The Alfa GT of Doom

wonder_lander · 12 Jan 2010 at 21:58

OK got in my car to come home tonight to find out I was getting no water from the water jets. As the weather was mild and I'm running a pre-mixed screenwash I thought it won't be frozen.

When I've got home and gone to top up the washer bottle I tested to check that the washers were working only to find that the pipe under the bonnet (Very top left hand corner of the engine bay) has split in several places and is just spewing the water out everywhere.

Pic of item(Obviously not my car):

Question is what can I do to fix this?

a) Is there some temporary product I can buy to fix the split flexible rubber in the short term?
b) Is it a DIY fix bearing in mind I'm not at all car technical!
c) If I have to go to the garage to fix it does anyone have an idea of the part number and what's involved in replacing it?

TIA

GeX · 12 Jan 2010 at 22:04

go to b&q, buy some sillicone hose, buy some joiners, cut out the split section and replace it with good hose. secure with cable ties if you're feeling flush.

be glad you dont have an alfa mito in this weather, apparently the scuttle panel drains onto the alternator - which then freezes solid overnight, cooking the aux drive belt when you start the car

peterattheboro · 12 Jan 2010 at 22:04

If it's just a plastic tube, could you not get a slightly larger tube and then use that to replace the damaged section. B&Q do some watertight sealant.

Freefaller · 12 Jan 2010 at 22:27

You're going to have to scrap it I'm afraid

Will · 12 Jan 2010 at 22:30

Damn Alfas, always breaking

Halfords sell tubing you may be able to fit....may not be as flexible as that bit though, looking at how it coils in the picture you've posted.

wonder_lander · 12 Jan 2010 at 22:39

Cheers guys, looks like I'm going to have to max out my credit card to get one of these to fix it. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...1&catalogId=10151&partNumber=320523&langId=-1

Looks like the GT is safe from the scrap yard for now.

Freefaller · 12 Jan 2010 at 22:44

K.C. Leblanc · 12 Jan 2010 at 23:03

Mondeo

sigma · 12 Jan 2010 at 23:05

That is a rather nice engine bay.

Oh wait did I just say that? (FF forced me to)

Emlyn_Dewar · 13 Jan 2010 at 01:05

Jesus, another split hose?
This car has been nothing but trouble of late, if you don't flog it and get something cheap and Korean ASAP, you'll be in for a world of trouble.

BigglesPiP · 13 Jan 2010 at 02:03

Looks like we can confirm they have started using Russian rubber then.

Go to a model shop and buy some fuel pipe (small clear silicon hose), I found some which is the perfect size to slip into both broken ends of my rear washer pipe. Since it's wider than the combined washer jet diameter it just holds itself in.

Oh and; nice smart JTD motor you have there.

Matt82 · 13 Jan 2010 at 08:23

omg DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR

just get some silicon replacement. it looks like it would be pretty exposed to the elements, slilcon would be a bit more hardy and would hopefully PREVENT FUTURE FAILURES

GinG · 13 Jan 2010 at 08:28

This is the reason why not to buy Alfa's! Can't believe how unreliable these are.

On a more serious note, this happened to my Mondeo, all i did was go to a pet shop and bought the flexible hose / tube you use for the air pumps. Stick each end in hot water to soften, push over the broken area and jobs a good'un!

After that the washer jets have been so much more powerful!

Hawk Tuah · 13 Jan 2010 at 09:36

What a beautifully crafted engine bay.

merlin · 13 Jan 2010 at 09:38

You need to top up the Vimto in the expansion tank and all will be well with the world.

Sanchez · 13 Jan 2010 at 12:52

Slightly OT, can you tell me a bit more about your car and how you've found it. I know it's be hideously unreliable hasn't it?

I've been looking at them but read mixed reviews.

ajstan · 13 Jan 2010 at 13:07

Sanchez said:
Slightly OT, can you tell me a bit more about your car and how you've found it. I know it's be hideously unreliable hasn't it? I've been looking at them but read mixed reviews.

and me.. although I was looking more at the 2.0jts petrol engine

wonder_lander · 13 Jan 2010 at 13:23

Sorted for now but not a great fix

Went to Halfords and bought some new 3/16th washer hose and 2 connectors, only had 90degree ones so I got them.

Cut out the effected part that had split, looks like it gets trapped by the bonnet gas struts and has nipped it in 5 places. Cut was very close to the inner wing where the pipe disappears to the washer bottle which is in there.

Stuck the connetors into a new bit of tube, about 5cm long, and then with a bit of washing up liquid I joined the old to the new.

The pipes aren't as far on as I'd like but as it was tight to work and cold I'm hoping it will be OK!

Will see how long this temp repair lasts. If it keeps failing I will just have the pipe replaced next service.

wonder_lander · 13 Jan 2010 at 13:44

Sanchez said:
Slightly OT, can you tell me a bit more about your car and how you've found it. I know it's be hideously unreliable hasn't it? I've been looking at them but read mixed reviews.

ajstan said:
and me.. although I was looking more at the 2.0jts petrol engine

Car has been great to be honest but I may well be the exception. I bought the car when it was 6 months old with 19k miles on it.

I drive 100 miles each day with a mix of A roads and motorway (locations on the left under my username).

The car returns between 42 and 44mpg on my normal commute which I think is good for my style of driving.

Service intervals are fixed at 12k which means 2 services a year. These used to cost about £600 at the main dealer but since the car turned 3 years old I've switched to an independant and it's probably about £400 now.

I get around 25k to a set of fronts and 50k for the rears. I've got the optional 18"'s so tyres are around £80 per corner for Falken FK452 up to about £120 for PZero Rosso's which were fitted as standard.

Cambelt change on this car is 72k so I've done one of those too and that was about £300. (Car just on 90k)

The car attracts attention and comments whenever I am out and about.

Issues I've had with the car:

Warranty:
Sticky door handles when opening the doors. Replaced complete assembly when I thought they could just do with an oil
Indicator units replaced (3 times due to condesation)
Parking Sensor failure
EGR Valve failure

Out of Warranty:
Split Turbo host
Split washer jet hose

The car has never failed to start or broken down.

Things I would recommend.
Parking sensors, the rear visibility isn't the best for parking
Bose sound, I have the standard stereo and it's a bit of a let down
Service history and warranty if you can get one with one.

Any questions just shout, I'm no fox when it comes to car reviews I'm afraid

CooK1E · 13 Jan 2010 at 14:03

wonder_lander said:
Car has been great to be honest but I may well be the exception. I bought the car when it was 6 months old with 19k miles on it.

Things I would recommend.
Parking sensors, the rear visibility isn't the best for parking
Bose sound, I have the standard stereo and it's a bit of a let down
Service history and warranty if you can get one with one.

I've got a GTV and although not in the same league as your Alfa, they were effectively designed for the same purpose.

The rear visability has always been tosh from Alfa's especially this model, so the rear parking sensors are a must. Lost count of the number of times I've had to get out and make sure that I'm close enough to the car behind.

The stereo's / speakers are always rubbish, there are hundreds of threads on the owners club about replacing Head units and speakers.

The other thing you must do is join the owners club, as they are a huge source of information. (assuming you don't mind getting your hands dirty!) I would suggest Alfa owner over the official club, as the members list online is massive compared to the official club.