Technical Stilo Warning Messages

[G Spag]

I know the Stilo has been fated with dodgy electrics, but I'm not sure if I should be concerned or not.

Sometimes, if i leave the car over night, I get a warning message when I turn it on saying 'ABS Failure' and i think the other one is like EBS Failure (second one could be totally wrong, never taken too much notice)

Anyway, it doesnt happen every morning but every time it comes on, I re-start the car & no more warning messages/lights. I've always thought, if it's a proper fault it would come up every time, even if I re-start.

Simple question really, do I have a fault or is my Stilo taking the mick?!

 

[fiatdownunder]

IS YOUR BATTERY WELL CHARGED? sometimes a low battery can bring this up.

The 2nd one will be EBD failure, linked into ASR failure and ABS failure.
The Stilo does reset itself if the fault isnt a major one, however if it is one every morning when you start it up i would be inclined to get a diagnostic check on it at a fiat dealer.

typical Stilo really.
Is it under warranty still?

 

[Schwenck]

I know the Stilo has been fated with dodgy electrics, but I'm not sure if I should be concerned or not.

Sometimes, if i leave the car over night, I get a warning message when I turn it on saying 'ABS Failure' and i think the other one is like EBS Failure (second one could be totally wrong, never taken too much notice)

Anyway, it doesnt happen every morning but every time it comes on, I re-start the car & no more warning messages/lights. I've always thought, if it's a proper fault it would come up every time, even if I re-start.

Simple question really, do I have a fault or is my Stilo taking the mick?!

Should have been called the FIAT Hypochondriac...

It's perhaps a sign of something failing but I think a large pinch of salt is required with any Stilo error message. Have you seen the threads about moisture and the D4 connector, could be what you're experiencing.

 

[Deckchair5]

That's just a slightly low battery voltage triggering the ABS warnings. It's usually ABS that triggers first, sensitive creature that it is.
That's why it's ok on the 2nd start. Car just needs a good run to charge it up

 

[G Spag]

Battery seems ok, everything works at full power with the engine running, never had a problem starting, drive 100 miles a day & seems to hold its charge, but only had it 4 months, not sure if it's ever been changed, so could be I guess.

At the moment, it's not every morning, maybe once a week, if that.

It's 3 years old, so I'm guessing no warranty left

Thanks for the replies, thought I'd ask so I dont find out the hard way.

 

[Deckchair5]

Fog, damp or cold weather reduces the battery efficiency, even a good one, and it doesn't have to drop many volts before the ASR sensor warning triggers. If it doesn't happen on the 2nd start or it extinguishes itself during the starting cycle then your Stilo electrics are working properly

 

[alexGS]

I get 'ASR' and 'ESP' failure. I don't think I get 'ABS' failure, just to be different

Since I only drive my Stilo once every few weeks, it always does this after I have started up and backed down the driveway; only when I move forward the warnings appear. I notice, when I stop at my destination and restart some hours later, there are no warnings.

I'm trying to take care of the original battery by topping up its levels and recharging with a battery conditioner once a week. However, I think its days might be numbered, so I bought a new DIN55 sealed battery (with charge indicator, albeit in the wrong place) which was twice the price of a normal battery - and my Uno Turbo is currently enjoying the special treat I've never heard its starter spin so fast or seen its windows whizz so quickly.

Sooner or later though, I shall take the Magneti Marelli battery out of my Stilo and put it in my Uno, which it should still start OK because the Stilo always starts easily. The $150 Exide battery should be sufficient for my Stilo...

-Alex

 

[Deckchair5]

I think G Spaq means ASR failure, it's not on screen for long so it's easy to mistake it.

How much is $150 in real money Alex?

A decent Stilo battery here seems to be around £70-100

 

[alexGS]

I think G Spaq means ASR failure, it's not on screen for long so it's easy to mistake it.

How much is $150 in real money Alex?

A decent Stilo battery here seems to be around £70-100

Well that actually makes me feel better - at my bank's website (www.westpac.co.nz) I found out that NZ$150 is just £52.08. The dollar must be at quite a low against the pound! Would be a good time for you lot to plan a New Zealand holiday and make your pounds go further

On our NZ market, batteries are cheap and cheerful. Most cars are running around with a $50-$70 locally-made job that still has pressed-in vent caps and there's none of this 'calcium' technology... Since nobody bothers to top up car batteries, they don't last very long. Most people seem to be happy to get three years out of a battery.

Our batteries are also weak even when new*. Because we rarely have temperatures below 0 degrees, engines are usually easy to start and most Japanese cars seem to cope with 10 volts or less (in my experience). Every time you go to the snow (central North Island mountains, -6 degrees of course), you see someone with a dead battery.

* some backup of my claim: I bought an old-style hydrometer and was sure it was faulty since all three of my working batteries at the time registered in the red - 'Dead' - part of the scale. I took it back to the shop. The battery specialist just happened to be there dropping off brand-new 'Century' batteries, so he cheerfully agreed to test my hydrometer - and pronounced it fine. On the brand-new fully-charged batteries, it was only just up to the green - 1.260sg - car batteries really should be at 1.280sg... but in NZ it seems they're not.

So against all that, you can probably appreciate why my $150 US-made battery is super-expensive even though, in your terms, it isn't I could begin the usual rant about the battery being half a week's wages, but I'll save it

-Alex

 

[wotnowarninglight]

Sometimes, if i leave the car over night, I get a warning message when I turn it on saying 'ABS Failure' and i think the other one is like EBS Failure (second one could be totally wrong, never taken too much notice)

Anyway, it doesnt happen every morning but every time it comes on, I re-start the car & no more warning messages/lights. I've always thought, if it's a proper fault it would come up every time, even if I re-start.

Mine has taken to doing this the last week or two with the onset of colder weather. Mine when I bought it 2 months ago was a 3 1/2 year old 19.6K lady owner ex. motability car.

Now pushing on for 23K up think that the lack of use / mileage by its first owner may have shortend the battery's life so have been trying to see the battery indicator but the cover is fitted squiffy and Mr Universe tightened the 3 star bolts holding it on. Have sprayed with WD 40 to free them, but not tried to remove it since. What size torx bit do you need for them battery cover bolts? T40 seems too small

Also went on the net to try and price up a battery but Exide, Varta, Bosch & Yuesa (?) list any thing from 027 through 067/068 to 096 types... 096 seems to be the ticket for most of the Fiat Commercial Diesel applications so inspirers most confidence, as I would prefer the heavy duty option every time

 

[Deckchair5]

Alex
We've got to do something with the old half dead batteries so in the spirit of recycling we ship them out to New Zealand. Now you know

WNWL
I think the battery cover bolts just seize from the lack of use. Got to come off though so use some penetrating fluid and once removed you'll be fine. The size torx you need is the one that fits

Yes there's not much battery manufacturer's info on suitable replacement Stilo batteries. I've been having a browse myself but there's not much out there. Etyres willl come to your house and fit it and take away the old one (for shipping to NZ I guess)

 

[G Spag]

Nope I'm 100% certain it says 'ABS Failure'. Not sure what the others mean because haven't checked the book, plus never re-appear second time. Just a bit off putting when I see a warning sign saying I'm gonna have a problem breaking, it's an 'uh oh' moment!

Hasnt happened this week though, I'm thinking more & more it's got to do with a mix of really cold weather & being left overnight

 

[dan-the-man]

I've had 'ABS Failure' about 3 or 4 times now, never bothered me as I don't let the car go through it's checks before starting it.

Cranking the engine up, having the blowers on and the car doing it's "checks" at the same time can be a bit much for the battery

 

[PNL]

If you dont let the car do its checks thats just asking for all the warnings that come up :nono: and what is the point of turning on the blower BEFORE the engine is warm you must like cold air up you trousers legs Dan

 

[dan-the-man]

To tell you the truth i hardly ever turn the blowers off lol

it's like a game "let's see how many warning messages I can get this morning" only had 2 at the same time so far

 

[PNL]

Dan I'm gonna have to take you in hand

 

[LouStilo04]

Hi a newbie, with a similar problem, had my 2004 1.4 stilo since September and he's been an absolute pleasure (used to have a punto, so a big fiat fan), completely out of the blue yesterday it had no power, no dash no lights no nothing. tried it a second time and it struck up but started with the warning sounds and flashing messages (ABS, EBD), telling me to switch off the engine. Scared the life out of me, pulled over, turn engine off, wouldn't start again. Friend jumped me off and i drove cautiously home. Had battery tested and its fine, alternator checked too, thats fine, discovered loose terminal connectors which could be the power issue, so changing those today, but warnings still flashing and beeping at me, could it be a fault, what do i need to be checking (complete girl novice so go steady with the technical speak) or is it just a stilo temper tantrum, and if so how do i clear it?????