Hi All!

I jumped out of the frying-pan and into the fire selling my Bravo and buying a Stilo!

I've had the car about 1 month so far and a few times when turning the key to start (after waiting a few seconds to check the various lights), all power is cut and the car is completely dead. Locks don't work, the instrument panel and clock are dark. Like the battery is disconnected. But when it comes back to life, the clock and date and menu settings are preserved (unlike when the battery is disconnected).

The first few times this happened, I jiggled one of the leads that go from the + pole of the battery that sort of tucks in between the battery and the relay/fuse board, and that seemed to bring things back to life. Sometimes it would take a few goes to get it to "stick". This car has been sort of bodged, so this cable looks iffy and I suspected some internal corrosion or something.

Yesterday it happened a few times and because it was raining, I just sat in the car fuming for a few minutes. And after a short while, the clock panel lit again. Making me think maybe the jiggling I had been doing previously was just me confusing myself.

It happened 3 times in a row this morning and I had to take my wife's car to work as it won't start. Very wet now.

Any suggestions?

Welcome to the wonderful world of the car named Stilo. I call mine FRED. (Fu#4% Ridiculously Electronic Device) Your Stilo will sometimes ask you in the morning if you sure that you want to start it, by throwing various electrical fits. Don't worry, just her way of saying "I really don't like driving today" Other days she will throw wobblies at you, like my back brake light is not working, then, if you foolishly get out to check, and close the door, lock the door with you outside and all the important bits inside. Listen carefully, that laughter in the background is not your neighbor. Or "check the boot is open", or, and do not believe this for 1 minute, "service due now" she is just testing you. So, relax and take it as it come, do not, I REPEAT, do not swear or shout at her at all. I am sure there's some hidden microphones in the car, directly linked to THE COMPUTER, and boy will you suffer!!! O, by the way, they also like a very strong battery. So check it, strong battery happy car. (Sort off)

Haha! Yes, I am well acquainted with the vagaries of 1st generation "real car" electronics! I've been very careful to not do something foolish like leave the key in the car for any reason unattended...

I am truely a glutton for punishment. I bought this car sight-unseen at auction, never having been in a Stilo. So I was quite surprised when I discovered all the bells and whistles... "Uh oh... This doesn't bode well..." I thought to myself. Particularly when compared to my '96 Cinquecento which has a grand total of 7 parts.

Thanks for the tip about the battery. In my fiddling I noticed that the clamp for the + pole is loose such that I can by hand wiggle it off. It's only because it's still raining that I haven't tightened it up. The rain is extra exasperating when the bonnet release is wonky so I have to go back and forth from the cabin to pulling on the bonnet about 8 times before I can get it open. I could just ask my wife to help by pulling the release whilst I wiggle the bonnet, but that would be admitting defeat and putting myself in the position of receiving unwanted ridicule!

Update: I just ventured out in the rain and darkness. Opening the door did not switch on the interior light, so I couldn't see if the clock panel was "hot" or not, but I slipped in the key and turned to first position which gave an airbag light! Turning the key further gave a click and everything cut out. Theory: I had one when I started this update... but... Hmm.

Update #2 : It was the negative pole not the +. Dunno why I mixed that up. Anyway, that makes a lot more sense. I figured since it was + that it didn't really matter that much about poor contact because it would in that case "only" be the battery that was isolated. But it was the ground that was poor. This could lead to all sorts of weirdnesses with the car trying to ground via the compter or who knows what. Seems to be working well now. Just to be on the safe-side karma-wise, I used the 10mm wrench that came with my first 124 Spider to tighten it ;-)

Glutton for punishment with only a Stilo?

No Sir you have no idea, in my garage I have a 1974 Fiat X1-9, a Lancia Beta Coupe VX (of all things the auto version ), 1969 VW Bug and to top it all a 2008 407. I like banging my head on the same place and expecting to get a different result.

To keep sanity I just got a 2013 Audi A4, the TDi version. Hope the Germans will get it right!!

I think we may have the same psychosis, however I have been fool (wise?) enough to get rid of the 2 Lancia Beta Spiders and 2 124 Spiders I've had! Wasn't crazy enough to have an automatic, however, my hat is off to you! A 3.0 75 was sideways often in my possession as well. But recent punishment has been '99 Multipla, '98 Bravo, '96 Cinquecento.

And perhaps the oddest of all: As a "practical" car I've got a '06 Scenic.

The pride of my collection is a '76 Alfetta Sedan. Just need to sort tags...

I got the Stilo to have a "practical modern car" to commute to work with!

Santaniello said:

The rain is extra exasperating when the bonnet release is wonky so I have to go back and forth from the cabin to pulling on the bonnet about 8 times before I can get it open.

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You need to sort the bonnet release, before it breaks or refuses to open at all. Could need catch adjustment, cable adjustment, or new cable.

Santaniello said:

Just to be on the safe-side karma-wise, I used the 10mm wrench that came with my first 124 Spider to tighten it ;-)

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Wonderful! Although, is there a 124 Spider owner out there missing a spanner?

gerhardj said:

To keep sanity I just got a 2013 Audi A4, the TDi version. Hope the Germans will get it right!!

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Of course not. It will just work for a lot longer before giving trouble, but when it does, will be just as difficult to diagnose, and a lot more expensive to fix. So sell it before it is 10 years old.

portland_bill said:

You need to sort the bonnet release, before it breaks or refuses to open at all.

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The lever is already broken, so I have to pull on the cable-end. A liberal spraying of lubricant on the catch mechanism seems to have done the trick. But I still need to replace the lever.

portland_bill said:

Wonderful! Although, is there a 124 Spider owner out there missing a spanner?

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This particular '76 124 I'm inclined to think is no more :-( It was in very poor shape and quite rusty in '96 when I sold it...

portland_bill said:

So sell it before it is 10 years old.

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He's always got the Beetle to fall back on!