Technical ABS/ASR fail and clunk from suspension

[john55]

I really cant keep up with this car. Not a week goes by without something else breaking. I don't mind fixing things things, but this is ridiculous.

I now have ABS/ ASR and ASP fail warnings as soon as I drive more than a few meters. It does not happen when I start the car, only when moving it.

Also, I get a thud from the front suspension (drivers side I think) when I set off from stationary, and another thud when I press the brakes. I have checked all front suspension bolt's I could find and none seem loose. Checked for broken springs, but they are OK. Wishbone bushes look OK. Any more suggestions?

And the most irritating of all, my climate control fan is ticking this morning. A loud ticking that gets faster as the fan speed increases. Is this a major job to get the fan assembly out?


And still on the list and things I haven't got to yet are:
Airbag failure, Connect Nav dead, heated seats dont heat, same for mirrors, bonnet release broken, rear seat adjustment broken, headlight adjustment motor dead. Aircon gas leak.

It never ends on a Stilo. I have even overtaken my mates Audi A8 on the number of faults it has and I thought A8's were bad due to the huge amount of complex kit fitted to them (mind you his auto box is starting to not select gears and that could be £££££).

 

[Argonought]

Blimey, it takes the biscuit a bit when you give out all this free advice to other members - and then get the same faults yourself and realize you can't fix them :bang:

ABS/ASR/ESP is almost certainly related to wheel sensors surely (dirty/damaged etc) :chin: but is it just possible there's a link with the front suspension thud :idea:

 

[john55]

ABS/ASR/ESP is almost certainly related to wheel sensors surely (dirty/damaged etc) :chin: but is it just possible there's a link with the front suspension thud :idea:

Thats a thought. Thanks.
Maybe wheel bearing, but then again I haven't got the usual loud rumble at speed.

Most ABS/ ASR failure is due to dirty connections (been there done that). My new fault is different.

Anyway, this thread stared more as a p***ed off rant than anything else. I've had it with F***ing Stilo's.

Anyone want one cheap. It does at least have a reliable engine after new turbo, Over boost valve MAF, alternator and EGR cleaned.

And by the way changing the fuel filter did nothing for economy. I did notice however that the stilo is far more efficient on the motorway, rather tan round town/ A road driving that it usually does. I averaged 47mpg @ 80mph, compared to my usual 41mpg.

 

[850kd]

ASR/ABS indicator - Ive had this for years on mine especially on cold and wet mornings. (Even though the ABS works fine - so im sure its just the indicator).
Cant advise on the rest but the fan could be a leaf or a pine needle in the fan. Turn it up to full speed to chop it up. If the noise goes then youve fixed it .

 

[john55]

ASR/ABS indicator - Ive had this for years on mine especially on cold and wet mornings. (Even though the ABS works fine - so im sure its just the indicator).
Cant advise on the rest but the fan could be a leaf or a pine needle in the fan. Turn it up to full speed to chop it up. If the noise goes then youve fixed it .

I take it you never go to an MOT on a cold wet morning then. I know about this problem. It is usually dirty electrical contacts or a weak battery. My car starts fine, with no warnings, then I get the beeps as soon as I drive a few meters.
I already tried your method for the fan, but it is still there. Maybe I will leave it on full all the way home to see if that removes it.

 

[Greggers]

Surely the pollen filter would stop anything before it got to the fan?

 

[Deckchair5]

Dear me John55 are you taking it through the car wash with the windows down or something?
ABS/ ASR Argo is right on the money as it only happens when you start moving and so it'll be the wheel speed sensors or wiring from them

Fan?
Yes probably a leaf, if not, pull out the cabin filter and see if there's anything obvious as fan's a bit of a bitch to get to

Heated seat?
Someone posted up recently about how to quick fix the vulnerable cable in the seat or you can obtain a new heater element from an independant supplier for around £30 and fit your own

For the "Also, I get a thud from the front suspension (drivers side I think) when I set off from stationary, and another thud when I press the brakes".
Have you checked the track rod end at that side? That'll give you a nice clunk when you set off or brake and it doesn't take much wear to make itself known

You don't pressure wash this baby by any chance do you? They seem to cause a lot more trouble than they're worth in the end. I gave up using mine when it blew a previously nice looking pin stripe completely off the side of a car. Bloody thing

 

[john55]

Dear me John55 are you taking it through the car wash with the windows down or something?
No, but don't tempt me. Oops its flooded -Insurance payout please. I think it was that very light rain shower we had last night,:shakehead: and no I didn't leave the roof open.

