Alfa 156 2.0 Selespeed

GiuliaTI · #1 (**permalink**) 01-29-2004, 09:13 AM

Hi there

I purchased an 156 2.0 Selespeed on August 1999. Since then and up to now my car has stayed more time in the workshop than with me. Why? Because of the bloody Selespeed gearbox.

It's a piece of **** !!

What kind of problems does my car have? All you can imagine! But mainly, the gearbox is driving me crazy because of the slowness of its imprecise movements and strange reactions while I'm driving it.

Does anybody have the same problems? Does anybody know how to solve them? I'm fed up with the car and I'm seriously thinking to sell it.

Vsix · #2 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GiuliaTI
Hi there

I'm fed up with the car and I'm seriously thinking to sell it.

GiuliaTI · #3 (**permalink**) 02-05-2004, 05:34 AM

Problems? Have you said the 1st Selespeed seem to have problems? You don't know how many problems I've got with this car, my friend. Not only with the secuential-gearbox, I have also problems the engine. It went out with 100.000 kms completly.

I think I will wait till the new 157 or 158 be launched.

I tested the current selespeed gearbox and it is completly different. It works pretty good.

Da_Schmuck · #4 (**permalink**) 11-25-2005, 10:51 PM

Interesting. I have a new (?) 156 Ti Selespeed, and only done 5000 km. Problems with the S/S already.

First problem was the very severe gear shifts, and a problem where the alarm would beep and then the gearbox would lock up and then stall the engine. Almost sent me into the windscreen. Sent it to the dealer stating it was not safe to drive.

We have the car back now with a bled clutch (I assume they mean the actuator) and a recalibrated S/S computer.

All great, but the gearbox now behaves weird and sounds strange when it changes gear. You can feel it clunk through the floor each gear change, and you hear a really loud click especially when changing into 1st gear.

This can't be normal.

The drivers seat is now squeaking badly too.

Damien_Ireland · #5 (**permalink**) 11-26-2005, 05:36 PM

I have seen one of these engines being rebuilt in front of me. I was talking to the Mechanic about them and he was saying that they are exactly the same as the standard manual but they just have an Hyadralic system to change gear instead of your hand.

But like all semi automatic gearboxes they are crap slow and imprecise and they kill the sense of envolvement in driving the car.

Hans · #6 (**permalink**) 11-27-2005, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien_Ireland

But like all semi automatic gearboxes they are crap slow and imprecise and they kill the sense of envolvement in driving the car.

Damien_Ireland · #7 (**permalink**) 11-27-2005, 07:39 AM

Yes, I know they are fast at changing gears something like 0.4 of second to change. But I think that takes some of the fun outta driving the car and to me Alfa's aren't meant to be semi autos there meant to be envolving and direct and to tingle the senses with there every move.

I feel they are imprecise because they jerk and cough there way up the gears when you are driving on in them which I don't like. Yes, they are grand going down even blips the thortle I just don't see the point of them really.

Ronan_Ireland · #8 (**permalink**) 12-08-2005, 03:02 AM

I bought a 2000 2.0 selespeed 11 or 12 months ago, and to be honest I love it. Havent had trouble with the selespeed at all, apart from sometimes in the city, if you are letting it "coast" a bit on auto, i.e. decelerating without braking, it seems to sometimes hang between gears, unsure as to whether it should be changing down or staying where it is. Out on the main roads I turn off the auto.
As regards the gear change being slow, i wouldnt think so. Like you said, its .4 of a second or something when the car is being pushed, which is as quick as most people could change a gear if not quicker. I must say though, despite the name the alfas have for unreliability, this car hasnt given me any trouble at all, when i move this car i think i'll definitely get another one. lovely "kick" out of it too.

leox@mitoalfa · #9 (**permalink**) 12-08-2005, 03:48 AM

from 2002 on the problems of selespeed were solved..
here in italy first selespeed cars were recalled in factory for an official upgrade

Da_Schmuck · #10 (**permalink**) 12-09-2005, 12:30 AM

My 2004 156Ti selespeed is getting noiser when changing into 1st. If you reverse-stop-change into 1st you can hear the gearbox change gears 30m away. It's rather loud.

My selespeed is not exactly quick in changing gears. The gearbox in 'city' mode also has trouble when accellerating up to the speed limit and then backing off, it doesn't seem to want to change up the gears for several seconds after coasting .

Another feathure I found was that you can select 2nd gear whilst stopped, and take off in that gear. This is something I am pretty sure the owners book says you cant do.

sslim · #11 (**permalink**) 12-22-2005, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vsix

Change it to full manual version, 1st selespeeds seems to have problems. Just wonder why peeps are buying them. No problems with manuals.

GiuliaTI · #12 (**permalink**) 12-22-2005, 10:14 AM

I decided to sell the car last october. I was fed up with it.

DAL32 · #13 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 05:24 AM

I bought a manual 156 last month, and the Alfa Romeo dealer that sold it to me told me that they do not stock series 1 Selespeeds, basically, because they are **** and keep breaking. They palm them off to cheaper dealers around the city. Funnily enough, the car I got needs a new variator and thermostat. I bought the car under the impression they were fixing the misfire which was a MAF issue. THe MAF issue disguised the other issues and I bought the car because I thought that was the only problem. I suppose I will just get it fixed under warranty when I can be stuffed. It's a 2000 model.