2000 Alfa Romeo 156 TS Selespeed from Malaysia - Comments

I've had the same problems with my 147 2.0 Selespeed.

Jumping from 5th to N.

Changing from 3rd to 5th (skipping 4th 3-4 second delay) and no way of down-shifting (just ignores the attempted down-shifts).

All these are caused by faulty actuator sensor.

Thanx.

Donovan.

I've just sold my 2000 Alfa Selespeed, after 7 years of relatively trouble free and hugely enjoyable driving. The only blip in that period was the cam belt going at 60,040 miles (just out of warranty!). However, around October 2006 time the gearbox started to miss 2nd and 4th, but only intermittently. Then, it stared doing it more regularly until it missed 2nd and 4th every time. So, after a recent recalibration (the machine said that nothing electronically was wrong with the selespeed gear box) it started missing 2nd and 3rd instead jumping straight to 4th, then deciding to free rev all the way to 8000rpms before changing to 2nd. It just got to the point where it was dangerous to drive and very frustrating, considering the money I had spent on her recently. I wasn't prepared to spend £1000+ on getting the actuator, or the sensors replaced in a car that had a market value of £1500/£2000 and so she had to go. I'm too embarrassed to mention what I bought as a replacement and am just looking 2 years down the line when I'll treat myself to a new 159!

My wife has a 1999 2.0 Selespeed, and the car has behaved impeccably (106K miles) except for the problem of the missing gears, changing to neutral etc. This finally resulted in the engine management system shutting the car down on the exit slip road of a motorway. Turns out the problem is not with the gearbox actuator, but with an RPM sensor on the engine degrading due to heat. When this happens the signals the ECU receives from the gearbox & engine do not match and the ECU assumes a major fault and shuts the engine down. During the work to replace the sensor, the dealer also said that a tensioner bolt in the gearbox needs to be replaced as over time it looses tension and that is what causes the missed gears and changing to neutral. Total bill I think was less than £400 inc. And all problems with the gearbox have disappeared.

If anyone has similar problems and the dealer says its the actuators or anything expensive, ask them to check the RPM sensors on both the gearbox & engine and also the tensioner bolt... they should know what you are talking about as this was released to all the dealers as a memo a while ago.

The connection with F355 F1 is correct, Ferrari developed Selespeed for racing, the payback for Fiat money was access to it for the Alfa range.

The resulting 'robot' seems to be the weak link, lasts 70-80,000km. System is electro-hydraulic (45-50 bar) actuation of 3 pistons controlled by solenoids, monitored by sensors, to give 'x' and 'y' movement through h-gate and clutch action.

The gearbox itself is a standard Fiat C510 Tipo-Coupe etc box as is clutch. (didn't see a 'tensioner bolt'??? but there is an 8mm Allen head cap screw on input selector shaft which can break)

We've just repaired our first 156 Twinspark Selespeed in our 'shop. Fault was intermittent non-selecting reverse.

Tracked to above-mentioned broken casting. Pieces had lodged in behind selector rails, through vent ports. We had heard this breakage can happen, some weld them up, some replace casings NZ$1200!!! We welded plate in from outside after milling case (less distortion, stronger result).

On assembly, gearbox only gave 1-2-R with flashing fault light, this was due to slipped 'y' sensor. This sorted, we got 2-4-R, with above-mentioned 3 attempts by ECU to select odd gears. Required 'end-of-sequence' calibration on factory 'Examiner' to re-teach solenoid limits. You have to live with 'back-to-dealer' in this world, tried BMW??

In summary, its better than the '70s VW Stickshift in that they were auto + manual, cheaper, but not smoother in up-shift, downshift lots of fun... would I own one as a 30yr Fiat mechanic? No, ta

Stephen

Cambridge

New Zealand.

I have just purchased a 2000 156 Selespeed as my first car and these comments are making me extremely nervous. It has done 90,000kms and is in perfect condition Here is to hoping my gearbox holds up better than all of these.

I purchased my 2000 156 Selespeed 2 months ago. I'm now also worried.

One night, it started making squeeking noises as I drove. I quickly took it back home and drove my dad's car to my destination. The next day, when I wanted to show my brother the fault, it completely disapeared. I think it may be leaking a tiny bit of oil... but not sure.

It's at the mechanics now.

One thing I will say, these cars are hot to drive on the highway. But a nightmare in the city. Extremely smooth on highway, then extremely jerky in the streets.

I still have a 156 Selespeed which I bought from newish in 2000, the car was originally brought over as a demo car for Alf Barbargello in Perth, Australia. I believe that the car sent over was more than likely hand picked as I have had a good 7 years with it, sure had some problems early on, Selespeed unit kept going on the blink, had a sensor changed and all worked good again, eventually the selespeed pre oil-pump buggered up, but they replaced that as well with a much better quality one, the pre-pump now comes on for a good 20 seconds before you can start the car. Have now done 170k in it, and had it maintained very well. The timing belts gots changed at 75k and then at 165k they shredded and had to have the top end engine rebuild, cost me $6500 (aud) to fix, engine is now magnificent. But the selespeed kangaroo hops once the engine get hot and is very frustrating to drive. Have had the car looked at by Autodelta and they have said that the selespeed unit may need replacement soon, around $4000 (aud).

