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.
Table of Contents
Does the 156 have a Timing Belt or Chain?
As you can see from the table below, all the Alfa Romeo 156 models came with a timing belt and not a chain.
| Engine | Year Range | Timing Belt or Chain |
| 2.0 JTS | 2002-2006 | Timing belt |
| 2.5 V6 | 1997-2006 | Timing belt |
| 3.2 V6 | 2002-2005 | Timing belt |
| 1.6 TS | 1997-2006 | Timing belt |
| 1.8 TS | 1997-2006 | Timing belt |
| 2.0 TS | 1997-2002 | Timing belt |
| 2.5 Q-System | 2001-2006 | Timing belt |
| 1.9 JTD | 1997-2002 | Timing belt |
| 1.9 M-Jet JTD | 2003-2007 | Timing belt |
| 2.4 JTD | 1997-2007 | Timing belt |
| 2.4 M-Jet | 2003-2007 | Timing belt |
When Does the Timing Belt Need to Be Replaced on an Alfa 156?
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.
| Engine | Year Range | Recommended Change Interval (KM) | Recommended Change Interval (Miles) | Change Interval (Time) |
| 2.0 JTS | 2002-2006 | 58,000km | 36,000mi | 3 years |
| 2.5 V6 | 1997-2006 | 58,000km | 36,000mi | 3 years |
| 3.2 V6 | 2002-2005 | 58,000km | 36,000mi | 3 years |
| 1.6 TS | 1997-2006 | 58,000km | 36,000mi | 3 years |
| 1.8 TS | 1997-2006 | 58,000km | 36,000mi | 3 years |
| 2.0 TS | 1997-2002 | 58,000km | 36,000mi | 3 years |
| 2.5 Q-System | 2001-2006 | 58,000km | 36,000mi | 3 years |
| 1.9 JTD | 1997-2002 | 77,000km | 48,000mi | 4 years recommended, 5 maximum |
| 1.9 M-Jet JTD | 2003-2007 | 77,000km | 48,000mi | 4 years recommended, 5 maximum |
| 2.4 JTD | 1997-2007 | 77,000km | 48,000mi | 4 years recommended, 5 maximum |
| 2.4 M-Jet | 2003-2007 | 77,000km | 48,000mi | 4 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
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.
