Advice needed regarding 156 Selespeed....

On Jan 24, 10:04 pm, Ted Tofield <ted.tofi....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jan 24, 9:49 pm, Zathras <webnewsgr....TakeThisOut@nospamthanks.hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:16:33 -0800 (PST), Ted Tofield
>
> > <ted.tofi....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >Occasionally when in manual gearchange mode it get's stuck in 2nd
> > >gear. up or down doesn't work, the only way to unstick is to
>
> > Run away *RIGHT NOW*!
>
> > >enter
> > >city mode (which is never affected by the problem) It doesn't happen
> > >very often and otherwise the car is perfect. Should I buy or should I
> > >run away?
>
> > Well that depends. If you've got, say, about 3500UKP you'd happily
> > burn then keep it. Otherwise leave well alone.
>
> > >ps: it's a Veloce, pearlescent paint, leather, climate control
> > >etc.......and dear god it's fast! .....and I love the throttle blip
> > >on downchange as well....
>
> > Do you like big (as in vast) repair bills too?
>
> > >The real question I guess is, it it a known tiny problem?,
>
> > It's a well known 'big' problem. The Selespeeds had infamously poor
> > gearbox reliability. Much later models seem to be slightly better but
> > some here (including me) would advise avoiding Selespeeds even if the
> > gearboxes were working properly.
>
> > > the sign of
> > >a huge gearbox bill in 6 months time? can I ignore it? dare I ignore
> > >it? HELP!!
>
> > The only future for this car is to buy it as a non-worker (for
> > buttons) then strip for parts sale on eBay. In any case, the asking
> > price seems WAY over the top..
>
> > You've been warned.
>
> > --
> > Z
> > Scotland
> > Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
> > 'Oil' be seeing you..
> > (Email without 'Alfa' in subject will be auto-deleted..sorry!)
>
> Ooooof! I'll give it a miss I reckon (damned nice though) I'll stick
> to my old 156 1.8 for a while!

ps: thanks for the replies guys!
 >> Stay informed about: Advice needed regarding 156 Selespeed.... 

Ted Tofield wrote:
> Hello chaps!
>
> I've currently got a loan of a 2000 (W Reg) 156 2.0 Selespeed, I'm
> thinking of buying it.... It's only got 44,000 miles and he wants
> £1400 the only problem (bar a key scratch down one door panel - grrr!)
> is:
>
> Occasionally when in manual gearchange mode it get's stuck in 2nd
> gear. up or down doesn't work, the only way to unstick is to enter
> city mode (which is never affected by the problem) It doesn't happen
> very often and otherwise the car is perfect. Should I buy or should I
> run away?

Run away, fast. (IMHO)

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk
 >> Stay informed about: Advice needed regarding 156 Selespeed.... 

On Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:16:33 -0800 (PST), Ted Tofield
<ted.tofield.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:

>Occasionally when in manual gearchange mode it get's stuck in 2nd
>gear. up or down doesn't work, the only way to unstick is to

Run away *RIGHT NOW*!

>enter
>city mode (which is never affected by the problem) It doesn't happen
>very often and otherwise the car is perfect. Should I buy or should I
>run away?

Well that depends. If you've got, say, about 3500UKP you'd happily
burn then keep it. Otherwise leave well alone.

>ps: it's a Veloce, pearlescent paint, leather, climate control
>etc.......and dear god it's fast! .....and I love the throttle blip
>on downchange as well....

Do you like big (as in vast) repair bills too?

>The real question I guess is, it it a known tiny problem?,

It's a well known 'big' problem. The Selespeeds had infamously poor
gearbox reliability. Much later models seem to be slightly better but
some here (including me) would advise avoiding Selespeeds even if the
gearboxes were working properly.

> the sign of
>a huge gearbox bill in 6 months time? can I ignore it? dare I ignore
>it? HELP!!

The only future for this car is to buy it as a non-worker (for
buttons) then strip for parts sale on eBay. In any case, the asking
price seems WAY over the top..

You've been warned.

--
Z
Scotland
Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
'Oil' be seeing you..
(Email without 'Alfa' in subject will be auto-deleted..sorry!)
 >> Stay informed about: Advice needed regarding 156 Selespeed.... 

