But I still like the thing...

So..... I picked up my 1.6 stilo Dynamic (bright blue, CD, steering wheel controls and rear spoiler £8,800 - Bargain import) towards the end of November, and today it is in the garage again.

So far it has had

Passenger weight sensor failiure
Rattles in Dash
rattles on Dash
Bumps and squeeks from rear suspension
Windscreen wiper failure when cold (this is a strange one)
rattles from boot
boot not closing properly
squeeky passenger door
front lights point to far down. (yes after adjustment)
temp sensor over 6 degrees out.


I do not think I have had a week where a garage visit has not been necessary to fix problems. this is mainly due to the 2 visit system (diag/fix) to stop courtesy cars being loaned out)

Today (27/01/03), it is in for the rattles from the dash, rattles from the suspension, windcreen wipers (again) and they have just phones me to ask if it can be kept in overnight, as its a 5 hour job to remove dash to look for probs.

The wind screen washer is a funny one. when it is cold and as soon as I start the car, the wisndscrren wiper kicks in, this I am told is a feature to remove the mist of the windscreen in certain temps, OK no prob with that. but while trying to use the wipers within this range they fail. they stop at random positions over the screen. and will then fail to operate for a further 30 seconds (even when putting the stalk onto the always on setting) when it does operate again, it just stops somewhere elso on the screen. once the outside temp warms up a bit, they are fine- -hmmmm! they have already replaced the stalk (3 visits and one wrong part).

But they are only mild irritations thatI am sure will be recitified, and I do like the car. its a nice comfortable cruising car.

By the way, I seem to only get 30MPG (on the computer) even with a light right foot, whilst my 2 litre 172 BHP Clio gets a regular 36MPG (and I really do give that a good seeing to). Mines the 1.6 stilo and feed back on others MPG would be great.

Dont let this put you off either the Stilo, or imports, as my garage knows its an import and is doing all the work under the Fiat warranty (ok only a two year warranty) and My CLio was also an import and no probs in the past 12 months.

Anyone else having loadsa problems, or experienced the wiper thing.

Thansk for putting up with this long long posting...

Kev

Hello kjball, I still love my stilo but i have a list of problems as long as yours.

Knocking front suspension.
ASR, ABS failure
Front tracking out of alignment.
Stereo stopped working.
Loose inner door handle.
Rear suspension squeaks.
Engine management failure (twice).
knocking from sky window.
Garage didn't know how to reset the service indicator after first service.
My cars been into my local dealer about twenty times in nine months, and i'm still having problems with noisy suspension. My cars done 23000 miles since i got it last april and it's all been city driving. (I'm a driving instructor) so my shock absorbers could be knackered. The garage has ordered the rear ones and i'm waiting for them to arrive. I really hope it works because when i first got the car i was impressed by the smoothness and quietness of the ride, and it'd be nice to have that back again. I haven't had the wiper problem though....yet. Pete marshall.

Well, I got it back and this is what its current status.

All faults , squeeks bangs and knocks fixed (well almost). The rattles were a threaded bolt holding dash to bulkhead. they had to take photo's cos of claiming off the fiat warrantiy.

My temp sensor stil seems out. I know its just a ref. but it seems to warm up by about 4-6 degrees from its original reading (which is normally +2.0c out to start with)over 10-15 mins. my other cars dont do this, nor do my friends...hmmm! I will tackle them with this issue.

Garage did a good job, but there is some loose trim inside, and a scratch on the steeriing wheel, I will ask them when the replacement suspension things arrive to sort it....

Hi KJball, Which suspension parts are you waiting for, and do you have an E.T.A for the parts? I've been waiting a month now for rear shockers, and the garage hasn't got a clue when they're going to arrive. Also if your indicators don't flash when you lock or unlock the car, they should do. IF not ask them to sort that out aswell. They need some codes from Fiat and it needs putting on the diagnostic computer. Good luck. Pete.

Hello Pete

Well, they normally take 3-4 working days on everything else they have ordered, so I wait and see!

I didnt know the indicators werre meant to flash! has yours got an alarm fitted, as mine hasnt.

Kev

Hi,

I've an Abarth with the same wiper problem. It's something to do with the grease the switches are packed in. When cold it obscures the contacts and causes the random stops across the screen. The dealer has told me they can fix this and have promised to do so on the next visit. Meanwhile I'm having a bit of a disagreement with Fiat Technical. On the rev counter there is a cluster of warning lights including the traction control and VDC warning lights. The manual says that all these lights should come on for a few seconds when the ignition is switched on, however the traction control light does not, neither does it light when the drive wheels are slipping. When the wheels are slipping the VDC warning light comes on. When the car was new the traction control light was coming on when the wheels were spinning so obviously a fault has developed. Everything is showing up clear on the diagnostics and Fiat say that the traction control light doesn't work on the Abarth as it has VDC. Can anyone with an Abarth confirm that the traction control warning light on the rev counter works. Sorry about the length of this post. Thanks.

