The Alfa 156 Sportwagon is a very nice car to drive. Today I read a German article on Auto Klassik in which the 156 was honoured because of its fine handling, being a good compagnon on the road.
Well my compagnon has left us last week.
RECAP
In this post I mentioned several problems after we bought the 156. "So the 156 has some work, of course. the rear tires are almost worn, the keys didn't work in remote, there is some rust, obviously. And the engine strikes at 3000 rpm." A mentally sane person would ask: "what the hell did you buy?" Maybe I was thinking too much a project car and not a daily driver?
Inspection of the air filter and a bad air filter house
After we solved the 3000-rpm problem, it seemed to be the sensor for the camshaft, the timing belt was due. So these two issues were handled in one go at a garage in Geleen. Hobby mechanics who started a workshop for Alfa Romeo restoration and repair. Luckily the camshaft sensor was sitting behind teh timing belt, so this was one repair action: €540.
Camshaft cover oth the 1.8 twinspark removed
The keys was a simple job. I orderend two new plastic caps in China for 5 euros and replaced the innen 'life' of the old ones in the new cap. New springs, new buttons (after repairing the microswitches), new batteries and go. Good work. € 8.
We decided this year to take the new 156 on our holiday trip to Italy. It has airconditioning and we would be driving more relaxed, since the weather forecast was hot. Before we went on our holidays, I wanted to change the worn rear tires for new ones. Michelin Energy Savers (185 65 r15), the originals from the first moment of the 156. On the last day for our departure we found a set and got an appointment at Kwik Fits in Roermond. € 180.
Before we went to Italy I noticed the oil level was low. And since the oil used in my car was 10W60 oil, I had to buy a litre of this expensive (€15 litre) type to top it up. In Italy the oil level was very low after driving around in the first week. Since there was no 10W60 available in the motoring area of Torino (we stayed 50 kms of the FIAT capital), I had to change complete for 10W40 oil. In the agroturismo Marcella, the very helpful woman farmer helped me to change the oil. It seemed there was only 1 litre left in the engine of the expensive stuff! This coould have gone very wrong. € 60.
During the oil replacement in Italy works I already noticed the very bad mounted protection plate under the engine compartment. In fact, form the 6 mounting points only three were realy functional at last. so I bought some polyester putty an repaired it myself, rather then buying a new plate for about € 45. This was a fine job I did in some spare hours and costed only 15 euros for the polyester.
Polyester repairs on the under engine cover
After a nice holiday without any problems with the car, the 156 was due for it's annual APK (Dutch MOT). Therefor the rust problem was to solve and my welding man, Jan, was contacted to insect the car. For this I had to strip the interieur completely, so he could grind and weld without catching any fire. The job took me about half a day and a ton of stuff in my garage. The right sill was caught heavily by the rust devill, while the underbody had a first grinding and grounding paint already by myself. € 15.
Jan deliverd within a fortnight an excellent job. He welded and covered the repaired and unrepaired and unreachable rust spots with Minitrol ML his favorite anti rust treatment. € 420.
Bad sills by the rear wheels arches
A ton of parts in my garage after removing the complete interior
Emptiness inside
Newly repaired sill, with a smaal twist in the lower line
Well, Jan delivered three days before the APK was due. So in a two days after work Blitzkrieg action I had to mount all the interior parts in the 156 again. I'd rather had some more time to inspect, clean and repair minor issues, but that would be for later. Finally I managed to get the car ready for the APK. Can you imagine I had some trembling knees when I left the 156 at Creemers.
Before noon I got the call. Like a doctor the receptionist brought the message in stages: first some minor things and in listening to his words I knew there was some heavy diagnosis to come.
Minor issues would be the wiper rubbers on the rear gate, the brake pads at the rear wheels, but then the stabilization rods mounts in the rear where worn and rusty, the front brake hoses were old, the airbag indicator was constantly blinking, the front wheel suspension had backlash, rusty rear suspension mounts ... And then he didn't even mention the engine problem.
Upper suspension domes are almost gone
The mechanic noticed it did not go to the full maximum revs when the throttle was open. He suspected a mall timed belt....? This was not an issue for the APK, but it was not good for the engine at last..... Total cost around when done by Creemers €2200.
A message that hit me like a bomb
The thing is, the repairs weren't that big, and the cost for the parts would be around € 500, I estimated, but the car failed the APK and could not be driven anymore till the repairs were done. So there was a time issue that put heavy pressure on the job. Above that, this car had become a burden, that had to go way.
After half an hour on the phone with the wife, we decided to get rid of the 09-HH-JN Sportwagon.
This debacle had cost me some € 2768 and a lot of pain in the ass in not even half a year. Not knowing what would be next.
How could I've been so stupid to buy this car, you might ask. Alfa drivers are men with a heart and they see cars different then other drivers do. I was blinded by the fine color and the shape of this Sportwagon and some repairs would not bother me. But this I didn't expect.
The Bleu King was due for APK a few days later. Some minor repairs on brakes and the chairs, adjustment of the carbs was for free. Total cost € 210. So no new 156 Sportwagon in the next year.
The burden 156 Sportwagon 09-HH-JN just before giving it away at Timmermans, AKA 'Bertje van de Pater'.
I didn't even bother about the good tyres nor the towing hook I restored. Our Alfa hearts were broken...
