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Alfa MiTo Sportiva 1.6 "Jake"

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Introduction

Been meaning to post this thread for a few days but with work, etc never got around to it!

Having been driving Marceline way more than anyone should drive a 13yr old Punto, I decided it was time to get something a bit more modern and a lot more diesel as my daily driver. I'd been looking at pretty much anything with the 1.6MJ2 engine as it seemed to have the perfect balance, and then this little gem appeared on AutoTrader and I just had to have it!

Sportiva spec, so fully loaded with the ugliest wheels Alfa has ever designed (seriously, it's like VW rejects!), but with the optional sunroof and BOSE speaker system, and currently on 43k.

Not planning any mods, except perhaps a remap in a few months, been quoted £325 from Celtic Tuning to bring it to 150bhp and they seem to be highly regarded.
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Did an oil and filter change on the 18/04. Pretty easy job, though access to the filter housing was a bit of pain. Noticed that the pads and discs were looking a bit worse for wear so have ordered a full set of Brembos from CP4L using the 15% forum discount, came in at just under £200 (y) Should get them next week.
 
It's been a while, did another oil change couple of months ago, done a lot more miles (about 28k since purchase now). Timing belt is probably due, and it sounds like the front wheel bearings are going as I'm getting a bit of a droning (nowhere near as loud as that rear one was though), possibly top mounts too as I get some rattling on bumpy roads. All part of the the fun of owning an Alfa though ;)

Edit: Oh and occasionally I get warnings on the dash saying check brake pads, but everything looks fine and they're only a few months old so I dunno what that's about. MES tells me nothing.
 
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Eklipze3k said:
It's been a while, did another oil change couple of months ago, done a lot more miles (about 28k since purchase now). Timing belt is probably due, and it sounds like the front wheel bearings are going as I'm getting a bit of a droning (nowhere near as loud as that rear one was though), possibly top mounts too as I get some rattling on bumpy roads. All part of the the fun of owning an Alfa though ;)

Edit: Oh and occasionally I get warnings on the dash saying check brake pads, but everything looks fine and they're only a few months old so I dunno what that's about. MES tells me nothing.
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With the brake warning I'd guess a bad connection or broken wire in the circuit getting moved around and loosing connection every now and then
 
I'm hoping that's all it is, even stomping on the brakes at 30+ it stops properly, nothing locks up and it doesn't pull in any direction so all appears well. Good ol' Italian electrics, eh? I was surprised that MES didn't have any info for me, I logged into every computer in the car (just in case) and nothing had been recorded, when I logged into the ABS computer though it reset the warning automatically (and disabled hill holder, etc) so wasn't a lot of help
 
So I got to the bottom of the intermittent brake warning - pretty much by accident! The other rear bearing went the way of the dodo, so I replaced it and haven't had the brake warnings since, so I guess the failure had caused an issue with the ABS ring or something, who knows?

I've bought a timing belt kit, water pump, thermostat, and of course oil and filter so will be getting a big service soon. I posted a separate thread about intermittent coolant loss, which got worse for a couple of days, but now seems to be back to 'normal' again. But, that was why I bought the thermostat (and a replacement header tank and pressure cap, as it did overheat at one point) as that's a known weak point, but hoping that in the process of swapping this out I should be able to see if any pipes are split, etc.
 
coolant loss update....

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you really need to take alot off a modern car to change the radiator.. was plain as day where it was leaking out the core once we got the AC condenser off. I don't have a good pic but no visible penetration damage, all I can think is a nut or bolt or something fell down there and got stuck against and rubbed through.. it's kinda irrelevant how and why I suppose, it's changed. Couldn't road test cause it needs MOT etc now before can do that but I'm sure it's fine now (y)
 
MOT yesterday, broken front spring, not bad considering he's been sat for almost 18 mths doing nothing! New spring arrives today from S4P, fit at the weekend, get the car cleaned for the first time in over 2 years and then it'll be time to sell. Need something with 5 doors for the wee man and the doggies.
 
Eklipze3k said:
MOT yesterday, broken front spring, not bad considering he's been sat for almost 18 mths doing nothing! New spring arrives today from S4P, fit at the weekend, get the car cleaned for the first time in over 2 years and then it'll be time to sell. Need something with 5 doors for the wee man and the doggies.
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Fancy a pre-battered Mazda for 15p ;)

Extensively attack tested by a toddler, my wife and a transit...and it still works.
 
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