2002 156 V6 Cam belts - 60k & or 3 Years ?

[Claudiobliss]

Hi there fellow Alfisti,

Just recently purchased a very nice 2002 156 V6 manual with 84,000 ks on the clock. I am very excited about finally getting an Alfa Romeo as I have been waiting for the right opportunity to get one for over (would u believe) 20years.

I have been advised by various mechanics in Sydney (dealers & independents) that the cambelt is due to be changed.The advice has been it should be done every 60,000 ks or every 3 years.

Would anybody be able to confirm if this is correct.
(The previous owner showed me a receipt showing that the cambelt was changed in 2006 - car was on 60,000 ks).

Also, I have noticed the front suspension bushes need to be repaired (noted this is typical for this model) and I was wondering if I should ask for polyurethane bushes rather than the standard rubber material.

Cheers,
Claudio

[ProvaRacing]

Welcome Claudio and congrats. Simple answer is yes 3yrs or 60,000km whichever occurrs first.

Note: If you choose to move away from Alfa's recommendation you do so at your own peril and could face belt snap and upper/lower engine damage...however having said that belts are not like mission impossible i.e. this belt will self destruct in 3yrs/60K km.

For example the first change you say was 2006 and 60K km, the car is 2002 (complianced but possibly built 6-18mths earlier like every olther Alfa) so the first belt change was 4+yrs (assuming it didn't suffer a "snap" earlier) so like all guidlines they have to cover many uses/styles of driving/conditions so there is a margin of safety based on how you treat your car (read my note though).

[Claudiobliss]

Thanks for your post, Provaracing.

I'm going to get it booked in for the cam belt now.

Cheers,
Claudio

[dehne]

every 3years/60000km is a guide anyway as i did 100000kms and 7years and when they took the belt out they said it said it looked in fantastic and had hardly worn but i also knew that i was pushing to get it there and was worried it would snap i just never had time to do it but its done now and the plan is to get the next done in another 60000

[L4OMEO]

Hi Claudio

Welcome to the group. I also have a 2002 156 2.5 V6 manual, purchased at similar mileage a few months back and still loving it. Post some pics of yours when you get a chance.

Cambelt changes for the 156 were originally set at something like 100,000km/5 years, however after numerous twinspark engines 'lunching' themselves early the intervals were revised to 60,000km/3 years. It's not commonly known that the V6 intervals were not actually changed as part of this so the original intervals should still apply. I have the Alfa Romeo bulletin somewhere with all the details but it's not to hand at the moment.

Provaracing's comment on build dates is also a consideration, although my 02 model was built in November 01 so if it was part of the same batch (as was the case with the few V6 manuals which reached Aus) this may not be applicable.

Having said all that, personally I wouldn't risk the full 100,000km/5 year interval - you may get there, you may not. But, if you go over 60,000km/3 years there's probably more of a safety net than there is with the Twinspark.

If you're going ahead and changing it now then that's all irrelevamnt for the time being anyway, and you'll have all the peace of mind you need. But, give consideration to changing the waterpump while you're having the belts done - the original pump is plastic and is a known weak point, it can be directly replaced with the one from the GTV V6 which has a metal impeller - suggest you search the forums for more details on this. If yoo have to do this later as a separate job you're looking at similar labour costs all over again. This happened to me a couple of months back, fortunately covered by warranty!

All the best
Rory

[ProvaRacing]

For the record the later edition 156 owner manual states ( and no distinction between twinspark/V6);

Inspection at 60K km and 180k km

Replacement of timing belt(*) & poly V accessory drive belt 120K km

(*) Or every 3 years in harsh conditions (cold-hot climates, stop and go city traffic, dusty areas or roads covered with sand/or salt)

Or 5 years regardless of milerage.

