Paco
New Member
- Messages
- 490
So having dropped in the 159 to get a service and the sawn through A/C pipes looked at we have a new problem!!!
On the JTD the intake butterflies are opened by a linkage using a cup and ball socket to locate it. The ball has broken off the end butterfly and as a result the linkage has fallen off and no longer moves the butterflies.
Luckily this happened while the butterflies were "open", if "closed" I would be stranded. They could of course close at any minute....
So a little cup and ball socket on a butterfly, no big deal surely?? Oh yes!!!
In the accountant's wisdom each butterfly and ball connector are made of one piece of plastic - which is why it broke - and the inlet manifold comes with the butterflies pre-fitted!!! (exactly how I have no idea...) So I have to buy an entire inlet manifold, and half the engine bay has to be dismantled to replace a teeny little ball and socket linkage!!!
The guy I use has seen it happen on lots of Saabs (same lump) and had one in so he could show me a new inlet manifold. They have investigated an engineering solution but have yet to get the cost low enough. The engine still has to be stripped to get the old one out so I can see his point.
A new manifold is £350 for a Saab - be interesting to see how much Alfa charge for the same part. Labour will be umpteen hours I guess but there we go - the joys of leggy cars!
At least they were very complimentary about the car's condition at 128k - one wheel bearing getting noisy and a lower ball joint was all the wear and tear they could comment on.
SO - IF LOOKING AT A JTD - whip off the plastic engine cover and look down into where all the injectors are, you'll see the linkage I mean, and if it isn't all connected you have a £500+ bill on the way!!!! Expect this on "cheap" leggy 159's.
On the JTD the intake butterflies are opened by a linkage using a cup and ball socket to locate it. The ball has broken off the end butterfly and as a result the linkage has fallen off and no longer moves the butterflies.
Luckily this happened while the butterflies were "open", if "closed" I would be stranded. They could of course close at any minute....
So a little cup and ball socket on a butterfly, no big deal surely?? Oh yes!!!
In the accountant's wisdom each butterfly and ball connector are made of one piece of plastic - which is why it broke - and the inlet manifold comes with the butterflies pre-fitted!!! (exactly how I have no idea...) So I have to buy an entire inlet manifold, and half the engine bay has to be dismantled to replace a teeny little ball and socket linkage!!!
The guy I use has seen it happen on lots of Saabs (same lump) and had one in so he could show me a new inlet manifold. They have investigated an engineering solution but have yet to get the cost low enough. The engine still has to be stripped to get the old one out so I can see his point.
A new manifold is £350 for a Saab - be interesting to see how much Alfa charge for the same part. Labour will be umpteen hours I guess but there we go - the joys of leggy cars!
At least they were very complimentary about the car's condition at 128k - one wheel bearing getting noisy and a lower ball joint was all the wear and tear they could comment on.
SO - IF LOOKING AT A JTD - whip off the plastic engine cover and look down into where all the injectors are, you'll see the linkage I mean, and if it isn't all connected you have a £500+ bill on the way!!!! Expect this on "cheap" leggy 159's.
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