I have a 2002 Fiat Stilo 1.6 Active and after about a week of owning it I started to have the problem where the car cuts outs and displays ASR fault, Loose connection. Sometimes that error is shown together with an 'Alternator' fault. The car also has the Airbag error. I have noticed that the ASR fault normally occurs when the fuel level is low (just under 1/4 tank).

I have read the forums and have gone through most of the recommended fixes. I'm mainly concerned about the ASR fault as it is VERY annoying and dangerous. I understand that it could be caused by;
- a faulty Brake Light Switch (I have fitted a new one)
- a bad earth connection (I have disconnected and cleaned the C15 body computer connection and the D4 using electrical contact cleaner)
however none of these has resolved the issue.


It does look like the battery isn't the best but before starting to fork out money I wanted to ask if there is a cheap way of finding out if the ECU is fried. I want to buy a new battery but would be loath to buy one and find out that it didn't make a difference and still have to sell the car.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

i think you answered your own question there by stating the battery isnt its best.
get the battery amp checked at a local halfords or car factors - if its low get it changed, all the faults described relate to poor battery condition.
roy

joekupa said:

It does look like the battery isn't the best.

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Like Roy said, you answered your own question.

Stilo's are very power hungry, they like fully charged large powerfull batteries. The errors your listed are typical of a failing battery.

I can highly recommend this one, great price too.
http://www.tayna.co.uk/E44-Varta-Silver-Car-Battery-577400078-P7726.html

Sorry, I forgot to mention that the reason the ECU is a possibility is because it seems as if the car was flooded with water at some point. I'm not sure what height it would have reached but some parts of the car look like they had dry deposits of sand in them.

Having said that, I guess you're right and I should probably swallow the cost of a battery as a way of finding out. That battery looks very powerful Shadeyman. What would you say is your recommended minimum spec?

ECU's are usually water tight, the chances of water actually getting inside is next to impossible even if submerged ..

Shadeyman said:

ECU's are usually water tight, the chances of water actually getting inside is next to impossible even if submerged ..

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The IAW 5NFT1 / T9 ecu in the 1.6 stilo has a ventilation hole in the aluminium cover - it's possible to get water inside that way but you would have to pressure-wash or submerge it to do so....

yellowstilo said:

The IAW 5NFT1 / T9 ecu in the 1.6 stilo has a ventilation hole in the aluminium cover - it's possible to get water inside that way but you would have to pressure-wash or submerge it to do so....

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I was told there's a small device of some sort that allows air but not water to pass through the vent?

I guess its not going to stop a jet of high pressure water but unless its submerged to tens of meters there's not enough pressure to force water passed the device.

Never had a good look inside one so not 100% sure ..

yes,i agree it's unlikely water will enter this way under normal circumstances, i don't think water is the biggest problem for these ecu's - the heat and vibrations will kill them sooner.....

You can hit it with a screwdriver while engine is on. That's how I descovered that mine was faulty. If you see strange things happening when you hit it then it's dead. Or else you can unplug it, take it on your hand and shake it. If you hear anything moving in there then it's goodbye time...

Mines booked in for a diagnostic test as im getting alternator / ABS / Security fault with loose connection after it.. Worth still my engine is cutting out randomly ..i too had my brake light switch replaced battery checked out ok. They were quite adamant it was an earth fault ..i hope it is

I changed the batter yesterday for a brand new one, but it seems that my problems are still there. I had the error twice yesterday evening. Nothing yet today, but I'm guessing it's only a matter of time til it happens again.

That only leaves the ECU (and perhaps the possibility of the fusebox being mashed). So disappointed. The car is lovely in every other way, but this totally drives me up the wall.

You could also check and clean the battery
connections on the battery and where they
earth on the car. Plus check and clean the D4
connector under the fuse box again.

If the positive feed from the battery to the
fuse box is not clean and tight that can cause
a lot of your problems.

Try that before getting a new ECU

John

Have you managed to get to the bottom of this?

Nope. No resolution. I'm on the lookout for a second-hand fusebox.

2months its been..had everything checked ie wiring earths battery etc 3 diagnostics test at 3 different garages stil cant work it out.All are adamant its not the ECU..want to replace the crankshaft sensor(cheapest option) just to cancel it out thats where i am...

Dont know what else to do, they say hopefully it can only get worse by driving it..no solutions on here?

Do it take it to Fiat? Are there d.tests better than others?

I've seen somewhere on this forum someone who had a similar problem got it fixed by changing the engine fusebox. Like you I've checked a lot and the only options left are changing the ECU, the fusebox and/or the crankshaft sensor. Of these I think the fusebox is most likely because of the error message which I think doesn't suggest it's the sensor; and also because as mentioned before the ECU is less likely to have been water damaged. Either way it's probably the last fix I'll try before getting rid of the car.

Ok i think i read that too..hopefully you manage to find one. You not going to try ECU or see wht fiat have to say?Let us know how you get in the end.

No, I'm not going to try the ECU. Very early on a Fiat technician said that this could be anything from the known list and that a diagnosis probably wouldn't say what the problem was other than to repeat what the onboard is saying. He said he could isolate the problem but if he didn't find it quick enough it would probably be too costly to be worth it. So he advised I just work through the list and gave me a couple more tips about the earths etc. and to look for a new fusebox if all else fails.

Hi All

I have the same problem with my 1.6 Stilo.

I get the ASR Loose Connection message every day or so and the engine cuts out.

I've recently spent quite a bit on cambelt, water pump tyres etc. so would like to keep the car .

Has anyone had success in sorting this out ?

ricardo

Not sure if its coincidence but mine started literally few days after getting my cambelt and waterpump replaced?? Could this be related anyone?

Mine cut out pretty heavy today, compared to most day, upto 10times in space of a 2mile drive.

Have you done anything about it? Ie checked any components under bonnet? Diagnostic tests? Fiat?

I know how you feel- let us know how you get on