Alfa Romeo 2.0 TS
The most common Alfa engine of the late 1990s — 2.0-litre Twin Spark with 150–155 hp. Two spark plugs per cylinder, variable valve timing, revs to 7,000 rpm with a sound noticeably more characterful than anything from VW or Opel of the era. The Selespeed variant (automated manual gearbox) has a bad reputation for hydraulic issues and jerky shifting — the manual is strongly preferable. Phaser failure is the best-known weak point: diesel-like knocking at idle, repair around €300–500. Timing belt every 60,000 km mandatory.
Sportwagon with Genuine Character
As an estate the 2.0 Twin Spark remains a pleasure — eager to rev, sonically convincing and with the familiar precise 156 chassis. Pure everyday fun.
Engine Weaknesses 8
Alfa shortened the timing belt interval several times to 60,000 km or 5 years. Belt failure causes engine damage without warning.
Symptoms: Engine suddenly impossible to start, loud metallic noise on belt failure
The O-rings of the oil galleries between head and block (perbunan) swell and deform when exposed to engine oil. Cylinder 4 is particularly affected: coolant enters the oil, visible as milky emulsion on the oil filler cap.
Symptoms: Milky residue on oil filler cap or dipstick, coolant consumption without external leak, white smoke from exhaust on a warm engine.
Insufficient oil supply (missed oil changes, oil loss) leads to con-rod bearing failure. The crankshaft then needs to be reground/polished. Repair costs €700–1,000 for machining plus bearings; severe damage requires engine replacement.
Symptoms: Loud knocking or hammering from engine (especially under load), oil pressure warning light, noticeable power loss.
The camshaft phaser wears out and can stick. Leads to rough running and poor throttle response.
Symptoms: Rough idle, power loss in lower rev range
Thermostat fails to open reliably, coolant loss through a leaking water pump. The pump's plastic impeller can break and interrupt coolant circulation. Recommendation: always replace water pump during timing belt change.
Symptoms: Temperature gauge fluctuates or rises above 110 °C, coolant level drops without visible external leak, cooling fan runs unusually often.
From approx. 150,000 km the seals harden and allow oil to burn into the combustion chambers. Consumption of 0.5–1 l/1,000 km and blue smoke on cold start are typical.
Symptoms: Blue smoke on cold start, increased oil consumption
The throttle body potentiometer's contact tracks wear out and supply incorrect signals to the engine ECU. Result: unstable idle, poor throttle response. Cleaning helps; relearning via OBD is required.
Symptoms: Rough or fluctuating idle between 500–2,000 rpm, engine hunts after cold start, vehicle jerks on throttle lift-off.
Lambda sensors have a lifespan of approx. 100,000 km. A worn sensor delivers incorrect mixture control, the engine runs rich, and fuel consumption rises sharply. Often misdiagnosed as an ignition problem.
Symptoms: Significantly increased fuel consumption (15–20 l/100 km), rough idle, engine management light, fault code P0170/P0172 (mixture too rich).
Vehicle Weaknesses 11
The rear spring perch rusts through at the weld seams, which can lead to complete failure of the spring seat. The spring perch can drop onto the tyre and destroy it. Safety-critical — regular visual inspection in the wheel arch is necessary.
Footwell floor and sills rust from the inside outwards. Rust is often concealed by carpet or sill trim covers. Jacking points on the underbody are also heavily affected. Lift the carpet on purchase inspection.
The rear trailing arm rusts through at load-bearing points, affecting wheel alignment. The rear axle body and subframe were fitted without adequate corrosion protection. Safety-critical with advanced rust.
Sill edges, wheel arch transitions, jacking points and underbody rust heavily. Underbody protection peels off early. Internal rust inspection through the ventilation duct in the rear area is recommended.
The water pump typically wears between 120,000 and 175,000 km and should be renewed at the timing belt change. A known silent recall concerns a leaking sealing plug on the coolant pipe. Cost: 350–550 €.
The ABS sensors on the 156 are inadequately protected against water spray. Moisture causes them to fail frequently, activating the ABS warning light.
Upper and lower front control arms reliably wear from 100,000 km. Original parts are sometimes hard to source. Knocking when driving over bumps is the typical sign.
The shared control unit for window regulators, central locking and interior lighting fails regularly. Windows do not respond, central locking is blocked. A fuse reset (pulling the fuse for 10 minutes) is often sufficient. Replacement cost: 50–200 €.
The air conditioning no longer cools as the compressor or its magnetic clutch has failed. Refrigerant is frequently lost through leaking hose connections. Compressor replacement costs 500–900 €, a simple air conditioning service 60–100 €.
The brake discs on the 156 tend to warp and rust heavily, especially after periods of standing. Steering wheel vibrates during braking. Early replacement necessary; repair costs 200–400 € per axle.
The 156 dashboard cracks and deforms with direct sunlight. Seats show early upholstery wear. A typical problem on vehicles from around 100,000 km or after 10 years.
Reports & Tests
The 156 prioritises design and driving dynamics at the expense of long-term durability. Rust sets in noticeably earlier than the class average, and in its eleventh year of operation the corrosion level is considerably above the mean. Diesel engines are prone to turbocharger damage, petrol engines to timing belt failures.