'97 Turbo Exec questions

[Alfamonk]

Hola all, just signed up as i bought a '97 turbo Executive last week, and you guys seem to know your onions
Got a couple of issues needing looking at and any info or advice would be appreciated;
-engine holds on to revs after the throttle is released. quite annoying, and makes driving around town difficult.. but i don't know if it's a result of the standard engine-mapping - do they all do this? or whether this indicates dirty MAF sensor , or something else?
-clonking; front-end, is this likely to be suspension bushes? if so, does anyone have a good place to get them online? any other suggestions. happens over small bumps.
Planning on getting it serviced next week along with a cambelt change - i guess this depends on where you live but what kind of price should i expect for the belt change and a major service?
sorry for all the questions hopefully i can return the favour sometime..
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[Alfamonk]

Hmmm..anyone help?

[teamster1975]

-clonking; front-end, is this likely to be suspension bushes? if so, does anyone have a good place to get them online? any other suggestions. happens over small bumps.

This could be the anti-rollbar bushes or the drop links; the parts are cheap from a motor factors and it's a fairly straight forward job
Don't know about the engine holding onto revs; check to make sure the throttle linkage isn't fouling
Welcome to the club Alfa!

[steve_earwig]

If it's the anti-roll bar drop links you may have to grind the old ones off

[teamster1975]

If it's the anti-roll bar drop links you may have to grind the old ones off

I take it you've had the pleasure of that job too Steve!
If you've got some thin nosed mole grips you can just get onto the back of the ball joint to hold it, but if you've got an angle grinder do as Steve says!

[steve_earwig]

Nahh, too lazy for that sort of thing I took my D8 to the stealers because I couldn't trace the clonking coming from the lhs (it was on the list with a non-working speedo and flashy flashy airbag light). Turns out it was the rhs , they offered to do it for half an hour's labour (much cheaper here, for a change). I ummed and arred and decided I didn't really have enough tools yet (I'd only just bought my house) and finally agreed. I was quite glad I did when they pulled out the oxyaceteline...

[Alfamonk]

Cool, I'm used to Alfa prices for spares so Puggy stuff seems outrageously cheap. . so far... just been quoted £70 for a cambelt change ; that was £340 on the Alfa.
Thanks for the replies, it's going in next week to be tweaked. Gotta say that as a new 406 owner i'm loving the relaxed drive.. makes the commute a very chilled experience.

[teamster1975]

Puggy stuff seems outrageously cheap. . so far...

Just wait 'til you're first trip to the main stealer spares dept
They is not cheap! Ebay or Euros all the way for everything you can!

[mjb]

-engine holds on to revs after the throttle is released. quite annoying, and makes driving around town difficult.. but i don't know if it's a result of the standard engine-mapping - do they all do this? or whether this indicates dirty MAF sensor , or something else?

Mine did that (got rid of the tubby since) and I couldn't work out what was causing it. You just get used to it after a while though

[maglite]

Here's another tip: If you have that blasted pin number start keypad, disconnect it by running a wire straight to the start solenoid from the ignition as I did. If that buggers up, its a pain the a$$! Another tip is to keep the rear door hinges lubed as they start to stick if not used much. Check the condition of the Aux belt, tensioner, etc too. The handbrake adjusters in the rear drums tend NOT to be automatic around abouts now.

How is your A/C running?

[steve_earwig]

If it has rear disks the adjusters never were automatic

[mjb]

Here's another tip: If you have that blasted pin number start keypad, disconnect it by running a wire straight to the start solenoid from the ignition as I did. If that buggers up, its a pain the a$$!

Or just set it to auto mode - you'll never need to touch the keypad unless the keyfob battery goes flat

[teamster1975]

Here's another tip: If you have that blasted pin number start keypad, disconnect it by running a wire straight to the start solenoid from the ignition as I did. If that buggers up, its a pain the a$$!

Or just set it to auto mode - you'll never need to touch the keypad unless the keyfob battery goes flat

That doesn't work on mine!

[Alfamonk]

AC works a treat luckily. though the trip computer button on the end of the wiper stalk has died, and the display for the outside temp etc is only readable with night-vision specs...
apparently the driveshaft is knackered, not the wheel-bearings as i thought/hoped. bugger

[mjb]

though the trip computer button on the end of the wiper stalk has died,

Sounds like it's had a replacement stalk. The tubby can be retro-fitted with trip computer functionality (a few of us have done it) but as standard the display just does oem radio and outside temperature

and the display for the outside temp etc is only readable with night-vision specs...

Grab a flat screwdriver, lever it out, and you'll see a pair of black bulb holders in the top. You can get replacements at maplins (£), halfords (£££) or the dealer (££££££££££££££)

While you've got it out you can check if it's had the trip computer retro-wired. If the plug going into the back of the display is just one row of pins/wires, then it's not got the computer wiring.