It is incredibly important that you replace the timing belt on your Alfa Romeo GT at or before the recommended service interval. If you don’t, there is a much higher risk of the belt or tensioner failure, which can lead to catastrophic engine damage and an expensive repair bill. In this quick guide we are going to tell you when to replace the timing belt on your 2003 to 2010 Alfa Romeo GT, along with some other timing belt related info as well.
Table of Contents
Does the Alfa Romeo GT have a Timing Belt or Chain?
As you can see from the info below, all models in the 2003 to 2010 Alfa Romeo GT range feature a timing belt:
| Engine | Year Range | Timing Belt or Chain |
| 1.8 TS | 2003-2010 | Timing belt |
| 2.0 JTS | 2003-2010 | Timing belt |
| 3.2 V6 | 2003-2010 | Timing belt |
| 1.9 JTDm | 2003-2010 | Timing belt |
When Does the Timing Belt Need to Be Replaced on an Alfa Romeo GT?
Alfa Romeo originally specified that the belt needed to be replaced every 116,000 km (72,000 miles) or every 6 years for all models. This was later changed to every 58,000 km (36,000 miles) or every 3 years for all petrol models, while diesel engines received a slight reduction to the time interval to 5 years. However, while the diesel interval didn’t officially change much, many owners and experts recommend that you carry out replacements every 77,000 km (48,000 miles) or every 4 years, just to be safe.
The big interval reduction, especially for petrol models, was due to the high number of failures that these Alfa Romeo engines suffered from in the early 2000s. The cause of the failure wasn’t often the belt, but actually the tensioner.
| Engine | Year Range | Recommended Change Interval (KM) | Recommended Change Interval (Miles) | Change Interval (Time) |
| 1.8 TS | 2003-2010 | 58,000km | 36,000mi | 3 years |
| 2.0 JTS | 2003-2010 | 58,000km | 36,000mi | 3 years |
| 3.2 V6 | 2003-2010 | 58,000km | 36,000mi | 3 years |
| 1.9 JTDm | 2003-2010 | 77,000km | 48,000mi | 4 years recommended, 5 maximum |
What Happens if the Timing Belt Breaks on an Alfa GT?
Unfortunately, as all the GT’s engines are interference units, a failure of the belt or tensioner will almost certainly lead to the valves and pistons colliding. This will obviously result in a destroyed engine and a very expensive repair bill.
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. However, if you want to get a good idea of the condition of the belt and tensioner they will need to be physically inspected (and then its probably better to just get them replaced).
What Else Should be Replaced with the Timing Belt?
You should replace the following components during a timing belt service on a 2003 to 2010 Alfa Romeo GT:
- Tensioner
- Idlers
- Aux belt
- Water pump – replacing with a metal pump is quite common on some models like the 3.2-litre V6 car. 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
All petrol models should have the timing belt replaced at or before 58,000 km (36,000 miles) or every 3 years. Diesel models have a slightly extended recommended service interval of 77,000 km (48,000 miles) or every 4/5 years. All engines in the 2003 to 2010 Alfa GT range are interference, so if a 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.