As so far as the wiper issue is concerned, the grease thing is correct (4 visits to sort out, 1 diag, 1 wrong part delivered, 1 right part a wiper switch, 1 replace grease that switches are packed in) apparently they have the issue a lot with punto's.

Cant help on the Trac-control, other than to let you know that mine lights up in the Fiag, and upon use (its snowing).

Good luck, and persist.

Kev

Hi,

On my Abarth (3dr) when the traction control does its thing the ESP flashes on the rev counter not the ASR (spinning wheel). Also the ASR does not come on during self test.

Off topic but whats the best why to use the selespeed on ice?. Tried starting in second, gentle throttle but just span wheels, ASR cuts in, backs off throttle got nowhere. Really wanted to use 3rd but box woundn't let me...too clever by half me thinks.

I didn't know the indicators were meant to flash! Admitted defeat and read the manual. According to the table on page 10 it should do a Christmas tree impersonation.

Steve

Hi Steve

Thanks for that, it looks like the manual is wrong and Fiat are right, although I was pretty sure the ASR light did flash when the car was new. I must be going mad!

As for your traction problems on ice I've had no problems as yet, despite the recent weather (I'm in N.Ireland). The forecast is for icey roads in the morning so I'll see how it goes.

The point about the indicators, I thought they only flashed if an alarm was fitted.

One last thing, the suspension squeaks, has anyone found out what causes this? I had a similar problem with the front suspension on an Alfa 156 which turned out to be bushes on the lower suspension arm. My Stilo's rear suspension occasionally sounds like a cage of dimented budgies but it's an intermittent noise rather than a constant aggravation. I'd be interested to hear the final outcome.

Jon

STILO ASSISTANCE

THE FIAT STILO 3DR MUST BE ONE OF THE BEST LOOKING CARS ON THE MARKET AT THE MOMENT, FOR THE MONEY.
PERHAPS THE LOCAL FIAT DEALER COULD EXPLAIN THAT FIAT REMOTE ALARM SYSTEMS ARE SETABLE TO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES LEGISLATION
PERHAPS THE LOCAL DEALER COULD INSPECT FOR SQUEAKS AROUND THE REAR AXLE BUSHES.A CLUE IS THE NOISE GOES OFF IN DAMP OR WET CONDITIONS
PERHAPS THE LOCAL DEALER COULD INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR MECHANISM GREASE TO CURE THE WIPER FAULTS.
LIKE SO MANY FIATS IN THE PAST THEY HAVE TEETHING PROBLEMS,BUT THEY ALWAYS GET SORTED.THE NEW STILO 2.4LTR MANUAL GT IS WITH US VERY SOON AND I CARN`T WAIT.

HYPERSPORT

Hi all

Just picked it up from dealers for airbag fault (not fixed. Arbath uses differnent weight sensor - not in stock - just my luck!)

The dealers main spanner dude said he had never seen light flash if no alarm fitted. Plugged it into the analyser, a few magic incantations and hey presto it now works as advertised. So get down the dealers and get switched on....

If i was more cynical i would this say this is a marketing ploy so the people who paid extra for the alarm (which should be standard anyway .... sat nav but no alarm ) get a visual reminder of their spend. - End of Rant...


Steve

I'll add the flashing indicators to my list of to do's and queries. so so-far its only the following outstanding..

Install the fix for rear suspension knock (waiting parts)
Temp sensor about 5c out after 10 mins driving
trim holder keeps popping out (passenger foot well)
Scratch on centre of steering wheel
Turn on flashing lights for door lock.

Does anyone else have the temp sensor problem!?!?!?

Kev

Well a further update, Pete you might be interested in this.

My local fiat dealer has just called me to let me know that the parts are in. its a frame and suspension parts and will take 5 hours to do... I have told them of the other issue mentioned earlier, and theyre going to try and sort em all - of course they may need to order a new steering wheel (they say, and its one with buttons on) and temp sensor, but if they can program it to read 2.5c less I would be happier!!!

But its not booked in until thursday next week, i'll keep you all posted.

Kev

Hello Kev

The rear shockers finally arrived and where fitted while i was on holiday. The back end is now much quieter. I spoke to the service dept. and they ordered the front shockers aswell, which have now got very noisey (metalic rattling sounds, squeeking, knocking). They arrived on monday and are being fitted next wednesday. I can't wait. Pleased to hear you got your flashing indicators sorted out. Had my front brake pads replaced at 24000 mile service. £46 just for the pads. Pete.

