Technical 2003 - Stilo 1.2 - couple of issues

[dtimmins1985]

Hi,

My first post to the fiat forums...

I bought a Fiat Stilo 1.2 Active (3dr) to get me to and from work, bought it on 25th september and it's already having issues!

First issue was really simple - rear break bulb, fit a new one all good, but since I this, I have noticed that the left rear cluster is brighter than the right, below the rear left break / side light there is another bulb and it stays on red but on the other side (right) it doesn't, its not a side light, not an indicator, not reverse, not fog (fog is on the bottom row) both clusters have this bulb in the middle (below brake/sidelight and above fog light) can anyone tell me what this bulb is? I have tried every button / stalk combo to try turn it off or turn on the right one but nothing and there is no bulb faults to say the right one is did and should be working... This is bugging me...


Second issue - washer bottle motor dead, removed it cleaned up the contacts replaced and its did - need to buy another motor... Also need to check the connector with a multimeter (all fuses are good).

Third issue - two days ago it started blowing and its gradually getting worse, I've had a quick look under the car, the section from the flexi pipe back looks quite new, however the flexi looks tired and is probably knackered - the manifold and downpipe / cat appear to look old but solid! Fingers crosses its the flexi (need some ramps to check it)

So that's about it, other than that she runs really well, holds temps good, hasn't eaten oil / water.

Can anyone advice above? Also regards the exhaust... I don't have access to welding / cutting gear so no chance I can do the flexi how its been done by a few people on her, I would find it best if I could find a direct bolt in replacement so I can swap out the flexi on my drive or let the garage swap it out for a few beers...

All advice welcome, think I will be sticking around this forum .

Danny.

 

[GPz750]

Funny I just changed my back box yesterday. £40 from euro car parts. When I put it on I still had a slight murmur under the car and discovered a wee hole up at the brackets for the rubber mounts. Ordered this last night.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Stil...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f295193e1


As for you bulbs issue I don't know as never had to change them yet on my active. Anything in the owner manual what you can download here at the top of the stilo page. Clocks, lots of stilo's suffer clock problems and need fixed or replaced. I got a set out the scrap yard but they went as well so sent mine away for repair at £120. Look for other clock issues first like LCD back light staying on dim at night.

 

[dtimmins1985]

Cool, as far as I can tell the back box and full mid section look quite new, but the flexi at the front is looking tired, need to check when I can get some ramps

 

[dtimmins1985]

Oh by the way, that part is exactly what I'm after, how come the whole pipe is on it, I'm sure my flexi has plates on either side and can be replaced without the whole middle pipe

 

[GPz750]

At that price for the mid (if blown) is it worth trying to patch fix? Four bolts and its off.


Good wee cars though when running correct. I am just back from 1000 mile trip to Germany and Holland and it was faultless sitting at 80mph on the motorways. Returned an average of 44mpg what was good.

 

[GPz750]

Oh by the way, that part is exactly what I'm after, how come the whole pipe is on it, I'm sure my flexi has plates on either side and can be replaced without the whole middle pipe

Could be on other models mate but the 1.2 is all in one. Just say thank god to yourself its not the cat as that looks like its all in one with the manifold and that's over 100 quid. Mine looks quite good (whew)

 

[dtimmins1985]

From what i can see when I look from beneath the manifold and cat look old but strong, no rust or owt but need to give a good look at it, let me know it goes fitting yours, oh and I found a manifold + cat for £120

 

[GPz750]

Yeah 127 at euro car parts. Handy for some things but not others as they don't have the mid section.


http://www.eurocarparts.com/

 

[dtimmins1985]

Little update:

I ordered the flexi (mid-section) that you posted the link for above, then noticed there was a guy in my area on eBay - selling them a few quid cheaper... nevermind, part arrived yesterday, i attempted to fit it - however, not a good idea attempting it with the car on a jack, got to the point of taking off the rubber mounts (after unbolting the clamp and front flexi) and it was unstable, didn't want the car to fall on me!!

Couldn't get the ramps as my friend had his van on them, so i had to drive the thing home - blowing like mad!!, had the part fitted this morning, took about 30mins and used the garage over the road from my work, charged me £30 and did it straight away (hate parting with money when i can do it myself!!).

Oh well, anyhow - it's sorted now, no more blowing and purrs nicely, hopefully see the fuel economy go back up to about 43 - 45mpg (as it was before i noticed the blowing).

On another note, i was quote £210 all in (premium clutch kit and labour) for the clutch swapping out, the release baring has started going stiff and when clutch is fully pressed in you can hear the bearing... not a bad price considering i priced up a premium clutch kit at GSF in Bradford for £120.

Also, timing belt job (parts and labour) £180 all in.

What do you think of them prices?

Final niggle, the rear bulb i was asking about, well it appears that each rear light cluster has two side lights, the brake / sidelight (dual filament) and directly below that bulb there is a single filament bulb that is also a sidelight, so need to replace one on the drivers side so they match in brightness, strange that the dash is not reporting a bulb issue for the little sidelight bulb.

Anyhow, onwards and upwards!!

Thanks for the help GPz750.

Kind regards.

 

[GPz750]

You saying 210 for a garage to supply and fit the clutch? Take it. I have not fitted my mid section yet as I am still waiting on a CV boot to arrive and a mate and me are hopefully doing this at the weekend. Yesterday was the first proper run I did with the new back box on and I was felling slight increase in power. Dono if MPG went up but I will check that also after I do the mid section. You in Bradford? I worked there for a year in the mid 80's at the Norfolk Gardens Hotel at Hall Inns or whatever its called now. We lived up at Marlborough road at the top of Lumb Lane. Classy area

 

[GPz750]

BTW I notice the flexy part is shorter. Was the one you ordered the same?

 

[dtimmins1985]

You saying 210 for a garage to supply and fit the clutch? Take it. I have not fitted my mid section yet as I am still waiting on a CV boot to arrive and a mate and me are hopefully doing this at the weekend. Yesterday was the first proper run I did with the new back box on and I was felling slight increase in power. Dono if MPG went up but I will check that also after I do the mid section. You in Bradford? I worked there for a year in the mid 80's at the Norfolk Gardens Hotel at Hall Inns or whatever its called now. We lived up at Marlborough road at the top of Lumb Lane. Classy area

Noticed some sort of oil leak when i was under the car this morning (when flexi was been fitted) - turns out that my offside drive shaft cover (where it goes into the gearbox) is shot! - some fool has used tie wraps to hold the old sleeve on, it's not the C.V boot (on the back of the hub, it's at the gearbox end) - so a new sleeve will be ordered at end of month with propper metal clamps (fiat original if i can source them).

re: clutch - yea, he said about £90 for a premium kit, bit dubious tho as GSF do a entry level @ £90 (probs referbished) and the premium is £120, might just buy it for £120 and pay the labour £120 on top (it's only £30 more but it's piece of mind that it's a premium clutch).

re: Bradford, oh the days, i know exactly where you are on about lol, the hotel and also the street you mention (i used to help out at Marlborough Garage just near Manningham sport centre) - Lumb lane used to be very rough and full of drug dealers... it's not as bad now but imo it's still bad - try not to go around that area (not keen... ended up in various road rage incidents) im originally from Greengates and currently from Allerton, born and bred Bradfordian :bang: :bang: