Yeah.... as you know, the oil pressure and temperature gauges only show low to high, no numeric graduations. Out of interest, how do you get the gauges to appear? Do they pop up by themselves when there's a problem, or can you make them appear whenever you want to?
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Davren said:

Yeah.... as you know, the oil pressure and temperature gauges only show low to high, no numeric graduations. Out of interest, how do you get the gauges to appear? Do they pop up by themselves when there's a problem, or can you make them appear whenever you want to?
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That's interesting....

I don't recall there being any L and H markings on the gauges but then maybe I was just distracted by the shininess of it all.

It's interesting because your pressure gauge there seems to only show 1 bar if you like, where mine was always showing full / H.

My temp gauge on the other hand was just always showing L, so I'm wondering if I even have an oil temp sender or if it's working. Need to check MES to see if it's a parameter I can look at on there. It would stand to reason though that a turbo diesel should get it's oil hotter running through a turbo.

I could get the gauges to display, yes. The only way I could do it was to go and turn the audio off in the menu (or have radio off) then it would drop back to the gauges. Otherwise I just get the CD track number being displayed unless i use one of the trip meters.

Artermis said:

It's interesting because your pressure gauge there seems to only show 1 bar if you like, where mine was always showing full / H.

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The picture is not my cluster, it's just a picture I found to show the gauges. Don't think this one is showing any oil pressure, the engine is off (0 rpm).

The oil temperature sender screws into the Abarth sump, if fitted.
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Davren said:

The picture is not my cluster, it's just a picture I found to show the gauges. Don't think this one is showing any oil pressure, the engine is off (0 rpm).

The oil temperature sender screws into the Abarth sump, if fitted.
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That explains why I dont show oil temp then - I recall from last oil change it's just a straight forward sump plug. Cheers.

Still trying to work on the mileage correct - seems this is not such a straight forward as I would have hoped.

Artermis said:

That explains why I dont show oil temp then - I recall from last oil change it's just a straight forward sump plug. Cheers.

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It's not combined with the sump plug, but a separate sensor. Item 12 I think.
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I'll just leave this here.

Work in progress?
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Davren said:

Work in progress?
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Very much so, yes. Still in early stages of building physical structure.

Started out life as a CN+, obviously. Bought from breakers untested and sold as seen for just a couple of quid, literally. As it turns out audio etc runs just fine but the screen was deceased. Half the LCD didn't work and the backlight was gone. Was going to sort backlight until realised screen was dead, so figured I'd build something instead.

Still getting the fitment on the screen worked out. Then the facia itself will need finishing (i.e. filler, sand, paint).

Need to work out the power for the screen and audio feeds. Will need some better hardware long term to get the android GPS running and would welcome Bluetooth for added connectivity. Just used what I had to had first off as experimental build.

Another new toy to play with. BOSE spare tyre subwoofer as found in a number of vehicles including Mazda 3.

Another fun weekend for my Abarth.

Met a great lad from Lincoln yesterday who has called time on his Stilo. Mechanical troubles and mounting small niggling faults vs the low value of these cars meant he'd didnt feel it worth his while addressing all the issues. Sorry to see a Stilo go but it's my ultimate gain. I can't blame the lad too much, he's bought an Alfa 147 and I love those things.

I bought a great looking condition full set of black leather seats from him with door cards for a very reasonable price. Very pleased.

Also agreed a good price on some other little bits. Managed to get some replacements for a lot of my switch gear. The Abarth switch gear is all covered in this horrible soft touch coating - which breaks down over time and looks hideous. His car's switches didn't have this soft touch stuff, so I'll replace them all to look much tidier.

He had a steering wheel with controls which was of no use to me but I advised him to keep hold of to sell with clock spring, so if anyone is looking for a wheel I can point you in his direction!

I'm off to fit some leathers - pics to follow

Artermis said:

The Abarth switch gear is all covered in this horrible soft touch coating - which breaks down over time and looks hideous. His car's switches didn't have this soft touch stuff, so I'll replace them all to look much tidier.

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I had that sticky rubberised coating on all of my switches, and the lower glove box and fuse box lids. Tried numerous different chemicals to clean them, but nothing worked. Then discovered Biostrip Artex stripper. Dismantled the parts and brushed it on; left it about 20 minutes then scrapped a washed it off.
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Good stuff, i don't think my stilo has this stuff on the buttons and trim, my old 1.2 did have it and its nasty stuff!left my window open one night and it it rained... they all everything that had that crap on went white and tacky .

Davren said:

I had that sticky rubberised coating on all of my switches, and the lower glove box and fuse box lids. Tried numerous different chemicals to clean them, but nothing worked. Then discovered Biostrip Artex stripper. Dismantled the parts and brushed it on; left it about 20 minutes then scrapped a washed it off.
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Awesome top tip mate, cheers. The ASR etc buttons on centre console are looking ropey still the rest is OK or have been replaced now. I might have to give this stuff a try!

