156 spark plug change

"SteveH" > wrote in message
k...
>R D S > wrote:
>
>> >
>> > Ahh. In that case.... clear the ECU, hope it temporarily makes the
>> > problem go away, and flog the car.
>> >
>> > Failing that, if it's still playing up, take it to auction. Seriously,
>> > they're complex things, these TSpark lumps, and it sounds like you've
>> > got a complete dog there, I'm afraid.
>>
>> Knew I should have got a diesel!
>
> You'd say that until you had to pay for a cambelt change.... £1200 at an
> Alfa dealer. (Assuming you're talking the 2.4JTD rather than later 1.9s)

Knew I should have got a Vauxhall.

R D S wrote:
> "SteveH" > wrote in message
> k...
>> R D S > wrote:
>>
>>>>
>>>> Ahh. In that case.... clear the ECU, hope it temporarily makes the
>>>> problem go away, and flog the car.
>>>>
>>>> Failing that, if it's still playing up, take it to auction.
>>>> Seriously, they're complex things, these TSpark lumps, and it
>>>> sounds like you've got a complete dog there, I'm afraid.
>>>
>>> Knew I should have got a diesel!
>>
>> You'd say that until you had to pay for a cambelt change.... £1200
>> at an Alfa dealer. (Assuming you're talking the 2.4JTD rather than
>> later 1.9s)
>
> Knew I should have got a Vauxhall.

<cough, splutter!>

R D S > wrote:

> >> Knew I should have got a diesel!
> >
> > You'd say that until you had to pay for a cambelt change.... £1200 at an
> > Alfa dealer. (Assuming you're talking the 2.4JTD rather than later 1.9s)
>
> Knew I should have got a Vauxhall.

Nooooo!

Especially diesel Vauxhalls.

They've managed to make the awesome JTD lumps feel crap. Don't ask me
how, they just have.

If you want complete reliability, buy a VW / Audi.

If you want something that's good to drive *and* reliable, buy a new
shape Passat. You can tell Da Silva works for VAG these days.
--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

"SteveH" > wrote in message
.. .
>R D S > wrote:
>
>> >> Knew I should have got a diesel!
>> >
>> > You'd say that until you had to pay for a cambelt change.... £1200 at
>> > an
>> > Alfa dealer. (Assuming you're talking the 2.4JTD rather than later
>> > 1.9s)
>>
>> Knew I should have got a Vauxhall.
>
> Nooooo!
>
> Especially diesel Vauxhalls.
>
> They've managed to make the awesome JTD lumps feel crap. Don't ask me
> how, they just have.
>
> If you want complete reliability, buy a VW / Audi.
>
> If you want something that's good to drive *and* reliable, buy a new
> shape Passat. You can tell Da Silva works for VAG these days.

I heard diesel VW's were ****.

R D S > wrote:

> > If you want something that's good to drive *and* reliable, buy a new
> > shape Passat. You can tell Da Silva works for VAG these days.
>
> I heard diesel VW's were ****.

WTF?!

VAG diesels have been class-leading for years.

The only mainstream diesel that's better is the Alfa / Fiat JTD.
--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

SteveH wrote:

> There's a whole multitude of things that could cause a misfire. A plug
> is one of 'em, but with the TSpark system it shouldn't be that
> noticeable unless both plugs have failed.

I don't think there is any built in redundancy having two plugs to a
cylinder. The second plus fires at a slightly different time to improve
emissions rather than a performance reason, so if the primary plug fails
I think it would still misfire like a single plug cylinder.

I do agree a faulty plug sounds optimistic, and with eight of them at a
tenner a piece it isn't the throw away solution it was on cars of old.
Resetting the ECU sounds good advice.

Cheers
Tony

Tony Rickard > wrote:

> SteveH wrote:
>
> > There's a whole multitude of things that could cause a misfire. A plug
> > is one of 'em, but with the TSpark system it shouldn't be that
> > noticeable unless both plugs have failed.
>
> I don't think there is any built in redundancy having two plugs to a
> cylinder. The second plus fires at a slightly different time to improve
> emissions rather than a performance reason, so if the primary plug fails
> I think it would still misfire like a single plug cylinder.

Hmmm, not so sure about that. I know of several people with 75s who have
been running 'em around with one failed bank of plugs.....

It affects running, but doesn't cause a misfire.

> I do agree a faulty plug sounds optimistic, and with eight of them at a
> tenner a piece it isn't the throw away solution it was on cars of old.
> Resetting the ECU sounds good advice.

I'm crossing my fingers for him, 'cos the only option left now is to
take it to a main dealer for a full diagnostic check at 70 quid /
hour....

--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

On Sat, 2 Sep 2006 22:26:19 +0100, (SteveH)
wrote:

>You'd say that until you had to pay for a cambelt change.... £1200 at an
>Alfa dealer. (Assuming you're talking the 2.4JTD rather than later 1.9s)

Not necessarily..my 2.4JTD was about 300UKP for the belt and
tensioners (as specified by Alfa) at a main dealership at the last
service.

--
Z
Scotland
Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
'Oil' be seeing you..
(Email without 'Alfa' in subject are auto-deleted..sorry!)

On Sat, 2 Sep 2006 22:32:39 +0100, "R D S" > wrote:

>I heard diesel VW's were ****.

Yeah..I thought so too. Over-rated and less reliable than you think is
what I've heard from several sources. Might be out of date info now
though..

--
Z
Scotland
Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
'Oil' be seeing you..
(Email without 'Alfa' in subject are auto-deleted..sorry!)

On Sat, 2 Sep 2006 22:37:25 +0100, (SteveH)
wrote:

>VAG diesels have been class-leading for years.

What about Honda, BMW, Merc?

>The only mainstream diesel that's better is the Alfa / Fiat JTD.

BMW and Merc do stunning 3 litre diesels and the Honda 2.2 is reported
to be the best diesel car engine in it's class (in the Accord). While
I think JTDs are very good, *class leading* is straight out of the
Fiat/Alfa sales brochures.

--
Z
Scotland
Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
'Oil' be seeing you..
(Email without 'Alfa' in subject are auto-deleted..sorry!)