156 very poorly

Jumped on the motorway earlier, hammer down, picked up a reasonable speed
then complete power loss.
Coasted onto the hard shoulder, car wouldn't turn over properly on the key,
suspected an electrical fault (I have been known to be optimistic).
AA bloke turned up, put a booster on the battery, the car struggled to start
but fired up and shook like a leaf with blue white smoke billowing from the
rear, 'its internal' he said, my pocket went into spasm.

Am I a petrolhead now?

R D S wrote:
> Jumped on the motorway earlier, hammer down, picked up a reasonable
> speed then complete power loss.
> Coasted onto the hard shoulder, car wouldn't turn over properly on
> the key, suspected an electrical fault (I have been known to be
> optimistic). AA bloke turned up, put a booster on the battery, the car
> struggled
> to start but fired up and shook like a leaf with blue white smoke
> billowing from the rear, 'its internal' he said, my pocket went into
> spasm.
> Am I a petrolhead now?

Blue/white smoke not good - I feel for your wallet...

R D S wrote:
> Jumped on the motorway earlier, hammer down, picked up a reasonable speed
> then complete power loss.
> Coasted onto the hard shoulder, car wouldn't turn over properly on the key,
> suspected an electrical fault (I have been known to be optimistic).
> AA bloke turned up, put a booster on the battery, the car struggled to start
> but fired up and shook like a leaf with blue white smoke billowing from the
> rear, 'its internal' he said, my pocket went into spasm.

Coolant and / or oil. Not good

> Am I a petrolhead now?

Oh I should think so.



--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 TS 156 TS S2
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

R D S wrote:
> "catman" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>R D S wrote:
>>
>>>Jumped on the motorway earlier, hammer down, picked up a reasonable speed
>>>then complete power loss.
>>>Coasted onto the hard shoulder, car wouldn't turn over properly on the
>>>key, suspected an electrical fault (I have been known to be optimistic).
>>>AA bloke turned up, put a booster on the battery, the car struggled to
>>>start but fired up and shook like a leaf with blue white smoke billowing
>>>from the rear, 'its internal' he said, my pocket went into spasm.
>>
>>Coolant and / or oil. Not good
>>
>
>
> You don't reckon it's the camshaft position sensor I haven't had changed yet
> do you? Please!

I think the odds against it are depressingly slim.


--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 TS 156 TS S2
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

"R D S" > wrote in message
...
> AA bloke turned up, put a booster on the battery, the car struggled to
> start but fired up and shook like a leaf with blue white smoke billowing
> from the rear, 'its internal' he said, my pocket went into spasm.
>
> Am I a petrolhead now?
>


What should I do with it next?

Its always used a lot of oil for the few months i've had it, I have had a
conversation about piston rings with the local garage, they wanted to get a
new bottom half of the engine from a scrap vehicle and swap. I'm not
massively keen on this idea, seems like further gamble.

Its done 82k, while its goosed is it a good idea to have the engine taken
out and fully reconditioned?

Or should I find a specialist and have them decide, if anyone knows of one
in the Blackburn/Lancs area please let me know.

Cheers,

Rick

R D S wrote:
> "R D S" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>AA bloke turned up, put a booster on the battery, the car struggled to
>>start but fired up and shook like a leaf with blue white smoke billowing
>>from the rear, 'its internal' he said, my pocket went into spasm.
>>
>>Am I a petrolhead now?
>>
>
>
>
> What should I do with it next?
>
> Its always used a lot of oil for the few months i've had it, I have had a
> conversation about piston rings with the local garage, they wanted to get a
> new bottom half of the engine from a scrap vehicle and swap. I'm not
> massively keen on this idea, seems like further gamble.
>
> Its done 82k, while its goosed is it a good idea to have the engine taken
> out and fully reconditioned?
>
> Or should I find a specialist and have them decide, if anyone knows of one
> in the Blackburn/Lancs area please let me know.

Frankly I'd be expecting a new engine. Mine's done some 100+ and it's
fine (so far)


--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 TS 156 TS S2
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

I use a lad from Darwen who works in a garage in Blackburn he does all
the work on my 156 his boss has all the diagnosis stuff i`d recommend
him to anyone .If you want his number let me know.
Graham H
R D S wrote:
> "R D S" > wrote in message
> ...
> > AA bloke turned up, put a booster on the battery, the car struggled to
> > start but fired up and shook like a leaf with blue white smoke billowing
> > from the rear, 'its internal' he said, my pocket went into spasm.
> >
> > Am I a petrolhead now?
> >
>
>
> What should I do with it next?
>
> Its always used a lot of oil for the few months i've had it, I have had a
> conversation about piston rings with the local garage, they wanted to get a
> new bottom half of the engine from a scrap vehicle and swap. I'm not
> massively keen on this idea, seems like further gamble.
>
> Its done 82k, while its goosed is it a good idea to have the engine taken
> out and fully reconditioned?
>
> Or should I find a specialist and have them decide, if anyone knows of one
> in the Blackburn/Lancs area please let me know.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Rick