My list of quibbles are:
Rear Seat trim malformed - replacement ordered, arrived a month later but incomplete, another one ordered from Italy.
High Level brake light gasket incorrectly set - fixed !
Rear ceiling light occasionally fails to come on when the rear passenger side door is opened - according to the dealer there is nothing wrong with it [!]
Indicators don't flash when i lock the doors - they told me i need an alarm fitted!

see "Very Poor Customer Service" thread at http://www.fiatstilo.tk/ for the full story....

After chasing the dealer some more and getting them to locate the missing seat cover that had been sent off for repair, I booked the car in to have it fitted, accompanied by a list of outstanding issues:

* Rear seat cover replacement

* High Level brake light gasket – fell apart since previous repair

* Rear ceiling light – sometimes fails to come on when rear passenger side door is opened. Discovered that this can be replicated if you unlock the car, let the lights go out, and then open the door. More frequent during cold/damp/wet climate.

* Driver’s front door interior hand grip (to close the door with) is detached from the interior door panel.

* Driver’s front door freezes shut during sub-zero temperatures, even though unlocked. (FIAT Recall/Bulletin issued on this).

* Rear suspension creaks and squeaks when cornerning/roundabouts especially when loaded with rear passengers and/or luggage. (FIAT Bulletin issued on this).

* Clutch or ASR problem ? – Severe vibrations through the car when pulling away after cold start, especially when pulling out of a car park space – i.e. with full lock on).

* Flashing Indicators to be activated with central locking (FIAT Bulletin issued on this).

In addition to the above the Stilo broke down over the weekend with an "Engine Fault" (the handbook calls it EOBD I think), and it went in to "Limp Home" mode - with a top speed of 15mph !

This righted itself as soon as the AA patrol arrived (typical), and so I drove it to the dealer and dumped it in their car park with the list.

I called them Monday afternoon to check what time I could pick it up, having assumed it would only take them a day to correct everything.

They then decided to tell me that they had to order more parts which MIGHT arrive on Wednesday, providing there is stock available in the UK, which they are unable to check !

So, (now car-less) I then had to get a lift over to the dealer to pick up a "courtesy" car so I could get to work today, and hope that it will be ready for Wednesday.

I have now decided to start the ball rolling to sell the Stilo. After 6 months of putting up with car problems and poor customer service, I've had enough.

All credit to the designer of the Stilo - it has some really great features which was the original draw for me. However, the lacklustre after-sales service at the dealer, the "couldn't give a toss" attitude of FIAT UK Customer Service, as well as the ever failing reliability of the car, has left a bitter taste.

Thanks for listening.....

See ya

<blockquote id="quote"> face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by kjball
The wind screen washer is a funny one. when it is cold and as soon as I start the car, the wisndscrren wiper kicks in, this I am told is a feature to remove the mist of the windscreen in certain temps, OK no prob with that. Kev
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

You say certain temps, I hope so, because if it just does it when the temperature goes below a set level, it is not what you want to happen. The last thing you should do is put the windscreen wipers on when your screen is iced up. It does not clean the screen, it only destroys your wipers. You have to wait for heat to melt the ice, then you can wipe away the water.

Do not use wipers on a frozen screen.

This has been a public information announcement.



2003 Stilo 1.6 Dynamic, Orion Grey, 17" Alloys, Dual Zone Climate Control, Aluminum Sills, Clarion ICE, almost de-badged

RE: Wiper failure.
I have the same issue with my Stilo Arbarth. Wipers stop mid cycle when cold - wait 20 seconds before electrical connection reactivates then stops somewhere else mid cycle. Unable to use Stilo when the weather is cold and wet because wipers keep stopping. Bummer!

Dry weather car is going in soon for wiper grease check!!!!....

Daz

Daz

Having problems with my wipers at the moment too. See other topic.

_________________________
2003 Stilo 1.6 Dynamic 3dr, Orion Grey, 17" Alloys, Dual Zone Climate Control, Aluminum Sills, Clarion DXZ928R, Kenwood DualMags, Clarion SRX1784, de-badged.
I accept no responsibility for the content of my posts, nor any decisions you make based on them.[^]

My gearbox warning light (and f***ing alarm sound) have started coming on again when the brake pedal is pressed. Also, the CD player has stopped readings CDs (inc the Sat Nav CD). Car booked back in, will let you know.

Anyone had problems with the clips for the parcel shelf breaking off? I've got through three on each side now and I don't use my boot very often!

Wipers OK so far - (touch wood, fingers crossed, turn around three times while saying "Iggy, Iggy, Iggy", etc)

Roja

2003 Silver 3-Door Abarth