Alfa 156 1.8 Cam belt & big end failure

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Tue 31 Jul 2007 23:21
Alfa 156 1.8 Cam belt & big end failure - thrustyjust
A friend who has a garage ( very well respected!!)has had a 156 1.8 twin spark in his workshop.He got in towed in,as the cam belt failed.He had to get the head overhauled due to piston contact.The owner said that she was driving at 15mph when it went.The head was re-installed and new belts and tensioners.3 weeks later it gets towed back in with the big ends knocking.He spoke to the local Alfa garage they said it was common with people who don't check oil levels enough and they run dry.This has we believe been compounded by the higher compression of a rebuilt 60k head with new valves and seats etc.They had rebuilt the bottom ends on 3 cars in the last 6 months.Apparently they are strong bottom ends and can just have the shells replaced.My mate replaced the shells on the bottom end and replaced the sump.The car ran for 3 weeks and again the number 3 big end went again.The journal was fine on both visuals and number 4 is last in line and is fine too.The next issue is the owner,obviously not happy and threatening legal action,claiming that she had spoken to 2 or 3 garages (possibly main dealers) who claim to change all the bottom end shells on a head job!!!!.Has anyone else suffered the strange problem above,as the only real option is possibly a new engine,but its liability to who pays for it? cheers for any replies,Justin

Subject line tweaked a bit - PU
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Wed 1 Aug 2007 00:57
Alfa 156 1.8 Cam belt & big end failure - Kevin
If your friend doesn't have much experience with this engine I'd recommend he call an Alfa specialist and discuss it with them. A good independent specialist will probably give better over-the-phone advice to a fellow techie than an Alfa dealer. Depending on what they say he might also want to get them to take a look and provide a written report.

Whether this problem ends in legal action or not he'll need to have some evidence of what caused the big end failures. Does he still have the old shells?

Let the owner know exactly what's happening and keep her updated every day. Nothing is guaranteed to make an already irate customer worse than them having to ring up and ask "When do I get my car back?"

Kevin...
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Wed 1 Aug 2007 08:59
Alfa 156 1.8 Cam belt & big end failure - Collos25
All these problems on the 1.8 are caused by faulty oil pumps a well known Alfa problem if it was not changed at the time of rebuild then the garage was at fault for not doing its homework.
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