30 years of Alfas, well almost!

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Bluesuit
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Bluesuit »

I have ordered the restrictor and exhaust gaskets at the bottom of this list, to refit after I have a go at cleaning the EGR:

http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/parts/GT_EGR_valve.shtml

in the meantime, some funds are heading towards my venerable Discovery TD5, which is suffering from a saggy back end - its had new suspension air bags, but I've just forked out for a new suspension air compressor and valve block as the failure to hold pressure in the system seems to be coming from worn control valves - it has also just developed a possible snag with the driver's door central locking - the old Landy is behaving suspiciously like an Alfa of late: annoying snags! Hopefully once that's sorted it's back to the GT!
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Simonsud »

Bluesuit wrote:I have ordered the restrictor and exhaust gaskets at the bottom of this list, to refit after I have a go at cleaning the EGR:

http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/parts/GT_EGR_valve.shtml

in the meantime, some funds are heading towards my venerable Discovery TD5, which is suffering from a saggy back end - its had new suspension air bags, but I've just forked out for a new suspension air compressor and valve block as the failure to hold pressure in the system seems to be coming from worn control valves - it has also just developed a possible snag with the driver's door central locking - the old Landy is behaving suspiciously like an Alfa of late: annoying snags! Hopefully once that's sorted it's back to the GT!
If the central locking motor is working but the buttons goes back down and locks when you pull the handle then you need a new catch as there's a spring inside that breaks
I've changed loads plus lots of other bits on land rovers !!!
I've also had lots of failed air springs but never a control block some times the pumps go noisy or slow if you have had a leak for a long time as the pump has to work over time to keep suspension up just double check for a leak some where.

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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Bluesuit »

thanks Simon,

just fitted the new compressor to the Disco - fairly straight forward, we'll see if the back end stays perky and whether I've fixed it in the morning - I've ordered a new actuator for the driver's door, so that will be a job for next weekend.

New restrictor EGR gaskets arrived in the post so will also be having a look at the GT's EGR next weekend hopefully.

Including some new tyres for the daily driver I have just about spent the proceeds of the GTV's sale on the other cars :-(, on the plus side, got £75 quid back for the remaining tax and won't have to fork out for insurance on it this month now....

Cheers Ian
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

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Not got round to the EGR yet, as the Disco took more fiddling including exchanging the compressor owing to faulty threads on the valve block, I also changed the drivers door actuator, so it seems to be behaving itself. Last weekend saw me servicing the daughters Lupo - so easy to do, which was in complete contrast to servicing the GT. Everything is a pain! Managed the fight the old air filter out and the new one back in without trashing it, what a design! I then turned to the oil change but a gorilla did the sump plug up last time, and even with a breaker bar I couldn't undo it without rounding off the Allen socket so I need to get it on a ramp for a proper go! So I turned my attention to the fuel filter, bit of a phaff, not helped by someone, perhaps the same gorilla knackering one of the connector clips, but at least I got that changed without too much drama, though it still says water in the fuel on start up :-! Finally pollen filters, dead easy, but even on that simple job, the gorilla had managed to get the previous ones in sideways!

Suffice to say I provided the garage concerned with some feedback, they were quite receptive and took it in the positive way I intended and have offered to do the oil change for free and give me some replacement filters and sump plug, hopefully not fitted by an ape! So once that lot is out of the way I may be in a position to spend some time on the EGR!
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Johnboy »

Morning

What a nightmare ! On the plus side it's good that the garage is doing the oil change. Agree the air filter is a joke, when I put a k&n . I couldn't believe what a crap design it was!
I will be doing an oil-filter change next month. I hope there was no apes involved in my last service.
The egr is easy. Once you've got the plastic engine cover off you can see pretty much everything. Just don't do it with a hot engine like I did mine . But it makes you work faster :lol:
Good luck ;)
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by KevJTD »

had a vectra in today, same engine. that had had the sump plug tightenned to a rediculous amount.
handily enough though the sump plug had a 13mm hex on it, not the allen key that alfa use, so a good degree of force could be applied.
may be worth changing the plug to a vectra one?


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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Johnboy »

Just put that in my watch list . Cheers kev ;)
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Sud 145 »

Will that be the same plug to fit a 145 Kev?

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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by KevJTD »

yes mate, same thread size in the ts and jtd engines ;)
boxer engines though are different, but your 145 QV will be fine with it.
much better than the silly allen key which rounds off, at least you can get the stillsons on this type without mullering the washer seat!
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Sud 145 »

Six-sided socket please never a "Birmingham Spanner"

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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Simonsud »

I've had loads of those engines in Saab Vauxhall and Alfa and the sumo plugs are always a pain to undo I've had to weld a large nut into lots of them Vauxhall dealers keep the plug in stock
I don't think they have all been over tightened it's just the design of the dump and plug

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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Bluesuit »

Took the GT to my local garage rather than the 10 miles to my Alfa specialist, despite the offer of a free fix - I'd already got the parts before the offer was made. Local chap tried all manner of his special tools but eventually managed to shift it with a tapered torx bit. We did the rest of the oil change there - so much easier on a lift!

