Replacing the timing belt (cambelt) on your Alfa Romeo 147 is one of the most important things you can do. This is because a failure of the belt or tensioner can lead to very severe damage to your 147’s engine, resulting in a rather wallet emptying experience. In this guide we will tell you when the belt needs to be replaced on your Alfa 147, along with some other timing belt related info as well.
Table of Contents
Does the 147 have a Timing Belt or Chain?
As you can see from the info below, all the engines fitted to the Alfa 147 came with a timing belt:
| Engine | Year Range | Timing Belt or Chain |
| 1.6 TS | 2000-2010 | Timing belt |
| 2.0 TS | 2000-2010 | Timing belt |
| 3.2 V6 | 2002-2005 | Timing belt |
| 1.9 JTD 8V | 2000-2005 | Timing belt |
| 1.9 JTDM 8V | 2003-2010 | Timing belt |
| 1.9 JTD 16V | 2003-2005 | Timing belt |
| 1.9 JTD M-Jet 16V | 2003-2010 | Timing belt |
| 1.9 JTDM 16V | 2005-2010 | Timing belt |
When Does the Timing Belt Need to Be Replaced on an Alfa 147?
Originally, the service interval for the timing belt on a Alfa Romeo 147 was specified for every 116,000 km (72,000 miles) or every 6 years (5 for diesel engines). However, Alfa Romeo changed this to 58,000 km (36,000 miles) or every 3 years for petrol engines after a number of failures. Unlike their petrol counterparts, diesel versions of the 147 kept the longer service interval, but it is now generally recommended by many owners that you go with a change every 77,000 km (48,000 miles) or every 4 years just to be on the safe side.
| Engine | Year Range | Recommended Change Interval (KM) | Recommended Change Interval (Miles) | Change Interval (Time) |
| 1.6 TS | 2000-2010 | 58,000km | 36,000mi | 3 years |
| 2.0 TS | 2000-2010 | 58,000km | 36,000mi | 3 years |
| 3.2 V6 | 2002-2005 | 58,000km | 36,000mi | 3 years |
| 1.9 JTD 8V | 2000-2005 | 77,000km | 48,000mi | 4 years recommended, 5 maximum |
| 1.9 JTDM 8V | 2003-2010 | 77,000km | 48,000mi | 4 years recommended, 5 maximum |
| 1.9 JTD 16V | 2003-2005 | 77,000km | 48,000mi | 4 years recommended, 5 maximum |
| 1.9 JTD M-Jet 16V | 2003-2010 | 77,000km | 48,000mi | 4 years recommended, 5 maximum |
| 1.9 JTDM 16V | 2005-2010 | 77,000km | 48,000mi | 4 years recommended, 5 maximum |
What Happens if the Timing Belt Breaks on an Alfa 147?
All of the engines in the 147 range are interference motors, so if the timing belt breaks there is a very, very high chance that the pistons and valves will collide, resulting in extensive engine damage. This will obviously be very expensive to fix, so change your timing belt!
A good number of failures on petrol 147s is actually down to the tensioner and not the belt. To get a bit of an idea of health of both the belt and the tensioner, you can try to listen for any abnormal rubbing, squeaking, tapping, or ticking sounds originating from the timing belt area. The presence of such noises may signal that the belt and tensioner have surpassed their intended lifespan.
What Else Should be Replaced with the Timing Belt?
You should replace the following components during a timing belt service on an Alfa Romeo 147:
- Tensioner
- Idlers
- Aux belt
- Water pump – replacing with a metal pump is quite common on some models like the GTA. This is because metal pumps for these cars tend to have a sturdier impeller for enhanced durability, increasing their lifespan and reducing the risk of failure.
To Sum Up
Petrol Alfa 147s should have their timing belt replaced every 58,000 km (36,000 miles) or every 3 years, while diesel models have a slightly longer recommended service interval at 77,000 km (48,000 miles) or every 4 years. All engines are interference motors, so if the belt or tensioner fails catastrophic damage will almost certainly occur. Lastly, the belt should be replaced along with the tensioner, idlers, Aux belt, and water pump.
