124 - Record Monza exhaust issues

[Geoffxb]

As I'm new to the 124 and my car will most probably sit in the garage in the winter would the advice be to to remove the spring to avoid any future problems ??

[StevieJ]

I'd wire it open as well just to be sure, if it does seize over winter at least it will be in the open position.

[Geoffxb]

good idea thanks

[edzed]

After 18 months ownership I thought it was about time I checked out whether my exhaust valve was seized and sure enough it was. There was no way it was going to be freed, so yesterday the dealer changed it under warranty. This has, however, thrown up another question. The car will not rev above 3000rpm when stationary, but is fine in normal driving conditions. It was like this before the exhaust was changed but I don't recall if it was like this when I first got the car. It's an automatic. Can anyone throw any light on this?

[rsk289]

I don't see how that can be anything to do with the exhaust valve - it's just a flap that blows open against a tension coil spring.  Can't speak for autos I'm afraid, maybe someone can help.

[buckwits]

My 595 comp had a soft limiter, 3000, when stationary, but my 124 does not! Who knows? Crazy Italians!

[rsk289]

Just to report on this, had my second service done today (car is two years old - down on the sheet as '18,000 mile service' - it's done 8,000! Guess it goes by the age) - ouch, £380...

I clean forgot I had removed the exhaust spring.  No mention, no comments, exhaust system is apparently fine.  So it stays that way!  I have noticed no difference whatsoever in performance without the exhaust flap spring, it just pops more.  So that's a win, then.

[Geoffxb]

That's seems a lot for a second service

[James King]

That's seems a lot for a second service

The prices for my Corsa before were approx. £200 for the first and third services, with the second service being around £400. I had a service plan so I just paid £20 a month to be covered regardless, but the cash amounts were roughly as stated. The 2nd service is normally classed as the "Major" service by manufacturers, although personally I would say it makes more sense to have the 3rd one as the major service, and include the initial MOT in it too.

[Geoffxb]

I had a VX220 Turbo for years the services were always round about £170  but the belt and pump always needed replacing every 4 years and that was the big service £400 but that was a very basic car,i take my spider to a local garage ive used and trusted for years  I had the first service done there in September and had new springs fitted  and that was £250 but of course I supplied the springs ive looked for fixed price servicing for the spider and the second year is £254 but I will stick to my local garage that I have used for years.

[rsk289]

I service every other car I own myself - I have a pit and all the kit bar the electronic stuff, and have indeed done a couple of extra oil changes and small jobs myself over the last two years.  The only reason I had both first and second services done by an Abarth dealer is purely for the stamp in the book, which is annoying but unavoidable really.  Especially as the second service is noted in the book as a '18,000 mile' service - the car has only done 8,000.  The second service has included the usual things you'd expect biannually:  coolant, brake fluid etc. all of which is pretty straightforward and I'd happily do it, but for the aforementioned stamp in the book.  I didn't even get a free wash as I stipulated I didn't want it washed, due to reported dealer inexperience of dealing with matte vinyl wraps.  I'm very careful about what detergent is used on this car.

[Geoffxb]

I know im going to take my car to the dealers for the main services and to my local dealer for the smaller ones