Also I had this clarified by the Alfa dealer that the time starts, like warranty, at registration although I find this strange as I know of many Alfa's around 14-18mth difference between build and sale and I asked don't these cars get started and run at idle in the warehouse? Does this not shorten max time? I still don't have an answer. Thus 3yrs/60K km is safe but as I said if you know how you treat your car and what conditions its exposed to you decide.

PS the plastic water pump impellor cracking on V6's and thus no waterflow is the evener for the twinspark 4cyl that has a metal impellor but a claimed higher belt failure rate. Thus the timing for a change may be about the same anyway.

[L4OMEO]

Hi ProvaRacing

Yes, mine says exactly the same thing. The bulletin announcing the changed intervals was issued by Alfa Romeo on 13/11/2006 so it's likely that your 2007 handbook preceeded this change (which applied to all Twinspark and JTS engines but excluded the V6). As you say though, if the plastic impeller only lasts 60km then that's your timing belt change interval taken care of!

I do have a copy of this bulletin somewhere, will post it for anyone who's interested (if I can find it).

You make a good point about new cars sitting unused for long periods, something that's not restricted to Alfa. How would you feel picking up your 'new' bella to find it had been built two years earlier and sitting in a warehouse ever since? Not just the belts to consider - what else deteriorates in this time? I'd be not happy ....

A known history (before and after the initial delivery!) is worth its weight in gold.

[Claudiobliss]

Thanks guys, you have been all a great help.

I may speak to the mechanic about the water pump as well and see what comes of that.

Once again you have all been of great assistance.

These forums are the best!!!
What a great way to own a car you love and also be able to get some important info about it as well.

Cheers to you all,
Claudio

[L4OMEO]

No problem Claudio, glad we didn't confuse you.

Just a question – who are you getting to do the work? You may want to search the forums for recommendations depending on your location. General wisdom is to use someone familiar with and equipped to perform this work (I think special cam locking tools are required which are generally only found at Alfa specialists). I originally had my cambelt change scheduled with a Lotus dealer and self-proclaimed Euro 'specialist' (this was not by my choice) – they were very haughty when I asked if they had done Alfa V6 belts before, as if this was very mundane job compared with the 'exotic' stuff they did, so it was mildly amusing when they had to abandon the job on day 1 and send it to the Alfa Dealer.

[John Hanslow]

There should be some Qld Alfisti who can recommend some specialists here. Perhaps list them lock it under the Qld state link for new members or update a link to the Qld Club State site.

I know of Alfamotive and they know their stuff but thats all.

Now, my 156 Owners manual has had a sticker put insde it warning that all belts need changing at 60,000kms or 3 years.  That's it !

I have been looking at a few 2002/2003 model v6's on carsalers etc and would factor in the cost of a belt change if one has not been recently already. And as for the water pump, the original one was plastic and the blades fracture and brake off.  So as  precaution, it is changed to the upgraded metal one.

Good luck.

[L4OMEO]

I have been looking at a few 2002/2003 model v6's on carsalers etc and would factor in the cost of a belt change if one has not been recently already. And as for the water pump, the original one was plastic and the blades fracture and brake off.  So as  precaution, it is changed to the upgraded metal one.

Agreed, this can significantly alter the overall cost of the car you're looking at. Also worth remembering that the metal waterpump was never listed as an updated part for the 156 V6 - even now the plastic one is still the current part. Ask an Alfa Romeo dealer to replace yours and by default you will get another plastic one, so you will need to specify the metal one from the GTV V6. I'm sure someone on the forum has the right part number to quote if this is required.

[Claudiobliss]

My experience in buying my '02 156 V6 is the current owners/sellers know all about the cam belt maintenance requirements

One person said the belt was due and automatically offered a discount off the sale price to cater for this.

Though the general "Alfa" populace are less worried about the cam belts with the V6's compared to the 4 cylinder cars, it still looks like everyone says its better safe than sorry to have it changed & that's my go as well.

[L4OMEO]

Hard to put a price on peace-of-mind - do it and not worry!