Alfa Romeo Spider Type 916 – Timing Belt Service Interval – 1995 to 2006

If you own a 1995 to 2006 Alfa Romeo Spider 916 one of the most important things you need to do is to change the timing belt (cambelt) at or before the recommended service interval. If you don’t, there is a far greater chance that a belt or tensioner failure may occur, which will almost certainly destroy your Alfa’s engine. In this quick guide we are going to tell you when to replace the timing belt on your Type 916 Alfa Romeo Spider, along with some other timing belt related info as well.

Does the Alfa Romeo Spider Type 916 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:

When Does the Timing Belt Need to Be Replaced on an Alfa Romeo Spider Type 916?

Alfa Romeo’s original service interval for the timing belt on a Type 916 was every 116,000 km (72,000 miles) or every 6 years for all models. However, this was eventually changed to every 58,000 km (36,000 miles) or every 3 years due to an excessive amount of belt/tensioner failures.

What Happens if the Timing Belt Breaks on an Alfa Spider 916?

The engines in the Spider 916 range are all interference power units, so if a belt or tensioner failure does occur, it usually leads to catastrophic damage 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 on your Alfa Romeo Spider. 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 it’s 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 1995 to 2006 Alfa Romeo Spider:

• 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 models should receive a timing belt service at around 58,000 km (36,000 miles) or every 3 years. A failure of the belt or tensioner will almost certainly lead to severe engine damage as all motors are interference. Lastly, the belt should be replaced along with the tensioner, idlers, Aux belt, and water pump.