Re: Caution: Alfa Content ('94 Spider purchase?)

[jeffrey.weiss@domain.elided]

> Test drove a '94 Spider - 75k or so.  A few questions.  There was
> significant grinding downshifting from third to second.  These were just
> regular downshifts, when slowing and needing a lower gear, nothing fast or
> anything.  The car was cold, and after a few shifts I kind of got the hang
> of it so I shifted more carefully.  A problem or just a manifestation of
> typical synchros?

Probably the onset of synchro wearout.  My '93 Spider has under 25K miles on it
and has yet to exhibit any synchro symptoms.  I almost always match on
downshifts (even though the pedal position sucks for heel-n-toe), and I'm
hoping that will keep the synchros intact for long enough - i.e., until my son
is old enough to pull and rebuild the tranny.  He's 2-1/2 now.

> Air bag light on - from what I have read just a reset isuue and will
> typically keep happening - not a big deal - correct?

Apparently.  Though I've never had an issue with the airbag light in my '93.

> The speedometer read roughly 45 mph or so at what was probably 65 or so on
> the highway.  Is the speedometer mechanical and is this just a cable issue or
> something more significant?

This problem I do have.  The consensus appears to be a mechanical issue with
the cable where it enters the speedometer.  The under-reading will vary from
winter to summer, and I think this supports the cable interface hypothesis.
I've never spent the time to do the required surgery to confirm and resolve,
though.

> Would a low reading speedometer translate into a low reading odometer?

I haven't tested this out, although for some reason I thought there was a
spearate feed, but now that I'm thinking about it, I'd be surprised if there
were.

> The "wood" trim on the inside (CE version) was generlaly cracked and/or
> faded.  I guess this is common from the sun - is this stuff replaceable?

My '93 is fortunately not blessed with the wood trim of the CEs!

> The engine seemed kind of choked (i.e. strangled) in the mid-range - not that
> willing to rev.  Mind you, I have a 164 which clearly has more power and I
> have never driven a Spider before.  I know that this is not much of a
> description but it almost seemed to be hesitating  and did not want to pull
> to redline.

I'm guessing this is the difference between a Spider and a V6 164, but in my
experience, although the 2L 4 does not have a ton of power, it does rev
smoothly and continuously upward.  There even appears to be a bit of a kick at
around 4000 or 4500 (possibly due to the VVT?).  Maybe there is a small problem
with this motor.
--
jw

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