Ted Tofield wrote:

>> Ooooof! I'll give it a miss I reckon (damned nice though) I'll stick
>> to my old 156 1.8 for a while!
>
> ps: thanks for the replies guys!

Don't stop to reply! keep running
 >> Stay informed about: Advice needed regarding 156 Selespeed.... 

On Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:22:08 GMT, Tony R
<tony.rickardno.TakeThisOut@spam.blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

>Ted Tofield wrote:
>
>>> Ooooof! I'll give it a miss I reckon (damned nice though) I'll stick
>>> to my old 156 1.8 for a while!
>>
>> ps: thanks for the replies guys!
>
>Don't stop to reply! keep running

LOL. Yes..one of those rare Alfa
whoop..whoop..emergency!..emergency!!.. situations..

--
Z
Scotland
Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
'Oil' be seeing you..
(Email without 'Alfa' in subject will be auto-deleted..sorry!)
 >> Stay informed about: Advice needed regarding 156 Selespeed.... 

On Jan 25, 7:56 am, Zathras <webnewsgr....TakeThisOut@nospamthanks.hotmail.com>
wrote:
> On Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:22:08 GMT, Tony R
>
> <tony.rickar....TakeThisOut@spam.blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> >Ted Tofield wrote:
>
> >>> Ooooof! I'll give it a miss I reckon (damned nice though) I'll stick
> >>> to my old 156 1.8 for a while!
>
> >> ps: thanks for the replies guys!
>
> >Don't stop to reply! keep running
>
> LOL. Yes..one of those rare Alfa
> whoop..whoop..emergency!..emergency!!.. situations..
>
> --
> Z
> Scotland
> Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
> 'Oil' be seeing you..
> (Email without 'Alfa' in subject will be auto-deleted..sorry!)

Does anyone know how drawn out these problems tend to be? Is it likely
to explode within days or do these problems tend to go on for months
and months? I only ask as if the car is going to be usable for a few
months it might as well be driven into the ground rather than sold for
peanuts....

thanks again!

Ted
 >> Stay informed about: Advice needed regarding 156 Selespeed.... 

On 25 Jan, 13:13, "GT" <ContactGT_remo....RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "Zathras" <webnewsgr....RemoveThis@nospamthanks.hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:ub1ip3dh4gd0ev6mpbkavjiaru8qifqnqo@4ax.com...
>
>
>
> > On Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:16:33 -0800 (PST), Ted Tofield
> > <ted.tofi....RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>Occasionally when in manual gearchange mode it get's stuck in 2nd
> >>gear. up or down doesn't work, the only way to unstick is to
>
> > Run away *RIGHT NOW*!
>
> >>enter
> >>city mode (which is never affected by the problem) It doesn't happen
> >>very often and otherwise the car is perfect. Should I buy or should I
> >>run away?
>
> > Well that depends. If you've got, say, about 3500UKP you'd happily
> > burn then keep it. Otherwise leave well alone.
>
> >>ps: it's a Veloce, pearlescent paint, leather, climate control
> >>etc.......and dear god it's fast! .....and I love the throttle blip
> >>on downchange as well....
>
> > Do you like big (as in vast) repair bills too?
>
> >>The real question I guess is, it it a known tiny problem?,
>
> > It's a well known 'big' problem. The Selespeeds had infamously poor
> > gearbox reliability. Much later models seem to be slightly better but
> > some here (including me) would advise avoiding Selespeeds even if the
> > gearboxes were working properly.
>
> But if it works in 'city' mode (whatever that is), then it sounds like a
> software problem, rather than something physical in the gearbox??

True but then that's hardly user configureable though .....
 >> Stay informed about: Advice needed regarding 156 Selespeed.... 

