General 2.4 20v Abarth 53reg

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General 2.4 20v Abarth 53reg

jordy02

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Thinking of buying a Stilo 2.4 Arbarth Selespeed on a 53 plate. How can I check if it has had the software upgrade for the gearbox? What are the common faults?
 
I didn't realise there was an update for the gearbox?

common faults are
- inner tyre wear
- snapped coil springs
- any warning lights on the dash
- make sure connect nav+ & cd changer is working (can read cd's)

I'm sure there are more things and people will add to it but that's all I can think of. loads of threads about common faults as well.
 
After the trouble I had with my old Alfa 156 selespeed, I gave the gearbox a thorough caning on the test drive before I bought my abarth. Got on the motorway and just my foot to the floor and let it change gear itself all the way to fourth, my old alfa wouldnt always change up when the gearbox was under load, and down shift as well - aparantly makes sure all the gearbox sensors are working.

Check all the electrics too, heater (recirc and normal), air-con, get in a car-park on full lock (test drop links etc).

As dan-the-man said check the connect+ nav system, if you can get into the service menu and also check that the phone works - might be a bartering point.

Just my two-penneth anyway

Dan
 
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Also bear in mind that anything over about 60K miles, the 2.4 engines have a tendency to self destruct without warning, and your car tax will soon be £400 / year.
 
that's why someone should buy mine only done 33k miles and tax runs out march 09 and new tax rules come into effect april which means you can get another year at the old rate ;)

how do you know when it will come into effect???
if it will change it like they did this year, on the 14th of march than you'll pay 430 - a new rate

someone please correct me if i'm wrong
 
Also bear in mind that anything over about 60K miles, the 2.4 engines have a tendency to self destruct without warning, and your car tax will soon be £400 / year.
don't know why some people keep on saying 50-60k that engines blow,mien's on 91th 360miles a week and regularly 120-140mph without any problems....so far(y)
 
Thank you to 'The Crig' and 'Camelot Knight', mine just reached 60001 miles and I was starting to panic about all this talk of engines self destructing! Looking forward to at least a further 30000 miles!(y)
 
Thank you to 'The Crig' and 'Camelot Knight', mine just reached 60001 miles and I was starting to panic about all this talk of engines self destructing! Looking forward to at least a further 30000 miles!(y)

Keep the oil level topped up, change the belts at the right time and let her warm up before thrashing and she should be fine.

When topping the oil up, make sure you do it 5 mins after the engine has run and warmed up. It ensures that the oil is up around the cams before you check the level. Apparently (according to my specialist) that's the way it should be done for ay twin cam engne to make sure there's enough left in the sump (and it matches the Stilo handbook) (y)
 
Good to hear some evidence to counter the anti-Abarth 'gloom and doom' merchants on this forum (who often don't even own an Abarth!).

Totally agree. The Abarth is great value for money and if properly maintained and treated, should last just as long as any other engine in Stilo range. I think there are more failed Abarth engines purely due to the fact that they tend to be driven harder than other Stilos... I guess because they're the "performance" engine in the Stilo range. Thing is, if they're not paid attention to, they can run low of oil quite quickly and then it's game over.

It's been a real shame to see so much negativity about the Abarth on here (I won't name any names but I think we all know the culprits...) no Stilo should take a bashing on a Stilo forum, it's not what it's for... these are people's pride and joys after all.
 
Someday soon id like to trade up to an abarth, but intitally after joining FF was put off by all the bad rep's! Good to see, and sensible mind, that the engine is no less reliable than others if its properly looked after! Even so id only consider a manual abarth anyway!
 
out of the range, you'd expect to see more blown 1.2 lumps
That is because there are many thousand more of them. Also a 1.2 is very easy / cheap to repair , find parts for or replace the engine compared with the very high cost of a repairing a failed Abarth engine.

On the other hand, try finding a JTD that has failed. Very rare indeed.
 
don't know why some people keep on saying 50-60k that engines blow,mien's on 91th 360miles a week and regularly 120-140mph without any problems....so far(y)[/QUOTE

Hi,

Just found this site today and thought I should have a go.
My 02 reg Arbarth has now just turned 131k and the engine
Is still good and the car handles like the day I got it.
 
I've had my 03 selespeed for just over three weeks now and I love it to bits. The only thing is when I started it up yesterday I got various fault message on the dash (ASR, airbag, engine management system and I think ESP). The dealer told me it was dirt in the petrol and I should just run it and they will disappear, I think he's lying! Any helpful ideas would be gratefully received.
 
I've had my 03 selespeed for just over three weeks now and I love it to bits. The only thing is when I started it up yesterday I got various fault message on the dash (ASR, airbag, engine management system and I think ESP). The dealer told me it was dirt in the petrol and I should just run it and they will disappear, I think he's lying! Any helpful ideas would be gratefully received.

I tend to ignore the ASR/ESP ones, they are almost always down to loose connections, brake light swith etc... On the one or two occasions I've had the ASR/ESP failure and its switched its self off, you just stop the engine, restart and its fine.

I think I've read on here in the past that it can be down to low power from the battery.
 
I've had my 03 selespeed for just over three weeks now and I love it to bits. The only thing is when I started it up yesterday I got various fault message on the dash (ASR, airbag, engine management system and I think ESP). The dealer told me it was dirt in the petrol and I should just run it and they will disappear, I think he's lying! Any helpful ideas would be gratefully received.

Most likely a battery on the way out in the cold weather... could also be earth issues.

Try a search and you'll find the answers (y)
 
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