Stumbled across one of these when car hunting and wondered if anyone knew of any known problems with the 2.4 JTD diesel lump (in either 136 or 150bhp guise)? I've scoured Honest John and Parkers but all they say is make sure the cambelt is done every 40k.....

Any info appreciated

Chris

my brother in law has got a 99 T reg which has done 100k and the engine has blown up, i dont know if this is his own doing or a wear and tear fault.

alfa romeos can suffer from bad electrics though.

the engine is generally very good... the only thing I can think of is the cambelt issue.... they almost ALWAYS snap if not done when they should be......

my old boss got one on an 04,it had tons of problems,and still has,don't think the engine was one of them tho,i will have a check and report back tho.

alfa romeos can suffer from bad electrics though.

You aint kiddin... I had a 99 1.8 petrol for less than a year. The dashboard kept telling me that my passenger side side light bulb had blown. Amazingly, a swift slap to the headlamp unit used to cure the problem :eek:

More seriously, the main reason I got rid of it was because there was a serious issue with the suspension setup. When I hit a dip in the road the car often bottomed out. In doing so, the inside wall of the front tyres used to foul some part of the suspension, causing a strip to be worn in a place that was not visible. One day whilst driving home from work, a very loud flapping noise developed. I pulled over to inspect the tyres, but it was dark, so I had to feel for the problem. In doing so, I sliced my palms open on jagged metal from the inside tyre wall Both front tyres were still within the legal limits, but both had worn through the metal . I hate to think what would have happened had I been booting it and had a blow out.

I brought the car to have the alignment checked and it came back as being "within manufacturers specification & tolerances". I brought the problem to the attention of Alfa Romeo Ireland, and after four registered letters with pictures of the tyres, they offered me a credit for one tyre. I wasn't after free tyres - I just wanted to get the issue fixed so it would not happen again. I got legal advice, and was told that I had a good case, but it could take a few years to get sorted. In the end I traded it in.

I would advise caution, as the 2.4 diesel engine would be pretty heavy, and AFIK they don't compensate for the additional weight in the suspension setup. Check the inside of the tyres for unusual wear (as long as the tyres have seen a few miles).

we've got one at work and while it has had a number of minor faults, the engines been fine. We've not had any problems with the suspension either so maybe it is setup slightly better in the 2.4jtd.

It's a cracking car to drive though, there is always a fight for the key if a few of us are going to a meeting (I often wish I wasn't the youngest at work:()

A work Colleagues swmbo had a 156 JTD and the cambelt snapped leaving her stranded at the end of a motorway sliproad. The car had been serviced by a main dealer according to the schedule. IIRC the car took 6 months to be repaired due to wrangling between Alfa in Italy and the UK trying to pass the blame to each other. As soon as the car was fixed the lease company took it back and sold it on, as she no longer had any trust in the car.

the engine is generally very good... the only thing I can think of is the cambelt issue.... they almost ALWAYS snap if not done when they should be......

i thought they always snapped when they had done half the mileage they should do before requiring renewal :eek:

i thought they always snapped when they had done half the mileage they should do before requiring renewal :eek:

mm mannyo's story above isn't the first one I've heard.....

then again, I had a friend with a merc a-class (timing CHAIN) and that snapped! :eek:

my old bosses had no engine probs to date,but it broke down plenty and still does,all electrical,other than this the car is great,and as he is rich he could get rid anytime he wants,he did say the dealers started to ignore him after the 3rd breakdown in the first month:eek:

With an Alfa you WILL have the odd niggle/problem but it's a car I think that any true petrolhead should own in their lifetime just for the sheer beauty and history of the marque. For me it would have to be a petrol version but I say go for it and block out all the negative reliability comments

With an Alfa you WILL have the odd niggle/problem but it's a car I think that any true petrolhead should own in their lifetime just for the sheer beauty and history of the marque. For me it would have to be a petrol version but I say go for it and block out all the negative reliability comments

that beutiful petrol V6 to be exact

My brother had a 156 and loved how it drove. He didn't like the squeaks, rattles and constant trips to the dealers.

Andy

Jeremy Clarkson[/size]']With an Alfa you WILL have the odd niggle/problem but it's a car I think that any true petrolhead should own in their lifetime just for the sheer beauty and history of the marque. For me it would have to be a petrol version but I say go for it and block out all the negative reliability comments

A diesel Alfa does seem more than a little...blasphemous...:eek:

My uncle had a 146, then a 156 (2.0 TS) and finally a GTV, none of them gave him any real problems and that was over a period of 4-5 years... The only thing I've heard specifically about the 2.4 JTD is that it can bottom out and there has been quite a few cases of the sump disappearing! :eek:

i have traded in my 156 2.0ts after 5 yrs of pleasure for my soon to arrive vRS

timing belts going in the petrol engine cause upwards of 2k worth of damage usually - i changed mine at 35k

no big problems reliability wise for me, but it is not a family orientated car - rearseats don't fold down, few cubbyholes/drinks holders, 3 child seats won't fit across the back but i loved it to bits

the dash is great as the angle of the instrument binnacles means the missus can't see the speedo at all

alfaowner.com is the best place to ask advice re the 2.4jtd - i do know it is torquier than the GTA though

Thanks for all the opinions - as it turned out it was a great car to drive and the 2.4 JTD is a peach, but too many scare stories about reliability and resulting big bills meant it fell down the list....

As a 2nd car, a V6 Alfa would certainly be on the list....

Chris

the v6 alfa is thirstier, heavier and only slightly quicker than the 2.0ts

the extra weight of the engine seems to make its handling suffer according to owners

the noise though it makes is delightful

I have had my 52 reg 156 2.4 JTD 10v 150hp Sportwagon for two and half years with no problems, touch wood.

Despite all the horror stories it hasn't missed a beat and goes well. As a precaution I changed the cambelt after 50k not 72k. At about 30k had it chipped to 180hp'ish and never looked back. Big performance and better mpg (had 53+ mpg on a run to South Wales last week!).

4 laps of the Nurburgring last year was fun and even managed 43mpg!! All in all very impressed. My only gripe is the depreciation.

However, pound for pound as a 1 or 2 year old second hand buy you can't go very wrong.

Hopefully you haven't been put off too much.

My next car will be the Octavia VRs after having good experiences with my wife's Fabia VRs and our local dealer.