Hi Rick, glad I could help!. On the front passenger side footwell, if you remove the long kick plate (which runs from the heater box to the gear lever area - 3 Philips screws), you will see the alarm box lying amongst the wiring, behind the radio head unit. I tested and then disconnected the multiplugs containing 12v (+) and (-) pins, which had connected the alarm box to the car's electrical looms. I found good images of how to access the alarm on a website - check under 'abacus' car alarms. Hope this helps! Regards, Ken.
Brilliant Ken. Thank you. I have just checked their website and found a lot of useful information. Good to know they can still be repaired or replaced too eh! I shall investigate this when I get chance and let you know how I get on. Thanks again. Rick
Great work, done this job 3 or 4 times, the diode issue is common on bussos. If a phase fails, the gap it leaves in the DC rectified output will be noticeable as flicker. Anything below 14v after excitation should be reason to start fault finding. The alty to starter cables on these motors get gunned up with burnt on oil due to proximity to rear bank manifold, oil filter/cooler mount and leaky cam cover gaskets. The same applies to the alty itself. The combination of high heat, poor positive cable and dirty environment is why the rectifiers only last 2 to 3 years on a daily driven busso. Double up your positive cabling, and fire sleeve it. Fashion an alloy heat/oil shield for the alty and you're golden
Hi Rick, great videos! FWIW, on my 2001 GTV 916 2 litre I spent ages and ages trying to find out why my battery kept going flat, ie when the car hadn't been used for maybe a week or two. My late brother owned the car before me (I 'inherited' it); he always had the same flat battery problem. After a considerable effort, I diagnosed it down to being caused by the (original) car alarm - a Meta System M99T2. As long as it was connected in to the car's wiring loom, it drained the battery, even if the alarm was not armed! Eventually, I disconnected its 12v + supply and earth plugs, fitted a battery disconnect switch of exactly the same type as you featured, a 4 Watt solar charger from Amazon was then fitted on the rear parcel shelf, wired directly to the battery with an isolator switch. The flat battery problem has completely stopped, the car always starts now, no matter how long it has not been used. Disconnecting the alarm has had absolutely no effect on the immobiliser, or the central locking. Down side is, no alarm on the car (Big sod off 'Stoplock' fitted!) Hope this might be of interest to you and help anyone else with a self-flattening GTV battery! Regards, Ken.
Hi Ken. Thanks very much for sharing this information. I have yet to investigate the cause of the drain but I have been suspecting the alarm. Where are the wires located for the alarm that I would need to disconnect? Cheers
I was out of town and alternator failed. My 2009 Alfa159 V6, lost its alternator during very wet weather (and I had foolishly left bottom motor shield off after oil and autogearbox fluid change.).Still at 60,000kilometres and 13 years not a matter of deep concern. However following covid closures here in NZ the Agent Company took a week to put in a second hand alternator. I have since obtained a new Alternator from UK ( Denso) as I can hear possible bearing noise on alternator drive wheel. (Will check alignment of subframe from manual, noting it is a different arrangement. Hard to get info in NZ.
Great series of vids. One thing, did I hear you say that you cleaned all the nuts and bolts up yourself or are they all new. if cleaned how do you get such a good result? Thanks
Hi Ian. All of the fasteners where soaked in vinegar for a week before being sent away to be bright zinc plated followed by a de-embrittlement process to restore their tensile strength. Rick
Hi there. Believe it or not, the electric ratchet is a cheap Chinese one off eBay. I’ve had it for about 2 years, it is used all the time and never had an issue. It’s fantastic for domestic use, just don’t use it for torquing or cracking off bolts. I recommend buying one with a spare second battery so you always have one fully charged. 👍🏼
After a few miles make sure that oil filter is still tight. I do not like the latest genuine filters they are now made in china, they used to be made in Italy.
Great Video. My Alternator has just died. So I'll get one from the guys at autoelectro,co.uk. Beautiful job you've done on the underside. Why did Alfa put it in an most in-accessable place, Bonkers
Hi Rick, glad I could help!. On the front passenger side footwell, if you remove the long kick plate (which runs from the heater box to the gear lever area - 3 Philips screws), you will see the alarm box lying amongst the wiring, behind the radio head unit. I tested and then disconnected the multiplugs containing 12v (+) and (-) pins, which had connected the alarm box to the car's electrical looms. I found good images of how to access the alarm on a website - check under 'abacus' car alarms. Hope this helps! Regards, Ken.
Brilliant Ken. Thank you. I have just checked their website and found a lot of useful information. Good to know they can still be repaired or replaced too eh!
I shall investigate this when I get chance and let you know how I get on. Thanks again. Rick
Great work, done this job 3 or 4 times, the diode issue is common on bussos. If a phase fails, the gap it leaves in the DC rectified output will be noticeable as flicker. Anything below 14v after excitation should be reason to start fault finding. The alty to starter cables on these motors get gunned up with burnt on oil due to proximity to rear bank manifold, oil filter/cooler mount and leaky cam cover gaskets. The same applies to the alty itself. The combination of high heat, poor positive cable and dirty environment is why the rectifiers only last 2 to 3 years on a daily driven busso. Double up your positive cabling, and fire sleeve it. Fashion an alloy heat/oil shield for the alty and you're golden
Thanks for the info 👍🏼
Great job and perfect underbody of the GTV.
