Alfa Pages

[Horizontally Opposed]

Hey everyone!

I finally got around to fix the ventilation system on my series 3 a couple of weeks ago and thought I'd share the experience with you.

The problem was that no air was coming out from any of the vents no matter what speed the fan was set to.

I decided to start from under the hood as Bill had suggested and check the top of the heating system where the air enters from outside.

I found out that no matter where the first knob was set to, the port was always closed and so I thought the wire had snapped. As I had expected, the nightmare began....

I thought I should remove the entire front part of the dashboard in order to clean things back there and have better access to the various vent system cables.

After a lot of sweating and swearing I finally took the damn thing off BUT not before I had:

-disassembled most of the other parts of the dashboard from both the left and the right side.
-removed the gear knob, the leather (or whatever it is) lever cover and the rubber cover underneath
-removed the plastic housing around the handbreak
-loosened the handbreak wires in order for it to be lifted up high enough to get the front panel out.
-made a complete mess of the floor mats and front seats with dust and broken little pieces of plastic.

When all this was done, I fixed a few broken things here and there and then turned my attention to the ventilation control unit.
Turns out that the wire hadn't snapped (thank God), but the little plastic hold for the leftmost knob cable was broken. The result was that the entire cable moved along with the wire and the port of the ventilation system didn't open.

This was easily fixed by adding a metal piece around the plastic hold and screwing it in place. While the ventilation control unit was out, I also changed the little lightbulbs that were long gone and checked all the other cables and wires.

After I blew some air inside all the the ducts and cleaned a few things here and there I tested the system and to my relief everything worked ok!
The only problem is that the plastic thingy that opens and closes the air port on the ventilation unit is bent probably from the heat and gets easily stuck if you move the knob all the way to the left. Perhaps I can rectify this later.

Anyway... While I was checking the inside of the dashboard I found a small black box under the driver's side air duct (see second photo underneath) that looks like part of the alarm unit. It has various wires connected to it and there doesn't seem to be anyway of removing it without taking off the entire dashboard....

Does anyone have any idea exactly what it does??
The remote for the alarm or the alarm led haven't worked since I first got the car (we got it second hand) but the rest of the unit seems ok (it's the original alfa romeo alarm and when you turn it on the car lights flash once etc.). I thought maybe this mysterious little box may be the solution....

So once again, it is confirmed that it is a bitch to fix the ventilation system, even if you don't have to remove the unit itself from under the hood....
If you want to try it, be prepared for a long day since there will definately be other things in there to be fixed as well.

I also removed the instrument panel to fix the odometer and a few other things here and there.
Since I fixed a few screw holds and some noisy plastic pieces here and there, the dashboard is now in a much better condition that before.

My poor 33, it seems, has been through a lot in it's life and it was rather neglected for some years by the previous owner, so some things cannot be fixed as well as I would like.

I hope I'll be able to buy one in a better condition soon!

So, here are the photos:

[Ben_nz]

Looks like you had fun!
Seems that the series 3 ventilation system has its own set of problems.

When I took my dashboard apart I also found a few pieces were broken, probably done by whoever installed the alarm or the radio. The shelf under the glovebox was held on with duct tape when I got the car!

[gritsop]

Hi,

Glad you finally sorted out some of your troubles!

Why do you say that your car was neglated by the previous owner?

Actually what is true is the fact that whoever has an Alfa, two can happen:
Either the car is a lemon or it is in show condition! You can't find one in the middle...

Anyway, keep up the good work, you 'll be payed back from it sooner or later.

Regards,
_________________
Thanassis Gritsopoulos
1991 Alfa 33 1.4 IE
2001 Alfa 147 1.6 Distinctive

http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk
Parts Shop: www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/shop

[Horizontally Opposed]

I hate to see neglected Alfas!

Well I didn't find anything duct taped, thank God, but many of the dashboard parts were badly assembled and seriously damaged by the sun.

There were many screws missing and some of the dashboard parts that hold the glovebox and the shelf underneath were broken to little pieces and were only held together by the trim.

Also, you wouldn't believe what I found under the dashboard!
Old coins (Greek ones-before the euro) , papers, pens, a lipstick and other unrecognisable things....

When the job was done and everything was back in place though it felt really good

I love the 33!