I have just recently gotten my Abarth back from Olympian Fiat - Bournemouth. Warranty was just about to run out - but got the "oil drinker" in to be explored. We are talking comsumption for engine oil - 1ltr / 100 miles. This had been highlighted to Fiat previous but was told that they were "high consumption" engines - WHAT !!!!!!!!

Well after giving them the nod to remove the engine and take it to bits to see why - all of this could be at my expense - until the warranty mechanic OK's the problem, if any.

Well it is taken to bits - head heavily coked up ?

Start drawing the pistons out - low and behold - part of one of the piston oil seal rings is missing.

My warranty mechanic agrees to it being a Fiat build problem and authorises the repair.

Car is put back together and back with me.

Oh, there was a bad misfire from the engine after being reassembled - lots of mechanics stanfding scratching heads - afterall the car run "fine" prior to them taking it to bits. Turns out to be a knacker coil - and they wanted me to pay for it - think not !!!!

And the new spark plugs they put in it while trying to resolve the misfire - the car was only serviced - by them - 1 week prior to the engine being taken to bits. Surprise, surprise - wanted me to pay for them too - NOT !!!!!!

Oh, and they never reset the computer after being serviced. 4 weeks after being serviced the car is telling me it is due a service in 6 days - it took them 2 minutes to sort this when i took it back in a couple of days ago - thought this would have been part of the service schedule ??? or am i just being thick ????

And low and behold the car needs to go back in to get the "rear parking sensors and passengers side wing mirror auto tilt function when reverse gear is engaged" - I think somebody has forgotten to plug something back in when refitting the engine / gearbox.

So, my thoughts - love the car 2002 3 dr Stilo Abarth. Been dissapointed in the faults with the car and more so the service from Fiat.

The car also likes to eat front tyres - 27500miles and will be due its 3rd set of tyres. Seems to have a permenant "toe out" problem. Camber etc OK - is this a comman fault ? Rear wheels are also out too - Fiat says that there is not adjustment on the rear axle - mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!

But, hey I will keep her - nice car, lots of toys and well every maker has problems - but would be interesting to hear feed back from all other Stilo owners.

By the way - where can I get the relevant tool to remove the radio unit ?

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

Welcome to the forum - a great first post , even though you have a few troubles

Ok, radio removal first - try some bent coat-hangers....

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

Halfords sell multi fit radio keys for £1:99 These will fit the CN+ although you have to bend them out.

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

Theres plenty on here about Stilo tyre wear. My rears are fine, but my fronts are just about legal after 13k, they have worn on the insides, more on the drivers side than passenger side.

Dealer said tracking out by 4 degrees so thats the cause and tough!

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

That reminds me, I must get mine laser-tracked again, before it is too late....

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

Glad its not just me who feels like banging head against wall every time I visit a Fiat dealer! are there any good ones?

Found n/s/r tyre about two thirds worn on outer edge after six thousand miles, rang Fiat dealer twice, never got back to me, so p......d off rang and asked to speak to dealer principal, he apparently too busy to answer phone and not had his dinner yet! Just shows his priorities!!!!
Had car laser four wheel aligned and found n/s/r wheel toeing in 35 degrees, limit is 22, took to local body shop, no adjustment!!!!
To fix problem put two shim washers betweem two front bolts on axle frame and stub axle mounting (not an ideal fix I know, but car out of warranty now)
All appears to be running in line now, body shop told me its a common problem with new cars, set the front up right and weld em up anywhere at back!


1.9JTD 5 door, Jet Blue, Abarth alloys, boot spoiler, 2002

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

Stuart DemonD said:

I must get mine laser-tracked again, before it is too late....

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.....before warranty expires you mean?
Have you had any tyre wear issues in the past?

I must say mine show only moderate wear and it looks like I might get 50k out of the set. Inner wear on the fronts seems to be matched by outer wear on the rear (handy ). I'm assuming, of course, they haven't already been changed but based on the trouble I had to get the front wheel off I don't think they have!

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

Comment from one of the Fiat mechanics ref tyre wear - Fiat are "dabbling" to try and resolve these issues - he was told to "lever the front wishbone into a different shape / position" - mmmmmmmmmmm ! very technical Fiat ! :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

fiatranger said:

Fiat are "dabbling" to try and resolve these issues

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Just looking through this forum it's quite clear some owners get perfectly acceptable tyre wear and yet others have horrendous problems. There simply has to be a common explanation here and putting it down to bad design clearly isn't one of them. I suspect FIAT know the answer but are trying to ignore it because of the cost.

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

Argonought said:

Just looking through this forum it's quite clear some owners get perfectly acceptable tyre wear and yet others have horrendous problems. There simply has to be a common explanation here and putting it down to bad design clearly isn't one of them. I suspect FIAT know the answer but are trying to ignore it because of the cost.

