So i've had my 1.8 stilo for a while now, and im starting to see the fun and weird quirks of the car.

Telling me to go to the dealership to get a bulb replaced is hilarious.

So the car has a 1.8 engine, 98kw. Weighs around 1200 kilos. And has short enough gears so that i can comfortably cruise at 50kph in 5th gear. At 120kph though, its at 3500rpm. What is this car aspiring to be? City driver? Too heavy. Gt car? Not with that gearing.

Then it hit me, is it possible that fiat uses the same gearbox across the whole engine range? It would make sense on a small engine. It would also explain why the abarth manuals are so rare.
Any input is very much appreciated.

On a different offnote, what could be causing a rough idle? Its small rpm variation, no stalling or nothing, but its not smooth. I cleaned the butterfly valve and maf sensor, but i couldnt find the iac valve. Is it hidden behind the maf?

Apologies for tough to read text, typing from phone

Gearboxes are not all the same, and some have different ratios too.

1.2 and 1.4 16V: 6-speed gearbox code C514.6.13
1.6 16V: 5-speed gearbox code C514.5.15
1.8 16V: 5-speed gearbox code C510.5.18
2.4 20V: 5-speed gearbox code C530.5.31
(Data from eLearn)

The 1.8 actually has the shortest top gear of them all. My 2.4 Abarth seems to pull about 23mph/1000rpm in fifth gear, which is fine because the 20V engine sounds better and better, the faster it turns...

Front bulbs on the Stilo are indeed a bit of a pig, but you don't have to go to the dealer: there's a DIY guide here

Alfettaman said:

My 2.4 Abarth seems to pull about 23mph/1000rpm in fifth gear, which is fine because the 20V engine sounds better and better, the faster it turns...

Click to expand...

True, but I'd love an extra gear on motorways. Maybe there's a different diff available...

Yellow Peril said:

True, but I'd love an extra gear on motorways. Maybe there's a different diff available...

Click to expand...

You're right, of course: the 2.4 could easily pull a sixth gear (which is what I'd really like), although a longer diff on the existing five speed 'box might blunt the (fantastic) take-off of the manual Abarth, because it would effectively space the ratios out wider. Then again, there's so much torque, that maybe it would be fine..?

Well, the gearing choices are beyond me A taller fifth gear wouldn't influence the first gear, so launchability wouldn't be affected. Honestly I'd love all gears to be taller on the 1.8. Oh well.

The bulb thing, the dash lets me know when the licence plate bulb "dies" (though its just a bad connection, comes on and off )