On 25 Jan, 13:24, "GT" <ContactGT_remo... RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
> "Ted Tofield" <ted.tofi... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:10eacc00-3fae-481e-b915-86d1edcf73a3@d4g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > On 25 Jan, 13:13, "GT" <ContactGT_remo... RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
> >> "Zathras" <webnewsgr... RemoveThis @nospamthanks.hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> >>news:ub1ip3dh4gd0ev6mpbkavjiaru8qifqnqo@4ax.com...
>
> >> > On Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:16:33 -0800 (PST), Ted Tofield
> >> > <ted.tofi... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> >>Occasionally when in manual gearchange mode it get's stuck in 2nd
> >> >>gear. up or down doesn't work, the only way to unstick is to
>
> >> > Run away *RIGHT NOW*!
>
> >> >>enter
> >> >>city mode (which is never affected by the problem) It doesn't happen
> >> >>very often and otherwise the car is perfect. Should I buy or should I
> >> >>run away?
>
> >> > Well that depends. If you've got, say, about 3500UKP you'd happily
> >> > burn then keep it. Otherwise leave well alone.
>
> >> >>ps: it's a Veloce, pearlescent paint, leather, climate control
> >> >>etc.......and dear god it's fast! .....and I love the throttle blip
> >> >>on downchange as well....
>
> >> > Do you like big (as in vast) repair bills too?
>
> >> >>The real question I guess is, it it a known tiny problem?,
>
> >> > It's a well known 'big' problem. The Selespeeds had infamously poor
> >> > gearbox reliability. Much later models seem to be slightly better but
> >> > some here (including me) would advise avoiding Selespeeds even if the
> >> > gearboxes were working properly.
>
> >> But if it works in 'city' mode (whatever that is), then it sounds like a
> >> software problem, rather than something physical in the gearbox??
>
> > True but then that's hardly user configureable though .....
>
> No, but a software reset, or even a firmware upgrade of the chip, or even a
> new chip is significantly cheaper and easier than a new gearbox!
>
> What is city mode? Why not drive in that all the time?

City mode is the fully automatic gearbox mode.
"Normal" operation is using the flappy paddles (or the lever - same
thing)

You could use City Mode the whole time but a) it's boring b) the
problem may "spread"

So far we don't know what is causing the problem so it's difficult to
know how it would be resolved of course....
 >> Stay informed about: Advice needed regarding 156 Selespeed.... 

On 25 Jan, 15:02, Zathras <webnewsgr....RemoveThis@nospamthanks.hotmail.com>
wrote:
> On Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:40:05 -0800 (PST), Ted Tofield
>
> <ted.tofi....RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
> >Does anyone know how drawn out these problems tend to be?
>
> It'll last until you're at the busiest junction you can find then it
> will stall in gear in the middle and you will be unable to restart
> (due to it being in gear) and you will be unable to get it our of gear
> because it's bust. The last time I heard of this, IIRC, the guy
> couldn't even push the car off the junction as it was stuck in gear.
> I'd certainly make sure my AA/RAC etc cover was up to date.
>
> >Is it likely
> >to explode within days or do these problems tend to go on for months
> >and months? I only ask as if the car is going to be usable for a few
> >months it might as well be driven into the ground
>
> With it being a galvanised body and assuming belts and oil have been
> looked after (so it looks and goes well, which tallies with what you
> have said), a 156 of that vintage is unlikely to be driven into the
> ground in a few months. More likely with a half bust Selespeed, it
> will be driven to a complete halt.
>
> >rather than sold for peanuts....
>
> ..er..it's only going to be *worth* a few peanuts as it is. Supposing
> a new gearbox is required at £3500 and there are no scrappie ones
> (because there will be more selespeeds of that vintage in scrappies
> due to gearbox than any other reason, I suspect), you subtract that
> cost from the current asking price and how many nuts does that leave
> you? Answer..2..and they will have to be made of steel to take that
> car on as any kind of going concern.
>
> --
> Z
> Scotland
> Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
> 'Oil' be seeing you..
> (Email without 'Alfa' in subject will be auto-deleted..sorry!)

regarding the value, the thinking was that it'll be not worth selling
and just use it until it breaks, then sell on for parts after
that.....

thanks again guys much appreciated!
 >> Stay informed about: Advice needed regarding 156 Selespeed.... 