Click to expand...

That is a very good theory. Bloody dam annoying if it is the case - that is not being a very responsible car manufacturer, never mind any safety issues.

Just the same as usual as most car manufacturers - take your money when you buy the vehicle and then take as much off you after that as well, especially after warranty has run out.

Is anybody here in a position to get inside info on this topic from Fiats records ? That could open up a can of worms for them.

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

fiatranger said:

Comment from one of the Fiat mechanics ref tyre wear - Fiat are "dabbling" to try and resolve these issues - he was told to "lever the front wishbone into a different shape / position" - mmmmmmmmmmm ! very technical Fiat ! :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:

Click to expand...

that is shocking advice to get from any mechanic let alone a dealership one

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

Sid said:

Found n/s/r tyre about two thirds worn on outer edge after six thousand miles, (.....but car out of warranty

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@Sid, bit confused on your post. You're out of warranty and only done 6K
If you mean you replaced the N/S/R 6K miles ago then how many times has it been replaced since new for heavens sake

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

Was trying to keep last thread short but has caused some confusion!!
Car has done 28,000, I bought it with about 11,000 on the clock and tyres part worn but (Presume!!!!!) original, all of them worn a bit unevenly/on edges but put it down to previous owner making most of performance, its a JTD.
Had to replace front tyres around 17,000 due to being fairly low on tread and Fiat Dealer setting front track wrongly, totally scrubbing off outer edges on 2.000 mile trip round France, seem to remember putting on new tyre and spare on rear at 20,000 ish, then at 22,000 n/s/r tyre (the one that was out of track) replaced. Car done 28.000 now and first time had a new tyre on n/s/r in my ownership, not had any bumps or hit any kerbs so all previous uneven tyre wear must be due to rear track out.
Just put some Abarth 16" alloys on it with pretty new tyres.......be interesting to see how these wear

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

Argonought said:

.....before warranty expires you mean?
Have you had any tyre wear issues in the past?!

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My warranty has expired!

No, I just want to protect my investment of four new tyres, well not so new now, so I reckon regular alignment may be the answer....

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

Sid said:

Fiat Dealer setting front track wrongly, totally scrubbing off outer edges on 2.000 mile trip round France

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So you took your JTD to your dealer to make sure the tracking was good for your trip to France and they botched it completely

I hope you got some compensation for the ruined tyres.

Sounds to me like you've done far better going to an independent.

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

Stuart DemonD said:

My warranty has expired!

No, I just want to protect my investment of four new tyres, well not so new now, so I reckon regular alignment may be the answer....

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Regular alignement will not cure the problem. These vehicles seem to naturally be "toe out". I had mine rechecked yesterday, it was within tollerance, but the fronts are still both wearing on the insides. The guy at the garage / shop adjusted them to be slightly "toe in" to see if it would compensate on the tyre wear. time will tell and I will keep you lot up to date.

Worth a try, I run Michelin Pilot Sports all round, @ £120 a corner, anything is worth a go.

Re: Mmmmmmmmmm - Fiat garage service.

Ah, but I am also running on Eibachs, and generally feel the tyre wear is ok

I run on Bridgestone Potenzas RE04s - shop around, paid £85 per corner iirc

re: Fiat garage service & tyre wear rant

Earlier Stilos had tyre issues but later (post 2004) dont. The rear geometry was originally set for a very stable drive but this caused tyre wear due to the grip being generated. The fronts had a different suspension parts fitted post 2004 which guaranteed correct alignment. To be told that Fiat were "dabbling" is rubbish, this is now not a problem (since 2004 production dates). Any tyre issues can be checked by having a proper four wheel alignment check, (not by a fast fit operation 16 year old with no idea what hes doing). Finally, just remember if you have your tyre pressures set incorrectly then this effects tyre wear, as does driving style, and load carried, also if you tap a kerb, hit a pot hole, etc this can all nudge wheel alignment, if you have scrubbed alloys or wheel trims then it may be your fault rather than the cars.

re: Fiat garage service & tyre wear rant

I have inner tyre wear on fronts down to 3 to 4mm on insides after 12k, dealer said 4 degrees out on front so tracking to blame, not anything else. 12k on clock and thats it. No kerb ever hit and all sensible driving, so either it came out the factory tracked wrong or its the state of UK roads!

re: Fiat garage service & tyre wear rant

3/4 mm on inside of tyres at 12K, no way has the FWA been out 4 degrees for 12k and only worn that amount, 4 degrees on the front of a FWD vehicle would kill a pair in 6k max completely through to the canvass. This means the tracking has changed due to an outside influence sometime during the vehicles life. What is the measurement on the rest of the tyre?