Technical Abarth Kangarooing when cold

[rriggs]

Mine used to kangaroo - A new ECU sorted it first time.

Roja

2003 Silver 3-Door Abarth with graphite wheels and all the toys

 

[boywonder]

Got my first kangaroo at 4000 miles. For god's sake people! Stop moaning!! If it happens, quickly change up to second and you're off.......[8D]

Fiat Stilo Abarth 3dr. Loden Green, Beige Leather, Sky Window, Cold Climate Pack, 17" Alloys, CD Changer, 260w 8 Speaker Stereo.

 

[rriggs]

You make a good point.

However, the car shouldn't do it and dealers can and will fix it under warranty. Replacing the ECU did on mine.

Roja

2003 Silver 3-Door Abarth with graphite wheels and all the toys

 

[Mikas]

Just in case someone still has this problem.
In my case, it was a faulty Bosch sensor that measures air pressure on the intake and provides this information to engine's computer.

Michael

 

[Big Black Stilo]

My 03 1.2 active does this to, its done about 10k, but its not always when its cold.

Now i am not a top class mechanic but my last car was a seat ibiza, it a faulty temperature sender unit (located directly on the front of the engine block) and the same results happened there- no rapid excelarating until engine warmed up- especially when its cold outside. whats worse is as the part degraded when you started the car after a long run, or a 30 minute blast down a motorway the damm thing would start, fire for less than a second then cut out, to start the car you had to disconnect this, give it 5 minutes then try (sender had to be disconnected), or worse, bump start it. The fault sounds the same but this is a different car by a different firm so could be nothing could be onto something but who knows.

Its more livable than a merc C class that wont select third!

 

[jg-j2003]

I have the same problem, as well as many others!

Also have noticed that the Automatic gear shift is getting rough, especially in the lower gears; not as severe when the engine is warm, but is lovely and smooth when driving in manual.

Stilo Abarth, 2.4- 20v selespeed, Sassi Grey, 17" Alloys, Leather Int, Memory-Heated Seats, MultiChanger

 

[RealRiledOne]

My automatic gearchange has also become lumpy. It's started to do it over the last month or so, but has been most noticeable over the last couple of weeks, so seems to be getting worse. Worse when cold but consistenly bad in the lower gears. Will report to dealership when it goes in for work soon and come back with a fix if they find one.

RRO

 

[jg-j2003]

Originally posted by RealRiledOne
My automatic gearchange has also become lumpy. It's started to do it over the last month or so, but has been most noticeable over the last couple of weeks, so seems to be getting worse. Worse when cold but consistenly bad in the lower gears. Will report to dealership when it goes in for work soon and come back with a fix if they find one.

RRO

Fiat Dealers have sorted mine out. Apparently there is a sensor connected with the accelorator pedal which sends info to the ECU, which in turn sends info to the gear box during gear changes. They reset the errors and checked all computer systems and know its changing gears lovely.

Stilo Abarth, 2.4- 20v selespeed, Sassi Grey, 17" Alloys, Leather Int, Memory-Heated Seats, MultiChanger

 

[tagoso]

My Abarth kangarooed (or bunny-hopped) when the engine temp was cold - but went away once it got warmed up. That lasted for two weeks. Then it was doing it constantly - and I even got a "engine management unit fault" (or similar) message come up. It went straight in to the workshop - still covered under warranty. They replaced the spark plugs and it goes like new again! I will keep an eye on it to see if the problem re-coccurs. If it does I might print this thread out and show them! I have got no idea why the spark plugs would suddenly become fouled though.

 

[Ben R]

A simple solution to this problem: Let your car idle for 2mins till the temp gauge reaches the first white mark then it should be fine. Personally I have never got into my car started it & driven off immediately experience with bikes has taught me that. Particularly the abarth which is a relatively high performance engine I always let it warm up a bit. As someone has already mentioned if you drive off straight away you are'nt letting the oil get round the engine & that's where damage gets done.

 

[stef78]

I may have a solution to the problem. My car went in for a service and I asked them to investigate the kangarooing problem. I got a call to say they needed a part. I did ask what the part was and what it did, but if they guy had spoken in Swahili I'd have understood him better.

When I go for the car I'll ask again and let you know (assuming it fixes the problem!)


Barbarian
3dr Stilo Abarth, Leather, Broom Yellow and Sky Window

Not had a problem with the Abarth but was always happening with my 1.8 Dynamic Stilo i got a few strange looks pulling out of the works car park, i could see people looking for the L Plates!.

 

[Bernie2003]

Hi All,

Re; Kangaroo'ing.

I have this problem on my '03 Stilo Abarth, from cold. Believe it or not, if I reverse (out of my drive) instead of starting off forward, when I get to pull away in first the problem doesn't appear. Don't ask me why, seems to work consistently tho'. Worth a try.

Great car, but I wish I'd got one with the heated front seats!

 

[Greggers]

Hi All,

Re; Kangaroo'ing.

I have this problem on my '03 Stilo Abarth, from cold. Believe it or not, if I reverse (out of my drive) instead of starting off forward, when I get to pull away in first the problem doesn't appear. Don't ask me why, seems to work consistently tho'. Worth a try.

Great car, but I wish I'd got one with the heated front seats!

Have a look at this thread, it might help you get the issue sorted. Mine's still not kanagarooed since I carried out the checks on my variator as described in the thread...

https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo/72634-kangarooing-abarth-any-fixes.html

Totally agree about the heated seats! I wish I had them too... leather is SO cold!

 

[ssuellid]

Mine was kangarooing when cold but recently the battery totally died and needed replacing. Since the battery was replaced it has not kangarooed at all. It does not make any sense to me but it has fixed the problem. Nice man from the AA replaced it for £90. This is on a 02 Abarth and it was the original battery.

 

[Bernie2003]

Thanks Greggars, I'll check that out.

Had my battery changes recently too Sue, but didn't change anything for me. Doh!