Re: Dreaded click of death?

[Thomas Washburn <thomasw@xxxxxxxxxx>]

"Rex Chalmers" <aroms@domain.elided> wrote:

> Greetings Alfisti,
>
> I was starting my wife's pristine 164 this morning and as I was
> letting it warm up, I heard an odd, faint, slow (like the speed
> of your heart beating), click coming from the ventilation system.
> The system works fine but this click is always present, system 
> on auto, on econ, or off. I've heard other 164s with a loud rapid
> clicking that turned out to be a stepper motor's ominous "click
> of death".  Is this as stepper motor signaling it's impending
> demise or am I being paranoid?  Any sugestions?  Is there a web
> page that provides instruction in replacement, diagnosis, et al?
> Any help, or condolence would be greatly appreciated.

Rex,

Just because you're paranoid, that doesn't mean they're not out to
get you.  The sound you describe is indeed the click of death.
The clicking comes from a stripped nylon gear in one or both of
the two stepper-motors' little gear reduction boxes.

It will only get worse.

Alfa Romeo would have you replace the gearsets, motors, armatures,
etc. which are all screwed together into a single assembly which
they sell as a unit for hundreds of dollars.  The only things that
are actually broken are two $0.50 gears.  There's a fellow in Brit-
ain who sells replacement gears.  Perhaps other list members can
come up with contact information.

Getting at the assembly is a somewhat involved process.  ARDONA
has a video that describes the procedure.  If you're going to do
the job yourself, you should definitely get the video ($15 or so,
I think IAP stocks it).  Alfa also publishes a Technical Service
Bulletin on the procedure, written entirely in UPPER CASE.  Here
it is: /alfa/FAQ/164/b809302.htm

The procedure itself isn't that hard, it just requires patience
and care.  It's not altogether clear just how some of the dashboard
bits are stuck on until you've removed them once.  It helps to have
long, skinny arms.

Best of luck,
- - Tom
thomasw@domain.elided

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