If you have a ( general ) problem or if you like to get a partnumber than please check first the more than 1200 pages thick SZ workshopmanual, the RZ supplement, the SZ partsbook, the body repair video, or the service manuals please.
81.) Broken clock.
82.) Broken mirror glass.
83.) Fan/heater box removal, without taking out the dash.
84.) Leaking heater tap alternative.
81.) Broken clock.
On some SZ/RZ's the clock is broken. The plastic parts that have been used can give problems due to wear and tear over the years. Original clocks are almost impossible to find, so a creative solution has to be found by using similar timepieces.
The original mechanism is similar to that of the Veglia Borletti Quarzo.
If you can still find that one than you simply can convert the interior into the original clock.
But there are more Italian cars that have used similar clocks, such as the Fiat 132 or the Ferrari 328.
The mechanism is almost the same, the differences are in the way the plastic mounting brackets of the mechanism are attached,
plus the front face plate and the position of the adjustment pin are different.
This clock its bracket has a triangular side extension for the adjustment pin which had to be sawed off to fit in the SZ's cylindrical housing and the original SZ clocks adjustment pin fitted instead (there is unused slot space to fit the SZ pin where it needs to go, at the 6 on the dial ).
The SZ clock bezel/face, hands & center pin holding the clock hands were reused, and fits perfectly to same screw holes. So essentially an entire mechanism swap to fit the original cylindrical housing and its existing external connetors/wiring and looks 100% tutti originale.
82.) Broken mirror glass.
Sometimes it happens that the mirror glass of one of the mirrors breaks.
For a number of years I have walked past all kinds of cars with a paper pattern of an SZ / RZ mirror glass and discovered a while ago that these mirror glasses were also used in the mirrors of the Alfa Romeo 33 and 75 built after 1990. Perhaps also used in certain types 164, but I am not sure.
These parts were never available separately from Alfa Romeo. But fortunately there are dealers in after sales parts who also sell car mirror glasses.
Fortunately the glasses for the left and right mirror are identical.
The glasses in our cars are slightly tinted and the replicas are usually not, but the difference is not noticeable.
There are various dealers in car parts or specifically car mirror glasses on the internet.
The glass is glued to a plastic base with double-sided adhesive tape. You can carefully pull it out - if the mirror needs to be opened - usually the mirror and the plastic base come out at the same time. The housing of the motor for the mirror adjustment is clicked into that plastic base and the motor housing itself is then attached to the inside of the mirror. Sometimes it happens that the motor has worked itself loose over the years, so check that right away too.
83.) Fan/heater box removal, without taking out the dash.
In brief:
Remove seats.
Remove centre counsel/radio, remove water, oil pressure, fuel, temp facia plate.
Disconnect electrical cables, heater and cooling hoses.
Remove 2 screws hold heater box in place and fan box then needs to be pulled forward.
The heater box will then drop and can be rotated and removed with dash still in place.
84.) Leaking heater tap alternative.
The original rubbish quality plastic tap is not available for several years anymore.
The same tap as in the SZ / RZ also has been used in the Alfa 75 ( Milano ) 4, 6 cylinder and Turbo Diesels.
Another possible alternative wich we did not investigate could be the tap used in the Alfetta GT with the partnumber: 116.55.57.35.100, but also not available anymore via Alfa Romeo. Maybe there is a slight difference in the bracket, but probably not a problem to install in the SZ / RZ.
Another problem is that the red knob ( heating ) can not be openened / closed completely. The cable from the heating ( red knob ) is running to the tap,
opening or closing the hot water circuit at the right side foothwell.
The outer cable is clamped, and that clamp can loosen. So inner and outer cable move together and the inner can not close or open the tap fully.
Best to check and tighten the clamp.
Please let me know if you got the problem solved in this way.
If you have any TechTips that can be used for Alfa Romeo SZ or RZ, I am interested to know about that.
Please email me if you have a special Tip or solution for a problem,..thanks,...Ed.
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