Hello guys,
Just a quick one, does any one what power/ampage a stilo abarth battery is cos im a bit worried about the dimming head lights when I use the windows or even move the steering wheel.
The problem is I have only a very short journey to work(the engine doesnt evn reach optimum temp) and noticed its getting harder to start in the cold weather and the idle fluxuates when I switch the heating on or any other electrical device.

Has anyone changed the orig batt for a higher capacity/ any difference?

Thanks

Hi I'm an autolec, changing the battery won't help if you're making short journey's like that, the alternater isn't working long enough to put back the charge you're using to crank. A battery with a bigger Ah rating will last longer but will still run down. If you're having trouble starting, you're looking for a battery with a larger CCA rating but the std should be fine.
i can't think of a way round the problem right now if u gotta make short journeys sorry

could always walk to work if you not got a bad leg or somthing

BTW welcome to the forum Luda

Hi

I was getting a similar problem with my Dynamic 1.6 - if you put the hazards on, you coud see things like the interior lights dim in sequence. I was also experiencing things like a volley of startup errors (ABS, ASR, EBD e.t.c.) which would flag up the INSTANT you turned the key. FIAT didn't know what it was; FIAT Technical instructed my dealer to replace the steering angle sensor (they even made me drive 50miles to take the car up to them so that they could take the part number off the car, and ordered the part; when it came to be booked in, they said "oh we didnt do it as the car doesnt have one! - ???)

Anyway, I read the Stilo Service CD, and read that they car talks to the Brake Node the instant the car is starting, under the "Checking" sequence. I then hypothesised that it was mistaking a low voltage of the battery as a brake node failure, hence giving me all brake-related errors (if the car was poor to start, i'd also get "Car Security Failure" before the brakes - the CODE immobiliser computer.).

Took the car back, asked for a new battery under warranty, but wanted a better one. They ordered in a battery from the JTD (which I asked to fit myself so I could give my old battery to a friend who needed one for a 205), and I had to pay the £8 difference.

Since then, touch wood, car seems to be driving better, especially when cold (used to want to stall when we pulled out of our lane), "bad earth" thing has gone, and as have those startup errors. (probably have spoken too soon).

hope that helps.

Yep.................................

there is an old thread about this subject, the Stilo has too many electrical goodies for it's own good and the batteries they are fitted with are to weak. I don't have time to dig the thread up (popping on between a DIY project), but if you look back and find it, it'll tell you the exact battery to buy to fix the problem!

Cheers!

Re: Yep.................................

They batteries are fine its the alternator thats too weak for short trips, even my mini has an alternator as strong as my Stilo, then again my mini also has a higher capacity engine!