Swap is done with only minor drama. Ran out of time to photo before I got ill, heat stroke style dehydration I think - major headache and vomitting. Whoops. Calmed down again now.

Just need to swap the lid on the centre arm rest and give it a leather feed to be totally finished.

Also fitted some new front speakers whilst I was doing. Helps balance the sub in the boot.

Artermis said:

Another fun weekend for my Abarth.

He had a steering wheel with controls which was of no use to me but I advised him to keep hold of to sell with clock spring, so if anyone is looking for a wheel I can point you in his direction!

I'm off to fit some leathers - pics to follow

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Hi there!

Could you get in touch with him for me? Still looking for a Steering wheel with controls on it. Maybe this time I can get it.


Tx!

Finally got round to taking a couple of pictures of the leather install. Still needs a proper clean and feed but it's either been chucking it down or baking sunshine - can't clean them effectively when they're too hot they dry too quick and it just makes it worse!"

This weekends minor modification was a little more subtle though, see the third pic....

For a while now the rear number plate had been bothering me because at it's very extremes it was a little loose, so when closing the boot particularly would make a nasty rattling plastic on metal horrible noise. Made the car sound cheap and nasty when closing the boot. OCD I know....

So whilst in tesco on sunday I saw some little sticky fuzzy felt discs, like you're supposed to stick on the feet of wooden furniture to stop them damaging your hard floors at home.

I've stuck one of them under each corner and now, no more cheap rattle noise when you shut the boot. Hurrah!

Been a few weeks since I updated in here.

I'd mentioned elsewhere that it was my intention to get cruise control sorted this month.

I already knew I had the plug on the harness in the steering cowl, so was just a case of adding a cruise control stalk.

Acquired a stalk off an Alfa GT (147) and fitted that. Annoyingly it didn't come with the screws to fit, so it's just clipped in place at the minute. It's sturdy enough mind but still, would like the correct screws it secure it if I can find.

Still it's done!

Next project is the rocker cover - it's proving rather harder to get hold of a coupe rocker cover than I would have hoped!

Good stuff mate.

I aint posted much latley since getting my car back on the road...

I think i've fallen out of love with it - it just doesnt feel the same anymore, I look at it out of the window and feel sorry for it, in my head it's now tarnished since the incident.

All being well, the love will come back but right now im fed up.
I loved the car to bits and wanted it to be perfect but obviously in my head - its not perfect anymore, i mean - there is nothing wrong with the work i have done but... im still driving it like a grandad until end of next week when i have had the C.V boot done (may also need to replace the joint) and will be having the gearbox oil drained and changed... she feels good to drive but... i hear little noises more than i did before now and I can only think that other things are going to need replacing in the future so to me - she is not perfect anymore.

I would love another but they are super rare, I have seen another Multijet sporting for just under a grand but it's the 5 speed so its not the 150hp model.

Not sure what I fancy next, I always loved the Volvo S40 and the newer hatchback thingy they do but its money! £2,500 for a decent S40 in metallic blue like my stilo and the most powerful version is only 136bhp and thats the 2.0D - dont fancy that power...

Oh well - keep up the good work on your stilo, i hope i can find another clean example like mine was.

Nice, I keep checking back to see how things are going. Keep up the good work!

kevgibs said:

Nice, I keep checking back to see how things are going. Keep up the good work!

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Cheers matey. Good to see you stopping by; hope things are going well for you?

Progress might not be so great in the coming months. Had the cat at the vets this weekend and the early diagnosis is that he has a rather rare immune condition causing his feet pads to swell. He is on £40 a week antibiotics so far and may need more expensive and potentially ongoing treatment.

Expensive puddle of fuzz!

Was hoping to get the rocker cover and thermostat done soon too. I know the stat doesn't isn't healthy enough to function another winter.

Artermis said:

Cheers matey. Good to see you stopping by; hope things are going well for you?

Progress might not be so great in the coming months. Had the cat at the vets this weekend and the early diagnosis is that he has a rather rare immune condition causing his feet pads to swell. He is on £40 a week antibiotics so far and may need more expensive and potentially ongoing treatment.

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Sorry to hear that man, hope it works out him. It's not easy to sit on your hands when you want to get stuff done but I'm sure seeing him better would take the edge off it!

I'm good ta. Since I got rid of the Schumacher I've been wanting something to keep me busy. The Golf I got needs zero doing to it so I've been eyeing up the W reg Corsa sitting in my yard. My sister gave it to me when I passed my test, I drove it for a year and it's been sat there since. Zero history for it and the MOT ran out 6 months ago, obviously being a complete novice with nothing but an interest in seeing if I can do it I've got all I need to give it a service so I'll have a bash at that soon, get it back on the road. Needs new brake pads too but I'll see how I get on with this stuff first.