Love/hate Alfa

Couldn’t agree more with how complex modern motors have become. A recent example for me is my 08 Alfa Romeo Brera V6, which recently stranded me by a hot and dusty highway when all the electrics died.

An RACQ truck to the local auto electrician fixed that problem. But what I hoped was just a dead battery turned out to be much worse. The alternator’s not charging.

No biggie, on most cars, but not on this little Italian Hot Momma. The auto electrician couldn’t even see the alternator!

After a conversation with my usual mechanic, I discovered that it’s buried under the motor, hard up against the firewall! He didn’t want to touch it either, as it requires much of the suspension being removed to just get to it! So it’s a main dealer job, and I was dreading what it was going to cost.

It’s in with the dealer awaiting the new alternator, which thankfully only has to come from Melbourne and not Milan. The cost is going to be $2900! $2000 for the part & $900 for labour.

I still love the car though. This is the first time it’s let me down in 18 months and 25,000km of ownership, which for an Alfa is pretty good.

But when they bite they bite hard!

Gary G Smith

WELCOME TO Alfa ownership, Gary. They’re not the only offenders with weird placement of components. French makers have also been repeat offenders. Then again, I put a new starter in Ed Guido’s Toyota Soarer V8 not so long ago, and that was a nightmare. The offending part was hidden in the back of the engine vee, under all the induction gear! That said, I reckon that Alfa Romeo V6 is one of the all-time great engines, and the cars are beautiful. At risk to your sanity, I reckon everyone should own at least one Alfa in their lives.