Well guys, at last an update. Fiat have fixed the car - complete new gearbox and transaxle etc. It has taken four weeks to get this far and I have learnt a couple of lessons on the way. Calling the AA under the Fiat AA assurance was a pleasure - the service was prompt and follow-up superb. When they could not arrange a tow truck of their own the passed the job to a contractor - Kavanagh - who also provided a top service. Unfortunately the Fiat experience was a bit different. I was greeted at reception by Mr Attitude who knew it all - the only thing he really knew was that the car would take about two weeks to fix - if Fiat approved it!! What about a courtsey car ?? Absolutely not - dealers don't provide cars ???? My handbook says if the car is off the road for more than 24 hours............ Mr Attitude replied that what Fiat says and what they as a Franchisee have to do are two different matters!!! I then phone Fiat Customer Care - whatever you do guys, just don't waste your time. The person I dealt with could not spell my name, nor the dealers name. When she got it right she informed there was no such dealer!!! After what took aeons, she eventually logged the call and told me it would take 7 to 10 days for a response - but I need a car NOW ! Sorry , this goes to Fiat and they will take...... Well I have the car, no reponse from Fiat Customer Services and little or no faith in the car I'm driving. I think it best the dealer remain anonymous

What dealer was it ?, cos' i noticed your in london, hope it wasn't where i work. PM me if you want.

Only reason, is because i replaced a gearbox this week on a 1.6 because the diff had exploded.

How many diffs do you think exploded this week then???

The car was there for some weeks before the parts arrived etc, but it has been the only diff explosion i've seen for years.

Maybe you don't get out enough!

fiattech, what dealer do you work at?

Currie motors- kingston.

Why ?

Iive in the area thats all

Well ladies and gentlemen i have joined the club of the destructive diff. WHen arriving to work and moving around the parking lot area i hear a bam clank and saw a wonderful line of transmission oil behind me. Stopped and saw the amazing evidence of the diff i got under the car. lord behold there was a nice hole in the transmission box. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRr

Looks like we better start a poll for blown diffs now

Argonought said:

Looks like we better start a poll for blown diffs now

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Dont even go there I cant bare to even think about it :bang:

Is this a standard 1.6 engine Stilatos or has the engine been extensively modified and been given a Greek kiss?

This is a valid point regarding the power that's put through the gearbox when you guys are upping the power on your engines you can only go so far before you have to change to a box that can take that extra oomph for example on the 1.8 unit a common replacement is the Punto GT box as this unit can take the extra from the modified engine

Mines not modded and it still spat out the diff- and the new ones beginning to worry me

no guys unfortunently i wasnt really willin to modify the engine that much would have cost me about 5,000 euros at least to do the mod properly. the car is completely stock other than the kn filter,brembo brakes, eibach bilsten suspension, and shumacher look cosmetics. I think this the final straw i got word from the dealership the warrantee wont cover it. i think thats it im gonna prob sell it im sick of this **** no offense i love the damn car but it seems i have one of the first out of the production line cause literally all the possible faults of the stilo have all occured to me. the first two years i was in the garage almost every other month. I know i might get tomatoes thrown for saying this but im seriously considering a golf gti or an opel opc. Its a shame i love italian cars have a sort of personality and a class. i was thinking of maybe an alfa brera or 149 since they really picked up lately have some beautiful models out but the fact that i might have to deal with the same F(#&$(*&#$ mechanics tottally turns me off.

Im with you on that one stilatos. I wouldnt mind an alfa but know someone who has and is going through the same thing-petty faults and things and then major problems.

I too am considering swapping it. Looking at either Civics, Mondeo or focus

Big Black Stilo said:

I too am considering swapping it. Looking at either Civics, Mondeo or focus

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Yikes :yuck:

I'd much prefer Stilatos's choice (Golf GTi)

AFter agesss in the garage i finally got my baby back. TOtally different sensation the gearbox must have been problematic from the start the gear changes are very crisp and clean and the clutch also (which was changed also since i have 70,000 klm) is very smooth. I guess im gonna keep it for a bit longer since im really happy with the driving now

A happy man again!
Interestingly, many gearbox problems can start with a clutch fault -the clutch not disengaging the gears properly and the gears getting "clicky" on selection, maybe reverse gear crunching when you select it. That puts big loads and rapid wear on the synchros- bits start falling out, jams in the gears and bam! the whole lot tears out

Just a bit of air in the clutch hydraulics can start all that happening

The Stilo gearbox is one of the smoothest and positive feeling gearboxes I've encountered. But just a bit of air in the hydraulics -lowering the clutch bite ( like I had when i first bought the car) and it feels dramatically worse. Just 5 minutes to bleed the clutch hydraulics and it's like a dream again

Deckchair where is the bleeding valve on a 1.6 gearbox? i had no idea about the clutch hydraulics needing to be bled. Any info would be appreciated so i could check this every now and then in the future.as for the 1.6 reverse gear crunchin i noticed most of the greek stilo 1.6 members have this problem.