Technical 2004 Fiat Stilo 1.9 JTD Dynamic having difficulty starting

[FenshamC]

Hey everyone, I'm new to the FIAT forum but I've been using it extensively since my first car, a lovely little 2006 Palio Go.

I unfortunately got involved in an accident so I had to get something else. Money tight I got a 2004 Stilo 1.9 JTD Dynamic with 230 000km's milage for really cheap. I expected some issues with that milage but didn't expect what I'm getting.

To make a long story short, I had the waterpump, intercooler, airbox, cambelt, clutch and oil rings replaced. I also had to do a turbo recon and replace the glow plugs. Also I had the EGR valve sealed of professionally. Turned out to not be such a cheap car but I love my Stilo nevertheless.

Since I got it back from the mechanic who repaired it (a friend of my dad works at Mercedes and did the job much cheaper than Fiat), he told me that I should just as soon as I can do an ECU reset because despite having new glow plugs, the car still says "Preheat Failure" at start-up. I didn't have time to do that as it didn't seem urgent but now my car is having extreme difficulty starting. I actually have to pump the diesel for it to eventually start with a ball of smoke from the exhaust and under the bonnet. I figured before I spend money, let me do the ECU reset and see if it helps.

Nevertheless, do you guys have any idea what else could be the problem? It drives like a dream once it has started.

I remember the repairs took a while because the mechanic said he was having a problem with one of the fuel injectors but that he managed to get it to work fine again. Could it be the fuel injector that is giving me problems again?

I'll let yo guys know what happens after the ECU reset.

 

[Peat]

Welcome.

Have you checked this out?

https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-guides/151734-dealing-preheat-fault-message-stilo-jtd.html

 

[FenshamC]

Welcome.

Have you checked this out?

Indeed I did. Replaced all of my glow plugs, yet the message remains. Guy who replaced them said the message should go away after a ECU reset, but not sure that will resolve the smokey noisy cranky start issue.

 

[Peat]

I believe that one should go away after three starts.

If I'm wrong someone is sure to correct me!

 

[mhowse]

I believe that one should go away after three starts.

If I'm wrong someone is sure to correct me!

Correct should vanish after 3 fault free starts..
There is some info that may help in guides section on glow plugs, see link below
https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-guides/151734-dealing-preheat-fault-message-stilo-jtd.html

ooops noticed 'peat' has already given the link..get back to putting kettle on

There is also glow plug relay, black box behind engine attached to bulk head..and a main fuse for the glow plugs in the engine fuse board by the battery do not recall which one it is, though know it is one of the large red ones in the engine bay fuse board, gave me a preheat error message once when the large red fuse failed

 

[FenshamC]

Ok so the ECU reset didn't help a bit. Besides resetting the car's clock I didn't notice a thing different, unfortunately.

I checked the fuses, they are all fine, so could it be the relay?

I also wonder once again about the fuel injector which was faulty, maybe it's having a problem again, because after turning the key and holding for about 15 seconds, pumping diesel about 4 times, loads of smoke and a funny vibration just before the car starts , the car goes like a dream. I recently travelled 400km with it, was great, as long as I don't have to try and start it.

Nevertheless, I contacted the guy who fitted the glow plugs and he said he'll check it out for me on Wednesday. Let's hope the car starts on Wednesday... It's getting a bit humiliating having an audience every time I start the car haha!

Thank you everyone for all the help and support so far, hopefully I'll be telling you about all my good experiences on a general forum soon!

 

[FenshamC]

Oh and about the three starts for the "Preheat Failure" message to go away:

I had more that 3 starts since replacing the glow plugs, none of them particularly clean but the first 5 didn't need some extra help from the throttle pedal... :bang:

The car's also got a "Loose Connection" message sometimes but an auto electrician took a look at it and concluded that I should just ignore that message because there is no loose connection nowhere.

 

[Peat]

Check last two posts here ->

https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo/339724-stilo-jtd-1-9-115bhp-wont-start-help-please.html

 

[FenshamC]

Ok so I took the car back in and the result is a leaking injector... So I am basically without a car for a while because apparently it's very expensive to buy a new injector from FIAT so they are looking for a cheaper solution.