I still love to drive it and if you spend big bucks on cars then you must realise that it can cost big money to have it fixed. Would buy another Alfa not a problem. 7 years and still one happy owner.

Perth.

Australia.

Was just about to buy a stunning 156 Sportwagon with Selespeed gearbox, was advised by a friend to avoid at all costs, but was prepared to ignore him and buy with my heart, but reading these comments has ruined my day because I have been completely scared off, and my excitement shattered. Anyway thanks to everybody whose comments have most likely saved me a lot of frustration and money. Damn I'm still a BMW driver!

Chris

Coventry.

I read all the comments and decided to buy a 156 selespeed sportswagon anyway and I have to say it's been a case of love at first sight, or maybe I should say drive!

It can seem a bit lumpy through town, but only between 1st and 2nd gear, and that's because the selespeed won't change to 1st automatically until the car's stationary and the steering wheel gearchange doesn't work below 12mph, so use your stick shift at low speed and things should be a lot smoother.

On the open road is a different thing altogether and I can honestly say that I haven't had so much sheer fun on the road since I was a lad on a motorbike, and it still does over 30mpg!

75K and FSH when I bought it in 2007, 2000 model sportswagon and would have another anytime.

I had been a longtime admirer of the 156 and traded in my A4 in 2002 to buy a 3 year old 1999 2.0 TS. The car was already on its 2nd owner and 2nd engine when I bought it.

I have now had the car for over 5 years and here is a summary of my experiences:

The car has only had to be towed once in this period, but it is generally off the road for at least 1 month a year with various ailments.

An example of this was a slight misfire (will wreck the Cat if not treated - which my local Alfa Garage in Denmark diagnosed as a faulty throttle body and wanted me to spend roughly 600 pounds on having it replaced. The car was only 5 years old at this time and I complained to everyone including the Alfa Romeo importer as such parts should not fail after 5 years and around 75,000 miles. I set about sorting the problem out myself and it transpired that the misfire was due to carelessness. Some oil had run down inside of the cam cover when I had topped up the oil and contaminated a plug lead. The cure was a rag to wipe the oil away! I also changed the potentiometer at the same time to stabilise the idle.

Another problem was the floor rotting away under the drivers seat. This is apparently a well known problem in Denmark according to the MOT technician who saw the recent welding on my car during the inspection - I can happily supply pictures. On complaining to Alfa Romeo, they showed no interest at all citing that I had not followed the routine rust inspection program. What rust inspection program I asked, it's not in the handbook. They simply pointed to two pages at the back of the service manual that said rust inspection, one after 3 years and one after 5 years. The car was dealer serviced for the first 6 years of its life and this was never mentioned once by the garages.

To make matters worse, as Alfa bolt the suspension pretty much directly to the body without the benefit of an isolating subframe, there is an expensive single piece floor package that blocks as well as damps out noise from the floor. It is fibrous matting topped with a heavy bitumen layer, and it was totally trashed first by the water ingress that lead to the rot, followed by its removal to allow welding to be done.

I have also been fighting rust for the last 3-4 years above the back windscreen, and on the two brackets that support part of the under engine panel.

I have inspected my car every autumn, checking for scratches and damage underneath and religously covering any exposed metal, the car is also garaged at night - which isn't necessarily a blessing - but it is well cared for and maintained.

So how would I judge this car. This is a car with many flashes of brilliance, but simply too many poorly executed details to it. This is not a BMW or Audi competitor, I can say that for a fact, it is engineered to a different standard and cost (its based on the Tipo floorpan). The aftersales support in Denmark is quite poor and expensive, leading me to do most repairs myself now.

The car is also quite thirsty (10l/100km) even when driven gently, given its weight and engine capacity.

Things got much better with the JTS model, and this is reflected in the resale values of the JTS vs TS, but as regards the Series 1 TS that I have, your experiences will be determined by luck as much as anything else and as often as not, its bad!

I used to work at a Fiat/Alfa Romeo main dealership as an apprentice around the time the Selespeed was introduced. There was a problem spotted by many throughout the industry, which was... the oil in the Selespeed actuator would mysteriously disappear! On occasion the workshop foreman had taken a brand new 156 Selespeed home after an actuator replacement, and upon getting back to work the following day, the actuator when checked was dry, there wasn't even oil on his driveway. Unfortunately, I left the business back in 2000, so I do not know if this problem was ever resolved in any way, and as far as I know, they were never recalled for this problem.

I own my 2000 Alfa 156 Selespeed running for 160000KM... iI had many problems... but the garage stole my original parts and replaced them with broken ones.

FOR ANYONE WHO HAS PROBLEMS with the Selespeed gearbox that changes from any gear to N should ADJUST a SCREW which is placed in the gearbox at the LEFT. You only have to take out the tyre and the SCREW will appear to be able to be adjusted.

I hope your problem is able to be solved..

The ALFA 156 selespeed 160000KM is from LEBANON...I'm CHAR. Lee hope I can help every alfa owner.