Re: 164 Transmission bearing, Stainless Exhaust, digest V7 #709

[C M Smith <cmsmith@domain.elided>]

The transmission bearing appears to be a fault on par with the dreaded
steppers. The input shaft of earlier 164's is supported (for a while!) by a
ball bearing incorporating a plastic cage for the balls. This plastic cage
snaps at relatively low mileages, causing the gears to start to grind. My
mechanic recommended a new clutch but no other replacements for the innards of
the transmission, other than the replacement bearing. Apparently, his judgment
was correct. New syncros (a common repair for earlier Alfas) is not usually
necessary for the 164 box. Could this be some type of Lancia box? The good
news
is Alfa now specs a robust looking all metal double roller bearing for the
replacement and the repaired box is better than new. Bad engineering though to
have such failures in this day and age.

The "Stainless Steel" exhaust is just a result of false representations in the
Alfa 164 promotional material, for which ARDONA evades any responsibility. The
official service manual makes it clear that only the rear muffler tips are SS,
big deal! The rest of the exhaust system "complies with all relevant
government
regulations" according to Alfa, and is made of the usual ok aluminized mild
steel.

These cars are very well built by skilled workers, but the company remains
plagued by questionable engineering practices. Pity those workers who
obviously
did a great job putting together cars with serious design flaws, which were
sold by entrepreneurs who don't understand the North American car market, that
the factory neglects to support properly when the loyal customers plunk down
the serious cash again to welcome Alfa back to the marketplace. Alfa's
response?
"We're leaving, if you don't like the cars you can't have any". 

Those new Alfa's available everywhere else are just beautiful, but don't bring
them here unless you're prepared to design them and support them properly. We
miss you but you deserve to be gone. Is anybody in Milano prepared to listen
and return to the most demanding automobile market in the world. Can you do
it?
Please.



Michael Smith
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
91 Alfa 164L, White, original owner 

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