I have had some problems with my JTD 1.9 (115hp). I keep getting error messages come up. I have replaced the battery and they are still happening. The latest is 'alternator failure*' and 'Loose connection' - *although this has only happened a couple of times. The car labours to turn over but fires up and then drives ok (and i can turn off the ignition and the fire it back up without any problem at all). Sometimes the steering warning light comes up and the power steering won't work unless i turn off the ignition and fire it up again, but once I do that it's fine again. Is it the alternator, starter or a poor connection on either?:bang:

The other problem I have been having is at about 3000 revs in fourth or fifth the engine warning light will come on and the msg 'engine failure' comes on and I am limited to no higher than 3000 revs (limp mode - I assume). This will stay for a while, sometimes a long while, and then go off allowing higher speeds (as long as I dont go over 3000 revs again. The strange thing is that it doesn't do it when I pull away in first and through the gears, only when im cruising and then accelerating - say on the motorway or dual carrigeway, overtaking or such like.

Any ideas? :idea:

2e0mse said:

The car labours to turn over but fires up and then drives ok

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These are classic signs of a weak battery (or possibly a bad earth) so I hope you haven't fitted a cheap battery!

A good battery should spin the engine well even in distinctly sub-zero temperatures so that should give you something to work on.

JTD engines problems are well covered in the Forum so I'd suggest you use the Search tool.

Hi Argo

Under normal circumstances I would agree but this battery is a top of the range silver battery from Halfords and it produces 77ah - over and above the standard Stilo battery. This is why all the error messages seem so strange.
Like I said in my previous post. it only seems to labour sometimes but if i switch off the ignition and fire it up again it flies over - if the battery was duff this would not happen, surely.
I have had the alternator and the battery tested and they appear to be fine. (despite the alternator failure warning msg) and The earths have also been checked and are apparently fine.
I understand that the 'loose connection' msg is actually a lost connection warning so could it be a sensor malfunction?

I hate to ask a potentially stupid question, but since your new battery was fitted, have you tried disconnecting it then reconnecting it again
Worked for me
But make sure you leave it disconnected for an hour or so, have a cuppa, watch some footie or something then go back and see what happens when you re-connect it. It's an old trick on the stilo - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't

There is plenty of advice (as Argo suggests, have a search) with regard to JTD engine issues throughout the forum. However, the symptoms you mention sound very familiar to me...... has the car been remapped If not, chances are you might want to have a look at the overboost valve:idea:

If it has been remapped then I'm afraid the only thing to do is to learn to drive around the issue - or revert to a standard map and go for something else. My JTD does/did exactly the same thing, it has been remapped and the issues were covered in a mighty thread some time ago.

There is never an issue under acceleration through the gears, only when riding that wave of torque and taking advantage of the ooomph does the issue manifest itself - that cursed beep beep beep and engine fault message However, it seldom occurs these days and I've learnt to live with it

ABZSTILO said:

There is never an issue under acceleration through the gears, only when riding that wave of torque and taking advantage of the ooomph does the issue manifest itself - that cursed beep beep beep and engine fault message

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You describe the issue perfectly. I may take it to my local Fiat dealer and get them to check the map out and reset it/upgrade it as required. I will disconnect the battery for an hour as you suggest - I have heard this idea before but didn't think to try it.

Cheers for the advice - i'll let you know if it helps.

Mark

P.S ..Stupid question: Overboost valve...? what and where is it and what would I do with it?

2e0mse said:

Under normal circumstances I would agree but this battery is a top of the range silver battery from Halfords and it produces 77ah - over and above the standard Stilo battery.

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Good advice from ABZs there but I'd say 100% you have a bad earth.

By that I also include really basic stuff like battery terminals not tightened enough (don't over tighten though).

More difficult to check are the heavyweight earth leads to the engine & chassis. Any signs of corrosion is a dead give-away but you should remove the cables and check underneath on the contact areas to be certain.

