H i all, long time no post as they say

you might or might not remember me from a few years back, i had a stilo abarth
which run on LPG,
well like all things a new baby meant i needed to get something more sensible,
so i picked up a cheap Stilo 1.6 estate, which i've had for a few years now and
has actually been a great runner with no problems at all Untill...........

last week i went out as usual to statrt the rat race to work and the battery was dead
flat,
i took the battery out and charged it up overnight and the next day connected it all back up to find it beeping Car Security Failure Loose Connection - the orange car/padlock symbol stays on and it doesnt fire up although the starter spins fast

i had noticed the fuse box cover wasnt in place and it had been raining heavy
a few days before so i thought it might be a short or wet connections somewhere
so i totally stripped the fuse box and cleaned and dried it before reasembleing it
i also cleaned and dried out the D4 connector

i could hear the fuel pump priming so i took off the pressure fitting at the top left of the engine bay to see if i had fuel and that was fine,
i took out the spark plug and turned the engine over to see if i had a spark and i Didnt,
this might be how the imbobilizer works i supose but i replaced the crank sensor
anyway, and cleaned up all the connections under and arround the starter motor
while i was under there,

this still didnt work to i bit the bullit and took it to Fiat,
they reprogrammed my key which did nothing but cost me £80
and then they charged me £40 to send away to fiat for my alarm code which they
re programmed or something which again did nothing,
they than said it would be a further £200 for them to investigate further so i said
Sod that and quickly took it out of the garage £120 lighter and no further forward,

does anyone have any experience with this problem , or suggest what to check next
as taking back to fiat would be crazy

Many Thanks
Paul

Obvious one first have you checked the battery with a voltmeter, check it and see your reading not running, then check it when it's running to see if it's higher voltage with the alternator, should be above 12v not running, to about 13-14 running.

Sorry just re read your post and see its not starting, but I would still check your battery is holding a full charge.

the battery is holding a charge well,
if it wasnt how would this affect the imobilizer?
remembering the morning the problem started the battery was dead flat as if something had drained it.

when they programmed your key you say they sent away for a code, did they give you the code when you left the fiat dealer, if it is the same code as they call the electronic code, there is a way to bypass immobiliser by using one of the pedals as button in a way to enter code in case of emergency situation to start car in a limp mode if I remember I did read this in my handbook which is one of the reason's I went to fiat to get my code aswell as for programming another remote with the multiscan software..I do not remember the process for entering with pedal but will have a look in handbook later on if someone else has not already given you the procedure.
But then you can see if the car runs and is for sure a immobiliser issue...but you will need the code if you paid for the code and did not get it from fiat if I were you I would give them a call and ask for it, as usefull to have and why pay twice for it.

Hi yes the code is on the printout of the bill

if you dont mind letting me know how to start it that would be fantastic

or at least a step in the right direction

I had a similar problem in the jtd, drove it home from work and parked in the drive. Next morning I went out and it was dead, I gave the battery a charge and tried to start it, the starter was whirring on the solenoid but not engaging the engine, and as you say the padlock thing showing with loose connection or something, anyway it turned out to be the alternator rectifier had gone, that's why I mentioned the battery, but you say your is turning the engine over just not firing, so as you say sounds like something with the immobiliser cutting the ignition system.

ok so you have a code, but please note this procedure I have never had the need to try but is in my Fiat Stilo Handbook which I shall type out below most probably with spelling mistakes ..may or may not work but worth a shot..

Emergency Start Up

if the fiat code system fails to diactivate engine immobilizing systems the warning lights (padlock / gearbox symbol on dispaly) these stay on and engine can not be started.
To start the engine the emergency start up can be performed.
Read whole procedure before starting if make mistake must turn key back to stop and start again.
1..read 5 digit electronic code given to you
2..Turn Ignition to MAR
3..Press and hold down accelerator pedal, the warning symbol light(gearbox shape) turns on for about 8 seconds then goes off
4..release the accelerator pedal and get ready to count the flashes the gearbox symbol on dash makes
5..count number of flashes that corresponds to the first digit of code you have, then press down the acceleratot pedal and keep it there until the gearbox symbol on dash comes on for 4 seconds and then goes off, then release accelerator pedal.
6..the warning light will start flashing again and again after it has flashed the number of times of your second digit of code prees the accelerator pedal to the floor and hold it there.
7.. Do same for remaining digits of code.
8..Once final digit of code has been entered keep accelerator pedal pressed. The gearbox warning symbol on dash will light up for 4 seconds and then go out,,then release the accelerator pedal.
9..Rapid flashing of the gearbox symbol on dash for about 4 seconds confirms the operation has been carried out successfully.
10...Start the engine by turning key from MAR position to AVV to start engine.
If however the gearbox warning light on dash stays on turn ignition key to STOP and repeat the process from step 1.
IMPORTANT.After an emergency start up you should contact a fiat dealer otherwise you will have to repeat the procedure described above each time you want to start the car.
Obviously you have already been to fiat dealer with not much luck but just what is in the book and supprised they did not attempt this at the dealer, as said good luck and hope it leads somewhere for you but I have never needed to try this and for future warning do not reveal or leave code in car..mine is easy enough to remember and also hidden away in a certain well hidden telephone number in my mobile, ..let us know if it helps you..afraid part from this I have no other knowledge on immobiliser issue.

The emergency start procedure only works on early Stilos.

Not sure when it was omitted, but it worked on my 2003 MW when I tested it a few years ago.

that is worth knowing ..mine is 53 plate m/w reg in jan 04..think I will have to take the key blade out of remote some day and give it a try on mine,, else be waste of time thinking it will be help to me in future if I need it when stuck in middle of nowhere.

I tested mine by wrapping the key handle in thick aluminium foil. That will prevent the aerial around the ignition barrel from receiving the code.

Thanks for the tip Davren gave my key a silver foil coating this morning and did the pedal pressing procedure and did fire up and ran fine with just the security padlock showing on the dash, and not as awkward to do as it seems written in the book first go and it worked , so least I know I have some sort of get of trouble should the situation arise, not something would want to do everytime as little time consuming, but least it works on my Jan 04 reg m/w diesel.

Hi Davren,

What a superb tip,
mine is a 2004 estate btw, it started first attempt, i drove it round the block a few times and it seems ok

although it was beeping and flashing up 'engine fault' all the time it was running.

i'm not sure exactly what the fault is it thinks it has.
is it possible to connect a fault code reader while the engine is running?

thanks
Paul

Great that is running at least now Paul..you would need to connect a code reader before starting the process, guess you could try seeing if any codes stored without need of starting engine, I know you can use FES Multiscan registered version while engine is running but not sure if basic reader would give the fault codes anyway, do not think you, be better off with using Multiscan software, I am not close enough to help you out with the Multiscan software that I have as I am up Inverness way but if you do not have it may be someone Glasgow area to help you out

ooops sorry ment you Would be better off using FES multiscan software..warned you about my spelling

took my car round to MarkThompson4's house on sunday to get it
sorted, unfortunately it couldnt connect to the body computer
and he thinks he needs a different lead,

we did however get the fault codes, they were something like
1 aircon sensor low signal
2 imobilizer - key low signal
3 p1300

he's going to borrow a different lead from his friend and we'll try again in the week.

another update,

when i do the pedal start thingy, it constantly beeps engine failure all thwe while its
running, i thought it was because of the way i had to start it but....
after looking on the tinternet about the fault code p1300, i took the revs to 5K
three times and it seems to have fixed the engine failure problem, i dont know
what this does or how it has worked but it has, i now just need to fix this damn
imobilizer