MajorCommonEngine

Alfa Romeo Giulietta: 1.4 MultiAir (940A4) Variable Valve Timing Actuator Failure

1.4 MultiAir (940A4) Variable Valve Timing Actuator Failure is a common engine fault on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta on the 2010–2020 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $600 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 13 documented faults on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

Vehicle: Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Engine: 1.4L
Years: 2010–2020
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Alfa Romeo Giulietta as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Alfa Romeo Giulietta faults13 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The MultiAir electrohydraulic valve actuation solenoid and oil control valve on the 940A4 1.4T engine fail when oil service intervals are stretched or degraded oil circulates through the system. Failure causes the engine management system to log MultiAir fault codes resulting in rough idle, hesitation under load, and an illuminated check engine light. Alfa Romeo issued a technical service bulletin addressing solenoid cleaning and replacement procedures. Contaminated or low-viscosity oil accelerates failure of the hydraulic actuator internals.

What you would notice

Check engine light with MultiAir system fault codes (P0016/P0017 range)
Rough idle particularly on cold start
Hesitation and stuttering under acceleration
Loss of power in variable valve lift mode

How to check it

Where to look. Top of engine, valve cover area, camshaft phaser and solenoid assembly

Cold-start the engine and observe idle quality for the first 60 seconds. Ask for full service history showing oil changes at or before 10,000km intervals with fully synthetic oil. If a workshop inspection is possible: Connect an OBD-II scanner and check for MultiAir solenoid or valve timing fault codes.

What it costs to put right

$600 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the MultiAir system ever been serviced or had solenoids cleaned or replaced?”
“What oil specification and brand has been used throughout the car's life?”
“Has the check engine light appeared with any timing or MultiAir codes?”

Now check the Alfa Romeo Giulietta you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta buyer questions

Is 1.4 multiair (940a4) variable valve timing actuator failure serious on a Alfa Romeo Giulietta?

We rate it major and common on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The MultiAir electrohydraulic valve actuation solenoid and oil control valve on the 940A4 1.4T engine fail when oil service intervals are stretched or degraded oil circulates through the system. Failure causes the engine management system to log MultiAir fault codes resulting in rough idle, hesitation under load, and an illuminated check engine light. Alfa Romeo issued a technical service bulletin addressing solenoid cleaning and replacement procedures. Contaminated or low-viscosity oil accelerates failure of the hydraulic actuator internals.

How much does it cost to fix on a Alfa Romeo Giulietta?

$600 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Alfa Romeo Giulietta years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2010–2020 Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.