Brilliant job ! That busso sounds sublime !
Great vid - reminds me so much of when I rebuilt my Red Devil 145, happy days
well done Rick, looks and sounds amazing chap
Thanks Gary.
Must be a pleasure (although frustrating) working on such a clean underbody
Thank you Sir. Yes a clean underbody makes these jobs a lot more pleasant 👍🏼
Hi Rick, great videos! FWIW, on my 2001 GTV 916 2 litre I spent ages and ages trying to find out why my battery kept going flat, ie when the car hadn't been used for maybe a week or two. My late brother owned the car before me (I 'inherited' it); he always had the same flat battery problem. After a considerable effort, I diagnosed it down to being caused by the (original) car alarm - a Meta System M99T2. As long as it was connected in to the car's wiring loom, it drained the battery, even if the alarm was not armed! Eventually, I disconnected its 12v + supply and earth plugs, fitted a battery disconnect switch of exactly the same type as you featured, a 4 Watt solar charger from Amazon was then fitted on the rear parcel shelf, wired directly to the battery with an isolator switch. The flat battery problem has completely stopped, the car always starts now, no matter how long it has not been used. Disconnecting the alarm has had absolutely no effect on the immobiliser, or the central locking. Down side is, no alarm on the car (Big sod off 'Stoplock' fitted!) Hope this might be of interest to you and help anyone else with a self-flattening GTV battery! Regards, Ken.
Hi Ken. Thanks very much for sharing this information. I have yet to investigate the cause of the drain but I have been suspecting the alarm. Where are the wires located for the alarm that I would need to disconnect? Cheers
Nice one,looking forward to seeing it on the road.
Fantastic work Rick. Great result!
Thanks James. I’m just glad it’s over haha
Great work Rick! Fantastic news! 👍🏻
Great job. Can't wait to see it on the road
Awesome. Getting there now
Helpful history after alternator failure on the (different)Alfa 159 V6,
I was out of town and alternator failed. My 2009 Alfa159 V6, lost its alternator during very wet weather (and I had foolishly left bottom motor shield off after oil and autogearbox fluid change.).Still at 60,000kilometres and 13 years not a matter of deep concern. However following covid closures here in NZ the Agent Company took a week to put in a second hand alternator. I have since obtained a new Alternator from UK ( Denso) as I can hear possible bearing noise on alternator drive wheel.
(Will check alignment of subframe from manual, noting it is a different arrangement.
Hard to get info in NZ.
the newly refurbed unit suits the standard of the overall restoration anyway so it is for the best IMHO
Thanks Joe. I have to agree
Good work biff Ed x
Nicely done!
Thank you Sir. Hope you enjoyed it 👍🏼
Marvelous
Great series of vids. One thing, did I hear you say that you cleaned all the nuts and bolts up yourself or are they all new. if cleaned how do you get such a good result?
Thanks
Hi Ian. All of the fasteners where soaked in vinegar for a week before being sent away to be bright zinc plated followed by a de-embrittlement process to restore their tensile strength. Rick
Great work and patience. What brand and model is your electrical ratchet? I believe I need to have one.
Hi there. Believe it or not, the electric ratchet is a cheap Chinese one off eBay. I’ve had it for about 2 years, it is used all the time and never had an issue. It’s fantastic for domestic use, just don’t use it for torquing or cracking off bolts. I recommend buying one with a spare second battery so you always have one fully charged. 👍🏼
Ok. That should be enough for my garage use. No need for a Milwaukee. What size sockets do you use, 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”?
Generally I use 3/8”. For larger sockets I just use a 3/8” to 1/2” adapter. For smaller sockets I use a 3/8” to 1/4” adapter. Easy peasy 👍🏼
My gta alternator has just gone :-( I won’t be doing it myself! What a palava
Haha it isn’t the easiest alternator job on the planet. Quick an expensive job if you’re paying someone to do it
Be careful with full isolation, there have been cases where the immobiliser loses its config.
Thanks for the info. Yes I remember reading the same online. This is a temporary measure until I find the source of a drain on the battery. Cheers
Sound mate, depending on how long you are talking mine does the same... few weeks rather than days. Looking good btw
After a few miles make sure that oil filter is still tight. I do not like the latest genuine filters they are now made in china, they used to be made in Italy.
Thanks for the tip. I’ll keep an eye on it 👍🏼
Top lad ! Shame about redoing all that good work though
Looking forward to the next vid 👍👌
Thanks for the comments Matt, much appreciated Sir 👍🏼
@@_RicksGarage just praying my resto on the 156 goes easier !!!
Replaced the alternator on mine it really is a stupid place to put it!
Great Video. My Alternator has just died. So I'll get one from the guys at autoelectro,co.uk. Beautiful job you've done on the underside. Why did Alfa put it in an most in-accessable place, Bonkers