Where can I get a manual for an Alfa 146?

Toots

Hi All,

Was wondering if there's anywhere in Dublin city that I could pick up a Haynes Manual for a 146, I've tried Halfords and Amazon, with no luck, failing that, does anyone know if it's possible to find one online that you can download? My OH needs to change his spark plugs but wants to make sure he's doing it right (obviously).

Cheers

Anan1

Assuming there definitely is one, you could try eBay?

Toots

I've seen a couple on CD on ebay today, not Haynes, but service manuals, anything will do, but was hoping to get one for the weekend.

cnocbui

Tell him to follow the spark plug leads. Remove all parts that get between him and the ends of the leads.

L1011

No Haynes manual. You should be able to get the Fiat Auto eLearn discs used for training dealer mechanics on eBay fairly easily though.

alias no.9

Is it a boxer or a t-spark?

Bluefoam

Go to www.alfaowner.com & see if anyone has a .pdf version, they are very helpful over there...

Toots

Thanks for the replies guys, it's a 1.6 TSpark! I'm not sure if his concern is getting the plugs out, it's more that everything's put back together again properly afterwards

colm_mcm

Nothing complicated about them, just more plugs than normal!

Any online guide would do. just replace 1 at a time and he/she'll be fine!

I take pictures before I got dismantling stuff, makes things easier later if you have some leftover bits

rivegauche

be careful on a t-spark engine. the plugs are recessed in to the head, collect water, corrode and can break off in the head or that's what I remember Gerry campbell of TI autos saying to me.
I had an intermittent problem with my alfa loosing power due to the hole the plugs were in filling up with water and shorting out the plugs.

Eoin

Any use to you?
http://forum.alfa145.com/index.php?showtopic=8450


See last links in the first post here:
http://www.rapidfind.org/upload/showthread.php?p=225427

alias no.9

He'll need a set of torx head drivers to remove the plastic engine cover and the coil packs.
There are 4 coil packs, each one driving one large spark plug and one small spark plug. Each coil pack is connected to a large spark plug by a 'finger' which pushes onto the spark plug and connected to a small spark plug by a lead. Note the position of the leads because the large and small plugs will more than likely be on different cylinders (on more recent t-sparks they drive large and small plugs on the same cylinder but that's not likely to affect the 146).
I can't remember the size of the spark plug sockets, could be 11mm and 14mm but don't hold me to that, but you definitely need two of them, one for the large plugs and one for the small. Use a vacuum cleaner or dust buster to try and remove any debris from the spark plug recess before removing them. The plug closest to the oil filler cap has a tendancy to get filled with oil that spills when topping up/refilling the iol. Use a rag or similar to soak up any oil if present.
Removing the plug is straight forward. When replacing them, put a little bit of copper grease on the threads and take extra care not to cross thread the spark plug, my top tip is to place the plug at the top of the thread and turn it anti-clockwise by hand until you feel a little click where the ends of the male and female threads pass, then turn it clockwise to tighten it up. Torque it up to the value shown on the spark plug box.
Replace the coil packs, leads and top cover.
That's pretty much it. If he's changed the plugs on another car, he shouldn't have any difficulty, if not, I'd recommend he get a friend who has changed plugs before just as a precaution, it still shouldn't be very difficult.

Toots

Thanks for all the replies guys!! We'll have a go at it over the weekend!

Toots

Update! Well we checked the spark plugs and they were all perfect (which is just as well cos they cost like €220 for a set :eek:), so trying to find out what was wrong, OH and his dad started to check other bits of the engine to see what was wrong (what happened was the OH was stopped at traffic lights, car cut out and wouldn't start again) turned out the timing belt snapped! Uh oh!! So now my question is, any ideas how much the timing belt for the 146 would cost, and can you just put any timing belt in, or does it have to be a special alfa one?

eringobragh

Toots85 wrote: »

Update! Well we checked the spark plugs and they were all perfect (which is just as well cos they cost like €220 for a set :eek:), so trying to find out what was wrong, OH and his dad started to check other bits of the engine to see what was wrong (what happened was the OH was stopped at traffic lights, car cut out and wouldn't start again) turned out the timing belt snapped! Uh oh!! So now my question is, any ideas how much the timing belt for the 146 would cost, and can you just put any timing belt in, or does it have to be a special alfa one?

NOT GOOD! When was the belt last changed? Should be every 36,000 afaik
I doubt you'd get away with just sticking on a new belt at the very least the engine would need check for valve damage and timing done again

I'm not big up on alfas but I'd imagine worst case scenario a couple of bent valves, possible damage to head and bottom end.

What year is the ALfa might be cheaper to scrap and get a new one it could turn into a money pit.

Anan1

Hmmm. I'd get on the phone to Gerry in TI, Ph: 01 8386567