I have a Stilo 1.8 Dynamic. Just coming up for 3 years old. I had an issue last month with the air con, and while it was in I asked them to have a look at the clutch, which had been kind of sticking, especially after motorway driving. They had a look and could find nothing. However, just after this, the engine developed a rattle/tap at low revs.

A month later, after asking about the rattle and checking oil levels regularly, the oil warning light came on. I arrived at work and at lunchtime I checked the oil. The engine was absolutely empty, so I borrowed a van to go and get some oil to fill up. I got home and there, in the driveway was a flood of oil. When I got back to work, there was oil everywhere where I had driven.

On the advice of a mechanic friend, I got the car towed in to a local garage to have a look at what had happened. On examination he found that the oil was leaking directly from the engine. However, having the car running on the ramp did not cause the vehicle to leak oil. The garage were not sure what was happening until the mechanic had a brainwave relating to the clutch problem. When he pressed the clutch, the crankshaft moved a good half an inch, causing oil to spurt out. The bearings and seals on the end of the crankshaft had worn away.

Fiat also diagnosed this problem, and submitted a warranty claim, which was turned down on the basis that at some point the engine had been without oil for a period af time, causing the damage, which had got worse since.

Has anyone else had any experience of anything like this?

I now have a lovely quote sat in front of me for £3163 for a replacement engine!

Did someone leave a bearing out whilst they went for vino et mangere? Sounds catastrophic and engine strip down and rebuild required. Which came first the engine destruction then the oil dump or vice versa. I'd take a few piccies

What's the mileage on it? FIAT should do a goodwill claim, they did a few years ago on my mum's Brava when the tensioner fell off and caused major top end damge. Even got a Stilo Abarth to drive round in

im assuming the garage you took it to about the air con prob wasnt fiat?

If you did take the car to a Fiat dealer, and they are the ones that told you that they couldn't find anything wrong... I would make a big fuss about it. Let them know that the problem didn't get worse because of what you did, it was because they couldn't find the fault when you asked them to.

Don't just sit back and accept that you now have to pay for the new engine... fight them... even if they end up saying they would pay half of the costs, tht would be better than nothing. But try and aim for them paying for everything.

The fact that the engine was without oil, wasn't (by the sound of things) your fault, it was because of an engine fault which is what the warrantee is supposed to cover. Therefore they should fix it under warrantee, regardless if the engine was starved of oil or not.

Hope your nightmare get's sorted... let us know how things go...

By the way.... Welcome to the forum, even if it is under such bad times...