He was quite taken with GT, he'd not had one in before, only the odd 156. I mentioned the EGR and he dug out a picture of a diesel Astra he'd had in recently for a problem, turned out the inlet manifold was jam packed with carbon - similar engine to the GT, so now all the servicings are done, I'll see about looking at the EGR. Then I need to order and swap the thermostat as the GT has begun running a bit cool of late, so looks to be stuck open.

Meanwhile, I have a new acquisition to collect at the weekend :-) sadly not Alfa, but a Land Rover Freelander TD4, high miles on it, but in very tidy nick and full pampered history, bargain at £1500 I reckon, so hopefully will set my daughter up nicely!
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

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been a bit distracted with the Freelander of late, which happily seems to be a good, straight and well maintained, if high mileage car - a few bits and bobs needed fixing but all is working as it should now; just a few more improvements to make before I fully relinquish it to youngest daughter - she absolutely loves it as you can imagine. As my first experience of a Freelander, I'm quite taken with it too.

But I must return some attention to the GT and have a crack at the EGR - only thing stopping me at the moment is that it is running so well, the old mantra: "if it aint broke don't fix it" keeps coming to mind....just need to catch up on my garden chores (hedge trimming) and then a nice warm weekend should do the trick. :-)
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Johnboy »

Hi chap
The freelander does look great , sounds like a great buy! But you do need to show the gt some love ;) the egr is an easy mod . Redid mine today with a smaller holed plate down to a 10mm hole now plus changed oil and fuel filters . Had the same problem with the sump plug. Had been done up by a monkey :twisted: had to put my little 3 ton Jack handle onto he Allen key for more leverage. Loud crack and it was free . Bloody spanner monkeys :evil:
Used one of the vauxhall plugs that Kev gave a heads up too . Very good find
8-) will make future oil changes a lot easier .
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Sud 145 »

I bought one as well John.

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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Johnboy »

Cool
I like the fact there holo ,so you can let the oil out slowly and not pour it over the garage floor like I did today :lol:
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Bluesuit »

You are right, I must also get round to getting the driver's seat bolster repaired too, but as it got more than it's share of cash spent fixing it last year, it's on reduced rations for a bit!
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Bluesuit »

Finally had a free and dry day to have a look at the GT's EGR valve. First up I took the MAF sensor out and found that was a bit gummed up so cleaned that - be interesting to see if that has any effect on fuel consumption.

Then I removed the EGR - happily very straight forward. I was surprised to see mine had the restrictor gasket already fitted, whether that was from new or replaced previously I can't say, but it seems to have done the job as the EGR was pretty clean, just a bit sooty but no carbon build up, so I gave it a quick squirt with carb cleaner and re-assembled all with new gaskets. I will keep an eye on fuel consumption to see if cleaning the MAF sensor has any effect, but it seems the GT is running OK for now. Having read up on inlet manifold removal I think I will leave cleaning the inlet manifold until the next cambelt change!
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MAF sensor before cleaning
MAF sensor before cleaning
cleaned MAF Sensor
cleaned MAF Sensor
EGR - just a bit sooty - restrictor gasket above left
EGR - just a bit sooty - restrictor gasket above left
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Johnboy »

Evening
Glad it was an easy job , hopefully your get some more mpg as well too ;)
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

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GT seems to be running a bit smoother, and possibly doing a few more MPG, got it to average about 43 the other night, an improvement over 35 previously :-)
Last edited by Bluesuit on Tue Apr 21, 2015 11:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

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Evening

That's not bad . I don't get much more than that. And I've decatted mine ;)
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Bluesuit »

After more routine driving including commuting into town, the Mrs GT is now returning a steady 38 MPG, and better on a run, so cleaning the MAF sensor has made a difference of about 3 MPG improvement on average. :-)
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Johnboy »

Good news chap :D
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Bluesuit »

Just an update on the GT fuel consumption - The Mrs' commute is mostly town driving, but now typically gets 38 on average, up from 35 previously. I got to use it a couple of days this week on my commute to Cambridge, it seems to like the long run, and despite cruising at about 75/80 the average consumption had crept up to 42.5 by the time I got home this evening, feel sure it will make a few more MPG as it has steadily increased with every journey - so my suggestion is to give the MAF sensor a good clean every so often, it costs you nothing but will save you £s :-)

Next job on the GT will be to see about getting the driver's seat side bolster repaired as it really lets the interior down. After that I might have to think about wishbones as mine are starting to creak a bit!

Cheers

Ian
Last edited by Bluesuit on Mon May 25, 2015 9:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Johnboy »

That's not bad going ! I'll still recommend gutting the the main cat. As its half cat and half silencer . Easy job and very stealth too ;)
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Bluesuit »

The next chapter in my saga of Alfa ownership has taken it's first step today with confirmation that I will take delivery of a Mito QVLine 1.6JTDM in a couple of weeks; this will also be a first for me in that it will be my first brand new Alfa!

But as one door opens, another closes and I will be saying goodbye to the GT as it goes in part exchange.......
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Bluesuit »

All prepped for our last drive in the GT tomorrow....
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Johnboy »

Very nice 8-)
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by Bluesuit »

Took delivery of my latest Alfa today, so the legacy will continue for a few years yet
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Re: 30 years of Alfas, well almost!

Post by junior »

Looks excellent in that colour. :)

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