"Zathras" <webnewsgroup.DeleteThis@nospamthanks.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ub1ip3dh4gd0ev6mpbkavjiaru8qifqnqo@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:16:33 -0800 (PST), Ted Tofield
> <ted.tofield.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Occasionally when in manual gearchange mode it get's stuck in 2nd
>>gear. up or down doesn't work, the only way to unstick is to
>
> Run away *RIGHT NOW*!
>
>>enter
>>city mode (which is never affected by the problem) It doesn't happen
>>very often and otherwise the car is perfect. Should I buy or should I
>>run away?
>
> Well that depends. If you've got, say, about 3500UKP you'd happily
> burn then keep it. Otherwise leave well alone.
>
>>ps: it's a Veloce, pearlescent paint, leather, climate control
>>etc.......and dear god it's fast! .....and I love the throttle blip
>>on downchange as well....
>
> Do you like big (as in vast) repair bills too?
>
>>The real question I guess is, it it a known tiny problem?,
>
> It's a well known 'big' problem. The Selespeeds had infamously poor
> gearbox reliability. Much later models seem to be slightly better but
> some here (including me) would advise avoiding Selespeeds even if the
> gearboxes were working properly.

But if it works in 'city' mode (whatever that is), then it sounds like a
software problem, rather than something physical in the gearbox??
 >> Stay informed about: Advice needed regarding 156 Selespeed.... 

"Ted Tofield" <ted.tofield RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:10eacc00-3fae-481e-b915-86d1edcf73a3@d4g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> On 25 Jan, 13:13, "GT" <ContactGT_remo... RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
>> "Zathras" <webnewsgr... RemoveThis @nospamthanks.hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:ub1ip3dh4gd0ev6mpbkavjiaru8qifqnqo@4ax.com...
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:16:33 -0800 (PST), Ted Tofield
>> > <ted.tofi... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> >>Occasionally when in manual gearchange mode it get's stuck in 2nd
>> >>gear. up or down doesn't work, the only way to unstick is to
>>
>> > Run away *RIGHT NOW*!
>>
>> >>enter
>> >>city mode (which is never affected by the problem) It doesn't happen
>> >>very often and otherwise the car is perfect. Should I buy or should I
>> >>run away?
>>
>> > Well that depends. If you've got, say, about 3500UKP you'd happily
>> > burn then keep it. Otherwise leave well alone.
>>
>> >>ps: it's a Veloce, pearlescent paint, leather, climate control
>> >>etc.......and dear god it's fast! .....and I love the throttle blip
>> >>on downchange as well....
>>
>> > Do you like big (as in vast) repair bills too?
>>
>> >>The real question I guess is, it it a known tiny problem?,
>>
>> > It's a well known 'big' problem. The Selespeeds had infamously poor
>> > gearbox reliability. Much later models seem to be slightly better but
>> > some here (including me) would advise avoiding Selespeeds even if the
>> > gearboxes were working properly.
>>
>> But if it works in 'city' mode (whatever that is), then it sounds like a
>> software problem, rather than something physical in the gearbox??
>
> True but then that's hardly user configureable though .....

No, but a software reset, or even a firmware upgrade of the chip, or even a
new chip is significantly cheaper and easier than a new gearbox!

What is city mode? Why not drive in that all the time?
 >> Stay informed about: Advice needed regarding 156 Selespeed.... 

On Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:13:27 -0000, "GT"
<ContactGT_remove_.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote:

>But if it works in 'city' mode (whatever that is), then it sounds like a
>software problem,

I'd be surprised at a software problem like that being on a year 2000
car and left like that. If it were fixable *software*, wouldn't it
have been fixed years ago?

> rather than something physical in the gearbox??

I would not want to hold any glimmer of hope up to the OP and have
that on my conscience. If it weren't a *Selespeed* I'd agree with you.

--
Z
Scotland
Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
'Oil' be seeing you..
(Email without 'Alfa' in subject will be auto-deleted..sorry!)
 >> Stay informed about: Advice needed regarding 156 Selespeed.... 

Ted Tofield <ted.tofield DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:

> Does anyone know how drawn out these problems tend to be? Is it likely
> to explode within days or do these problems tend to go on for months
> and months? I only ask as if the car is going to be usable for a few
> months it might as well be driven into the ground rather than sold for
> peanuts....
>
> thanks again!

It may carry on like that for months.

On the other hand, it may lose all ability to select and / or change
gears the next time you take it out.

The question you have to ask yourself is:

'How lucky do I feel'
--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE - COSOC KOTL
BOTAFOT #87 - BOTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
 >> Stay informed about: Advice needed regarding 156 Selespeed....