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Search Auto Parts Search dizzy chick needs help alfa running rich Sign up here!   Email This Post Auto Repair Home>> Automotive Repair>> Car Troubleshooting alfagirl New User Aug 24, 2010, 10:58 AM Post #1 of 4 (1613 views) dizzy chick needs help alfa running rich Sign In Alfa Romeo twin spark 156 1999 T reg OK you will have to bear with me here as I am a 25 yo girl that has NO idea about cars at all! It may seem long but I guess I better just write everything I do know about the problem to aid everyone. I came on to possibly get an idea of what the problem could be so that when I take the car to a garage I don't look like a dizzy chick and get ripped off! I have to take the car on a long journey in 4 weeks so any help ASAP is much appreciated. Here goes......The Alfa was running pretty poorly and needed to go through its MOT, the guy that done it said the emissions were too high for him to check it and let me take it back. My Uncle (who isn't great with cars) tried to help me out to save money and put 8 new spark plugs in it and a new air filter. It went back for its MOT and passed but the guy said the emissions were still fairly high and suggested maybe I find an Alfa mechanic to do a tune up to find out what's wrong with it? I drove it back from my uncle's (1 hour) and it absolutely chewed the petrol!! I could smell it also when I was driving it. It didn't do that before the new parts and MOT but it certainly wasn't driving well. Because I am strapped for cash at the moment I took it to quick fit just to have them check if it was a petrol leak. They said there was no leak but definitely something wrong as its mis-firing? and he mentioned something about could be doing damage to the CAT?? When I said the last mechanic suggested a tune up he said you cant do tune ups on them??? Basically he said that he couldn't tell what was wrong with it without pulling the car apart and that it would start costing me :( Just want to know if it has anything to do with the parts my uncle put in? Could they have been fitted wrong? or could there be something completely different wrong with it? Its so confusing when 1 mechanic says 1 thing and another contradicts him!! Any suggestions would be great!! HELP! Tom Greenleaf Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator Aug 24, 2010, 12:02 PM Post #2 of 4 (1607 views) Re: dizzy chick needs help alfa running rich Sign In Hi dizzy from a dizzy tech so bear with me too The spark plugs made a difference which is a clue but not conclusive. It would have been nice to note if one cylinder or more showed different wear or troubles on the old plugs evenly or just one cylinder and remember which one. Doesn't matter much but I haven't seen one of those cars in the US and they may not be sold here. Engines still operate on similar principles. You are going to need a qualified tech no matter what and it's best NOT to plain tell them what is wrong but what the complaint and symptoms are. Misfiring can be from assorted reasons or a combo of reasons. Spark or fuel delivery or vacuum leaks in hoses or gaskets, valve issues and more. Any engine that misfires is going to waste fuel. Worse and your were well advised is that will harm the converter so best to get on it and fixed or add that to the bill. You could try with little mechanical know how to feel the tailpipe (EXTREME CAUTION - HOT) for the outflow of exhaust if it feels random putting or or a single put rythmically. Just suggest that it is misfiring and known running high on emissions. Maybe point out that you think it's just one cylinder or random but if you plain tell the tech what to do you probably will mess yourself up. Find the busy shop with a good reputation. I refuse to believe techs pick on "dizzy chicks" as you said and if they do I hope they go out of biz. It may take an hour or two just to isolate the problem as part of the bill just to know exactly what it will take to make right. Getting different suggestions so far could easily be because it behaved differently in front of those techs and if they didn't dig in to diagnose it fully you really can't blame them just on that. Seems many are short of money for things but I do suggest taking care of this sooner will cost less. You should be welcome to ask for and pay for just diagnosis and a price up front before work is done, T alfagirl New User Aug 30, 2010, 10:31 AM Post #3 of 4 (1584 views) Re: dizzy chick needs help alfa running rich Sign In Hi Tom Thanks for the reply :) I rang around a number of garages local and no one seemed to want anything to do with Alfa's! Apparently they can get complicated? Eventually I found a guy that says has been working on alfa's for 25 years. He said he can book the car in next week and it will cost £53 ($82) for him to diagnose the problem. I asked him to let me know what the problem was and a quote before he done any work on it. Just a quick question: I don't want to sound insulting to my uncle but if he fitted the air filter wrong would it cause those symptoms? Anyway-I explained all down the phone to the mechanic, he didn't come up with anything on the phone but will look at it. Fingers crossed Thanks again for the reply <3 Tom Greenleaf Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator Aug 30, 2010, 10:43 AM Post #4 of 4 (1578 views) Re: dizzy chick needs help alfa running rich Sign In That's acutally great news! You found a tech willing to work on Alfas - great. They are fussy and parts can be a pill too so only so many shops will take them on. They don't sell them here anymore TMK. Hey labor rates vary worldwide. It's VERY costly to be in biz at all. It's plain nasty near where I am. Easy to see $120US! If place is good and accurate with thier work it's actually worth it! Good luck, T   Email This Post   Automotive Repair     Auto Body Repair and Refinishing     Heating or AC Issues     Electrical and Wiring     Brake Systems     Car Stereo Repair Advice     General Discussions     Car Making Funny Noises     Engine Fault Codes     Engine Troubles     Exhaust Systems     Steering and Suspension     Transmission Troubles     Tricks of the Trade Automotive World     General Discussions     Antique Car Talk     Car Shows and Events     The Bargin Bin     Motor Vehicle Inspection     Car Care Tips     Traffic Tickets     Gasoline, Motor Oils, Concept Cars and Engines     Auto Insurance, Financing, Leases, Warranties Truck Repair     General Discussions     Truck Engine Repair     Truck Suspension Repair Motorcycle Repair     General Discussions     Motorcycle Engine Repair CarJunky     Open Posting     Board FAQ's     New Board Suggestions

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