A voltmeter is dead handy to prove the case but you'll likely need someone else to hold the probes whilst you start the car (popular topic so once again have a Search for more info on how to do this - also checkout Guides)

Briefly:

1. Check voltage from Battery Negative to Chassis
2. Check voltage from Battery Negative to Engine
3. Check voltage from Chassis to Engine

You're looking for a difference between when engine spins quickly (normally) and when it labours. You'll notice a big change in voltage in at least one of the above readings. Normal is 500mV or less.

Mornin Argo

I have just disconnected the battery and will leave it for the hour as suggested by ABZ.

I had the earths checked by an auto electrics company when this all started and they said they were ok. I agree that this points to something basic like a duff earth - I wonder if they checked them properly???

The starting issue is more like the starter/solenoid or earth to the starter, as it cranks over for a while (with the dash gauges turning right around themselves??) but then it fires - it doesn't do it all the time, only occasionally, most of the time it fires first time.

I love Fiats...they are so entertaining!!

Good luck with the battery 'spies', it could be worth looking at the D4 (?) connector under the battery whilst you have it out - that sometimes brings spurious faults. Another forum search should yield what i'm talking about.

P.S ..Stupid question: Overboost valve...? what and where is it and what would I do with it?

Have a squint at this:

https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-guides/224083-stilo-jtd-boost-solenoid-valve-resite.html

Essentially, you'd need a new one. But! Get the engine map 'read' first. The overboost valves are generally reliable once re-sited - which most have been under warranty etc.

Thanks ABZ I think you have it right. The other post mentions going uphill as an issue. My issue shows itself when going uphill, under acceleration (overtaking). I'll get the map checked then sort out the repositioning of the overboost valve - now I know what it is.. lol (im an expert now ).
Battery has now been reconnected so i'll pop over to the dealer to book it in for the map check/update (and order new pedal rubbers.. which I have to pay for in advance??).

Argo - I checked as many of the earths (lifted and cleaned) as I can on my own - all looked pretty good, but I will get a mate (one day..I'll get a mate. LOL) to give me a hand with testing for faults.

Hope it goes OK

If they tell you there's a 'null' value on the turbo boost it's most probably been remapped - seems to be a feature of a couple of JTD engine maps according to the Fiat technicians in Inverness who have had a field day going over what my engine does........
Ofcourse, there is a figure in there - just not what the diagnostics expect to find. Or something like that, I'm no expert

:wave:

I have booked it in for a map check/set on Monday morning having explained the symptoms to them (including the overboost valve issue). I have been quoted £90... Is it just me or does that sound expensive for what is basically a check up?

I have been driving around all afternooon without any problems and she seems to be a little more responsive :slayerr am i imagining it :chin:

I'll keep you posted.

2e0mse said:

I have been quoted £90... Is it just me or does that sound expensive for what is basically a check up?

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About par for the course I'm afraid if you can hang around with the car when they plug it in sometimes the bill is less :idea: or maybe I just got lucky, maybe they showed some sympathy for a Stilo owner

2e0mse said:

I have been driving around all afternooon without any problems and she seems to be a little more responsive :slayerr am i imagining it :chin:

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It's possible it could be a smidgen 'fresher', it's certainly always nice to think so IMHO Pleased the electrical gremlins have cleared a bit, the start up this morning will be the concrete test.

As a matter of interest, how much smoke do you get under hard (as in flat out) acceleration?

I doubt they wil let me hang around and watch...dealership garages round here are a little cloak and dagger these days...it gives them the opportunity to put the kettle on and have a game of cards or look at porn on the internet while you sit in the waiting room assuming they are all working on different bits of your car like an F1 pit crew in an attempt to convince you the price is a fair one. Hopefully though they will be able to point the finger at the problem so at least I can maybe sort it out.

I do get a small amount of smoke when I floor it but i don't think it is excessive - its not like a cloaking device.

I have just ordered a rear silencer to replace the hole at the back of my car where the end pipe used to be . (its not that bad!! )