM
This kind of thing drives me nuts about Alfa ...

Well its not THAT hard, you undo 4 screws (granted, a pain in the ass) but then all you need is a garden hose to fill it.  ;)

Here's one for you . . . . .where is the fuse for the A/C compressor, not the fuse for the A/C control system, but the fuse for the compressor. (and looking up my posts on the web will be considered cheating!)   >:(

:)
Title: Re: The joys of Italian design
Post by: poohbah on January 18, 2017, 06:13:08 PM
I'll have to check my last bill a few months back - pretty sure the cambelt change on its own was about $1500. The total bill topped $2k of course, including some other odds and sods plus 6m service etc.
Title: Re: The joys of Italian design
Post by: poohbah on January 18, 2017, 06:15:17 PM
Fuse for A/C compressor on the 4C or on a 156?

No matter - I have no idea.
Title: Re: The joys of Italian design
Post by: poohbah on January 18, 2017, 06:19:13 PM
I'm not too pleased with the location of the oil pressure sender on my '81 GTV either. Mine needs replacing, but what a faff to get to.
Title: Re: The joys of Italian design
Post by: bazzbazz on January 18, 2017, 06:47:49 PM
The fuse for the A/C compressor doesn't exist . . . . .it uses the Cigarette lighter fuse!!!

Took me a whole night searching for the bloody thing, not even any of the local Alfa or Indie service centres knew.   ::)

So if your A/C ever stops working, see if your lighter is on the blink too before you take it to your local A/C service centre.

;)
Title: Re: The joys of Italian design
Post by: poohbah on January 18, 2017, 07:15:56 PM
Interesting bazz. I recently had the AC compressor bearing replaced, and the unit regassed (it wasn't working when I bought the car). The mech however said I might need to replace the whole compressor too (+$1K!), because he thought it may have a failing/dodgy electrical switch which meant the AC would randomly stop working after a few minutes.

That said, it now seems to work all the time when I turn it on  - though I hardly ever bother. I prefer window down, arm out ...
Title: Re: The joys of Italian design
Post by: 105junior on January 22, 2017, 05:45:55 PM
I paid $1200 for a cambelt change 3 years ago but all that was changed was the belt & tensioner,
This time around it got the burger with the lot,  paid $1k labor plus parts that I sourced from Alfaworkshop, probably $2k all up