Alfa Romeo 156 – Timing Belt Service Interval – All Models

If you own an Alfa Romeo 156 one of the most important things you can do is to replace your timing belt (cambelt) at or before the recommended service interval. This is because if the belt breaks it can lead to catastrophic damage and a very expensive repair bill.

Does the 156 have a Timing Belt or Chain?

Credit: Alfa Romeo

As you can see from the table below, all the Alfa Romeo 156 models came with a timing belt and not a chain.

EngineYear RangeTiming Belt or Chain
2.0 JTS2002-2006Timing belt
2.5 V61997-2006Timing belt
3.2 V62002-2005Timing belt
1.6 TS1997-2006Timing belt
1.8 TS1997-2006Timing belt
2.0 TS1997-2002Timing belt
2.5 Q-System2001-2006Timing belt
1.9 JTD1997-2002Timing belt
1.9 M-Jet JTD2003-2007Timing belt
2.4 JTD1997-2007Timing belt
2.4 M-Jet2003-2007Timing belt

When Does the Timing Belt Need to Be Replaced on an Alfa 156?

Credit: Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo originally specified that the timing belt needed to be replaced on all models of the 156 every 116,000 km (72,000 miles) or every 6 years (5 for diesel engines). However, after a number of failures this was changed to 58,000 km (36,000 miles) or every 3 years for petrol engines. While diesel models kept the original service interval of 116,000 km, it is generally recommended by many owners that you go with a slightly earlier change at every 77,000 km (48,000 miles) or every 4 years.

EngineYear RangeRecommended Change Interval (KM)Recommended Change Interval (Miles)Change Interval (Time)
2.0 JTS2002-200658,000km36,000mi3 years
2.5 V61997-200658,000km36,000mi3 years
3.2 V62002-200558,000km36,000mi3 years
1.6 TS1997-200658,000km36,000mi3 years
1.8 TS1997-200658,000km36,000mi3 years
2.0 TS1997-200258,000km36,000mi3 years
2.5 Q-System2001-200658,000km36,000mi3 years
1.9 JTD1997-200277,000km48,000mi4 years recommended, 5 maximum
1.9 M-Jet JTD2003-200777,000km48,000mi4 years recommended, 5 maximum
2.4 JTD1997-200777,000km48,000mi4 years recommended, 5 maximum
2.4 M-Jet2003-200777,000km48,000mi4 years recommended, 5 maximum

What Happens if the Timing Belt Breaks on an Alfa 156?

Unfortunately, all of the engines in the 156 range are interference engines, so if a failure happens catastrophic damage will occur and you will be left with a pretty expensive engine replacement or rebuild bill.

A lot of failures on the 156 aren’t actually to do with the belt itself, but the tensioner. 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?

Along with the timing belt, you should get the following components changed as well:

  • 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

Credit: Alfa Romeo

Petrol models should have their timing belt replaced every 58,000 km (36,000 miles) or every 3 years, while diesel 156s should have it done every 77,000 km (48,000 miles) or every 4 years. All Alfa Romeo 156 power units are interference engines, 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.

Author

  • Ben

    From his early days playing the original Gran Turismo and with his Hot Wheels car set, Ben has had a long interest in all things automotive. His first foray into the world of automotive journalism was way back in 2009 and since then he has only grown more interested in the industry. Ben also runs and heads up the video production side of Garage Dreams, focusing on small informative documentaries about some of the world's most legendary cars.

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