Hi I’m new to the forum and have been having problems with my stilo and hoped you could help.

The problems began over a month ago when the Engine Management Light came on and it bleeped saying ‘engine fault- stop engine’. There seemed to be no problem as the car drove around town with seemingly no problem until I began accelerating down a motorway sliproad when the acceleration just seemed to stop. I later noticed driving along that the revs hit a wall at around 4000rpm and won’t go beyond this.

I called out the RAC who plugged in their diagnostic computer and it came up with three fault codes (I don’t have them) but they were cam sensor, crank sensor and knock sensor. He said the sensors were interlinked and the most common to fail was the cam sensor. This was replaced in the garage (an RAC recommended one, not a fiat dealer) the following day yet the problem was still there at high speed (never noticeable at low revs around town). They then replaced the crank sensor and knock sensor yet the problem persisted. The error code had been deleted and only returns once it has been driven up to the high revs where the problem is. The garage then said it may be the ECU which is faulty. As this is a pricey repair I was keen to get a second opinion from a fiat dealer.

The dealer has had it in for around a week and checked all the connections around the sensors and do not know what the problem is. I believe only the knock sensor fault comes up now although I’m not 100% sure of that. The dealership has also said it could be the ECU but are reluctant to change it out as they are in no way certain, it is just an educated guess.

They say they have looked at spark plugs, oxygen sensors, the exhaust and rechecked the knock sensor and they are all fine and so they are stumped.

I read somewhere on this forum that cars have 2 knock sensors. Is that true? I believe I have only had 1 replaced so could it be my other one?

I would really appreciate it if anyone knows what this fault is as it’s getting more and more frustrating and expensive as time goes buy.

I also get an airbag failure warning flash up intermittently for the last few months. Don’t know if this related or not but thought I’d give you all the info.

The car is an 02 reg Stilo 1.6 Dynamic.

I hope you can help!

Just to clear a few things first:

1. Is the battery ever changed since 2002?
2. Did you just drive through a deep puddle?

Additional question to 1 and 2: Is there a plastic cover over the battery and fuses in the engine bay?


M.

The actual fault codes would have been very useful, clearing them before the fault is fixed is never helpful

It sounds surprising that no one has mentioned the MAP sensor as this will give you the running out of steam feeling

You only have one knock sensor and this isn't "interlinked" with anything else

Like to know what fault codes you're getting now as otherwise it's just guesswork. Well, it's guesswork anyway but the fault codes help

Thanks for your reply guys.

1) I am not aware of the battery being changed since 2002.

2) I don't recall driving through a deep puddle either.

As for the error codes I will speak to the garage tomorrow and ask for them and post them. I'll also mention the MAP sensor and see what they say.

Cheers

I spoke to the mechanic about the MAP sensor and asked about the battery/puddle scenario. He has checked the MAP sensor and it is fine apparently, and there is no water or bad connections anywhere to his knowledge.

The error codes that come up now are:

P1325- knock sensor measuring circuit- comes up fault present

P0325- knock sensor to ground- comes up as intermittent fault

Does anyone know how to solve these??

Looks like a good old Fiat earthing fault me

Knock sensor is a very basic bit of kit that is a small piezo microphone that picks up certain frequency and provides a voltage signal to the ECU. It picks up the frequency of the engine pre detonatiing and the ecu then retards the igniton accordingly. It's a small button like object with a bolt through the middle usually found around the back of the engine block beween the cylinders

Item K50 here
If they've changed the knock sensor and you still have those fault codes then there's something amiss with the wiring from the sensor to the ECU. K50 to M10



D4 connector
The fact that all of these go through the D4 connector is a bit of a warning that a connector short out through water ingestion is a possibility.
What's the history here? Did all these warnings happen at the same time, What event happened immediately prior to these warnings? Flood water bow wave? Even worse, engine pressure wash? ( Taking a shower with an Armani suit on is less expensive)

I don't hold much with the logic of "Oh there's a sensor fault code, let's change the sensor and never mind the expense, customer is paying" kind of logic. If there's a sensor fault warning then check the wiring, check the sensor and only change it if you're sure there's something wrong with it

If the fault is 'present' your dealer can subsitute the ECU with another...I would do this next.

(n.b. knock sensor retaining bolt must be torqued to correct amount)

Greetings from Germany. My car is a 01 reg. Stilo 1.6.dynamic and I have since nearly 1 year the same problem as you: With the same error codes (P 1325, P 0325) which arise also by stronger accelerating at approx. 4.000 rpm the only difference is that my Stilo gets over the wall of 4.000 rpm. Sometimes in the “wall-zone” the car jogs a little like it doesn’t get enough petrol. Also my FIAT-garage replaced the knock sensor, checked the connections and find nothing. Now they suppose that it could be the ECU (approx. € 650) or the cable-tree (approx. € 850), both with the same likelihood. They won’t guarantee that it removes the error. In summary my garage don’t know what to do. I guess it is the same as with your garage. In the moment (since nearly 4 months) I try to get a second opinion from FIAT-Germany. After a few letters and although I concern the chairman it seemed that they are also don’t know and are not interested to think about it. Next I try it by FIAT-Italy. By searching in several German forums I didn’t find any entry with describe exactly the same error which occurs by our Stilos (especially because anyone specify error codes), so I would be glad if you inform me how it goes forwards with your car. So I will do. Good luck.

Well stiloalex25 how did you get on?

After months of having a car that didn't work my Stilo has finally been repaired!

The problem it seems was an error with the ECU. A new one was fitted and now the car seems fine (after driving around for 2 weeks or so with no problems) so KUBIKI I suggest that perhaps, if your symptoms are the same, then you get a new ECU fitted. If this doesn't solve the problem I don't think any reputable garage can charge you for the ECU so it's worth a shot.

I hope that helps and you have your Stilo back on the road soon.

Thanks to everyone who posted.

PS. This has cost me a small fortune to get this mended with most of that on things that weren't directly related to the problem (ie costs other than the ECU) so if anyone else has the same problem, show your garage this thread and save yourself time, money and frustration!! It would also be good if Fiat could somehow make it more obvious when the ECU is knackered (I know nothing about them and don't know if it's possible but it would be nice) or even better produce reliable cars!!