Re: POS

[firkins@eis.net.au (John Firkins)]

Al, things could be worse,check this from a happy Alfa164 owner...

  Chuck Noris would like to be Alfa mechanic if he ever wants
  to be one.

  Over the new year, I managed to replace only three long
  radiator hoses on my 92 164S.   There are a dozen short
  sections of hoses everywhere that is _impossible_ to
  replace unless you are rebuilding the engine or remove
  the part that connected with it.  The only thing you can do
  about those short hoses is praying they last as long
  the engine.

  Every time I get to do some maintenance work on 164, I always
  think of Chuck Noris( quote: "always the hard way !" ).
  The design is totally ignorant of maintenance !  What's more,
  the people that assemble the part seems to purposely make it
  even hard for whoever need to take it apart.  For example,
  the radiator clamps, the release sides are always end up in
  the side that impossible for you hand to reach.  The space
  to reach these parts is already at premium, but the people
  just want make even harder for you.
  Another example is the O2 sensor, you cannot remove it without
  remove part of exhaust pipes.  On all other cars I owned, it is
  as easy as use the special wrench to unscrew it.  Another
  example is if you want to remove rear half of front wheel well
  plastic cover, you must disassemble the entire brake lines !
  There is just too many of these kind of examples.
  The philosophy behind all these is simple: No Pain, No Gain.

  To fix the Alfa, you must have hands that as small as a
  new born baby with the strength of Samson.  The engineers
  that design this should be hanged.   Please don't get me wrong,
  I am not kidding here, I really mean it.

  Karl 92 164S