> R D S wrote:
>> "R D S" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > AA bloke turned up, put a booster on the battery, the car struggled to
>> > start but fired up and shook like a leaf with blue white smoke
>> > billowing
>> > from the rear, 'its internal' he said, my pocket went into spasm.
>> >
>> > Am I a petrolhead now?
>> >
>>
>>
>> What should I do with it next?
>>
>> Its always used a lot of oil for the few months i've had it, I have had a
>> conversation about piston rings with the local garage, they wanted to get
>> a
>> new bottom half of the engine from a scrap vehicle and swap. I'm not
>> massively keen on this idea, seems like further gamble.
>>
>> Its done 82k, while its goosed is it a good idea to have the engine taken
>> out and fully reconditioned?
>>
>> Or should I find a specialist and have them decide, if anyone knows of
>> one
>> in the Blackburn/Lancs area please let me know.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Rick
>
"darwengray" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>I use a lad from Darwen who works in a garage in Blackburn he does all
> the work on my 156 his boss has all the diagnosis stuff i`d recommend
> him to anyone .If you want his number let me know.
> Graham H

Hi,

I had it towed to a guy in Oswaldtwistle, Heys Lane Motors who seem to
specialise in Alfa/Fiat.
They seem OK but have had it a few days and are dragging their feet at
cracking on with it, still not sure if it is valve/piston, I have no
compression on one of the cylinders.

Who is the guy you use, may be useful for future reference?

Cheers,

Rick

If you need his number ever ring me on 873594 and i`ll get it for you
R D S wrote:
> > R D S wrote:
> >> "R D S" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >> > AA bloke turned up, put a booster on the battery, the car struggled to
> >> > start but fired up and shook like a leaf with blue white smoke
> >> > billowing
> >> > from the rear, 'its internal' he said, my pocket went into spasm.
> >> >
> >> > Am I a petrolhead now?
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> What should I do with it next?
> >>
> >> Its always used a lot of oil for the few months i've had it, I have had a
> >> conversation about piston rings with the local garage, they wanted to get
> >> a
> >> new bottom half of the engine from a scrap vehicle and swap. I'm not
> >> massively keen on this idea, seems like further gamble.
> >>
> >> Its done 82k, while its goosed is it a good idea to have the engine taken
> >> out and fully reconditioned?
> >>
> >> Or should I find a specialist and have them decide, if anyone knows of
> >> one
> >> in the Blackburn/Lancs area please let me know.
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >>
> >> Rick
> >
> "darwengray" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> >I use a lad from Darwen who works in a garage in Blackburn he does all
> > the work on my 156 his boss has all the diagnosis stuff i`d recommend
> > him to anyone .If you want his number let me know.
> > Graham H
>
> Hi,
>
> I had it towed to a guy in Oswaldtwistle, Heys Lane Motors who seem to
> specialise in Alfa/Fiat.
> They seem OK but have had it a few days and are dragging their feet at
> cracking on with it, still not sure if it is valve/piston, I have no
> compression on one of the cylinders.
>
> Who is the guy you use, may be useful for future reference?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Rick

If the cambelt is still intact, then you've either dropped a valve,
cracked the piston rings or the head gasket has gone. The only way they
are going to find out is to take the head off. Saw one recently on
another forum where engine overheated and burnt the exhaust valves!

I lost my cambelt a few years back and bent several valves in the
process. Luckily no damage to the pistons or head, so had it rebuilt. A
year later, lost #1 big-end. In both cases I had my engine rebuilt as I
knew its history.

If I had to pick up a 2nd hand bottom end, I would still have had them
strip it down and replace all the bearings, piston rings, oil pump,
etc. so it could work out more expensive than to simply rebuild yours.
An exchange bottom end from Alfa is an option, but v. expensive.

Now she pulls like a train, uses hardly any oil and gives pretty good
MPG figures.

One happy Alfa owner ....
Gary


R D S wrote:

> > R D S wrote:
> >> "R D S" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >> > AA bloke turned up, put a booster on the battery, the car struggled to
> >> > start but fired up and shook like a leaf with blue white smoke
> >> > billowing
> >> > from the rear, 'its internal' he said, my pocket went into spasm.
> >> >
> >> > Am I a petrolhead now?
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> What should I do with it next?
> >>
> >> Its always used a lot of oil for the few months i've had it, I have had a
> >> conversation about piston rings with the local garage, they wanted to get
> >> a
> >> new bottom half of the engine from a scrap vehicle and swap. I'm not
> >> massively keen on this idea, seems like further gamble.
> >>
> >> Its done 82k, while its goosed is it a good idea to have the engine taken
> >> out and fully reconditioned?
> >>
> >> Or should I find a specialist and have them decide, if anyone knows of
> >> one
> >> in the Blackburn/Lancs area please let me know.
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >>
> >> Rick
> >
> "darwengray" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> >I use a lad from Darwen who works in a garage in Blackburn he does all
> > the work on my 156 his boss has all the diagnosis stuff i`d recommend
> > him to anyone .If you want his number let me know.
> > Graham H
>
> Hi,
>
> I had it towed to a guy in Oswaldtwistle, Heys Lane Motors who seem to
> specialise in Alfa/Fiat.
> They seem OK but have had it a few days and are dragging their feet at
> cracking on with it, still not sure if it is valve/piston, I have no
> compression on one of the cylinders.
>
> Who is the guy you use, may be useful for future reference?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Rick