Alfa Pages

[1.5_iE]

Im lucky enough to have a large brick built carport at the end of a barn, with lights, electric etc but no door, so with the best will in the world I cant spend too much time out with my 33, so the engine is staying firmly in until the new year!! Its brilliant in the summer, keeps the heat off and if it rains no problem, but the cold is bitter at the moment.

I used to be able to stand numb feet and dead hands while messing with cars but these days I just get fed up and go inside lol! Plus its too cold and damp to do any paint work without cocking it up too.
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1993 1.5 IE 63k Miles, Renovation Project
2007 Grande Punto 1.4 16v Sporting

[bobbber]

Alex,

I probably live in roughly the same part of the UK as you and I'm doing a bit.

At the moment the P4 is outside in all weathers, when I work on it, so am I!

The weather forecast the other night (about 10pm) said it was going to be below freezing and probably some snow. I felt very pleased that I was in the warm, watching the telly.

HOWEVER, it then struck me that not long before I'd filled the coolant up with water only - no antifreeze! So this HAD to come out on threat of it freezing, expanding and then breaking something (if not the block!). Wow... I was chuffed!

So, out into the freezing cold, raining. Under the car... EVERYTHING dripping on me - soaking wet... cold... BLAH! Drained out the coolant on one side of the block... car currently on shingle so when I slide under the car I get shirt/suit/pants FULL of it. Move over to the other side... now shivering... drain it... put the plugs back in... throw tools back into the shed... BRRRRRR... RUN RUN RUN for the house and make love to the radiator....










I LOVE IT!

Bob
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Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

[john 33_16v]

Not if I can help it!

When i did my gearbox (engine/box out) in feb/march it was snowing whilst i worked on the drive on at least one of the days, and every metalic item touched felt like ice- great fun.

Some cocky bmw owning neighbour came over for a chuckle. I remarked that i was too old for doing this, and he schmirked that the car was 'past it's prime too'. I politely explained that the car was a 'collectors item', and refrained from telling him to 'f*ck back to the cheaper side of the street!'

Keep going guys!

Bobbber when you drive your P4 to SAD and Spa it'll all be worth it.

John
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If it aint broke, fiddle with it until it is!
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93 33 16v Mirtle Met
08 Fiat Grande Punto Exotica Red
90 Yamaha FZR600 Genesis- Silky white/red/blue

[bobbber]

Thanks John... keep giving me that positive feedback... I need it... can't get the bu**ger to run!

Bob
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Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

[paulhide]

I take it that that means you have a spark at the plugs. Can you hear power going to the fuel pump? Check for power there if not. If no power, check relay. Otherwise undo the fuel pipe under the 'double-round-thingy-majigg' just before the fuel rail and make sure that your pump is pumping fuel out (into a jam jar and not near any sparks - just don't turn over for very long )

I had to work on a car in freezing temperatures this weekend - wore many layers of clothing under overalls and coat with a microwaveable heat pad under me jumper! Looked like the michelin man - which takes some doing for me. Came in eventually frozen and soaked, but job done!
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Owner's Club 33 Registrar. Now from P4 & S2 1.7 QV
http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5188

[johnboy]

hi guys
worked on the gtv in my garage last saturday.thought i was going to be there all day.was just a 15 amp fuse.so went in doors and got drunk
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WODA WE NEED? MORE POWER!!

Alfa gt jtdm blackline
1990 S2 16v veloce sleeping!
2002 ts gtv the wifes now
1997 seadoo gsx 800
1999 freestyle superjet

[Oggie]

Yeah I was tinkering outside on Sat in my t-shirt, just the usual, oil and filter change but the alfa parts counter fukwit gave me the wrong filter, it looks the same and has the valve in it but the thread was a tad larger than the original, he even took my reg to match for the part only to find that my reg cannot be found , it now means that I'm back there Friday to whinge after the usual half hour wait. Does anyone have a s2 boot catch and the feeble captive nuts to secure it?.
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PHAT 33

[BigAl]

Hey oggie, I have a boot catch as i went through them like no bodies business in my ser 2.
You guys are braver than me, last time I was out in the elements I was refitting my gearbox, under the car in a puddle of water, in the middle of a huge down pour. The annoying thing was that I had just fitted a new clutch and after I had finished, I started her up went to press the clutch and plop, the bloomin fork had come off, arghhhhhhh!!! Off came the exhaust ect ect, learnt to check before next time.
I waited 7 months to work on my car as it was too cold last year about this time.
Think my power steering pump maybe on the way out and that looks like a nice job for this weather.
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

[paulhide]

Power steering pump ain't so hard to change.
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Owner's Club 33 Registrar. Now from P4 & S2 1.7 QV
http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5188

[lee16v]

Nope too cold even down in 'ere in deepest Devon. I do my work at my dads as he has a car port but the icy wind still whips in there. I'm going to leave all my jobs until the begining of June.........hang on, that might be a little late!

[BigAl]

Looks like I will be doing my thermostat soon. I will let you know how blue my fingers get, might do it after the car is warm and put my hands in the coolant to stop them freezing
Regarding my power steering pump I was thinking of doing a fluid change, anyone got any tips on this? I was thinking of referring to this..
http://www.dvatp.com/bmw/diy/power_steering_flush/
but wondered if there was a 33 specific one, even though its the same rack.
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203