ABS/ ASR Argo is right on the money as it only happens when you start moving and so it'll be the wheel speed sensors or wiring from them
There is no easy way to tell which one, without examiner is there? I'll go round and plug/ unplug the connectors again to see if that helps. On Audi's you have to remove the sensors and clean the metal filings/ gunk off them. Is it the same on Stilo's?

Fan?
Yes probably a leaf, if not, pull out the cabin filter and see if there's anything obvious as fan's a bit of a bitch to get to
Thought so. I changed my pollen filter about a month ago and it has been fine until today.


Heated seat?
Someone posted up recently about how to quick fix the vulnerable cable in the seat or you can obtain a new heater element from an independant supplier for around £30 and fit your own
I read that post, then dismantled both my seats to check. Both were fine. I have faulty elements in both. Where can I get them for £30? I was thinking I would have to spend £££ at Fiat to fix them so wasn't going to bother. Don't need them till winter now anyway.

For the "Also, I get a thud from the front suspension (drivers side I think) when I set off from stationary, and another thud when I press the brakes".
Have you checked the track rod end at that side? That'll give you a nice clunk when you set off or brake and it doesn't take much wear to make itself known
I will check, but I thought I would get it over bumps etc with track rod ends. This thump takes a bit of power / braking force to make it occur.

You don't pressure wash this baby by any chance do you? They seem to cause a lot more trouble than they're worth in the end. I gave up using mine when it blew a previously nice looking pin stripe completely off the side of a car. Bloody thing
I use a car wash brush attachment on a pressure washer, then rinse it over with low pressure. :idea:Come to think of it, I did use full pressure last weekend to clean the alloys and wheel arches. I could have got water into the ABS connectors. -will check.

 

[Deckchair5]

Come to think of it, I did use full pressure last weekend to clean the alloys and wheel arches. I could have got water into the ABS connectors. -will check.
That'll be it then. If you want never ending electrical problems, nothing better than a pressure washer, for real class, clean down the engine bay with it, not forgetting to start the engine immediately after "to dry it off"

Waeco do retro fit heated seat pads for those "lava buns" in Winter

 

[katanabandit1]

Aint stilo's great!LOL
Yeh I posted the thing about heated seat wiring. It usually breaks just before the thermostat sensor on the seat. Dead easy fix! Just re- solder them back together. 20min to fix. Just peel back the seat base cover from the front to back. You should now see a sensor about the size of a five pence piece. I bet this is where the wire is broken off. Stick your finger in the little hole and pull the wire up. Now re-connect and its job done. Its happened on all three of our stillo's. 2 MW's and one 3 door. One of them has electric seats aswell.

 

[john55]

That'll be it then. If you want never ending electrical problems, nothing better than a pressure washer, for real class, clean down the engine bay with it, not forgetting to start the engine immediately after "to dry it off"

Waeco do retro fit heated seat pads for those "lava buns" in Winter

I have always pressure washed my cars and never had a problem with it till the Stilo. I know a couple of people who have pressure washed their engines with disastrous results and is something I have never and never will try. I just wipe over the visible bits with a cloth.

 

[Argonought]

I have always pressure washed my cars and never had a problem with it till the Stilo. I know a couple of people who have pressure washed their engines with disastrous results and is something I have never and never will try. I just wipe over the visible bits with a cloth.

The main issues are from washing the engine bay (very popular with some car dealers that think it might impress the new owner )

If you've picked up an issue with ABS due to pressure washing then I'd say you've just been unlucky (or careless)

 

[phil.1380]

<snip>And by the way changing the fuel filter did nothing for economy. I did notice however that the stilo is far more efficient on the motorway, rather tan round town/ A road driving that it usually does. I averaged 47mpg @ 80mph, compared to my usual 41mpg.</snip>

Hi John, Just a thought on the fuel economy thing....... I'd noticed my mileage starting to drop from 40~43mpg to 37~39mph on my short daily commute into Lincoln. I wondered if some injector cleaner would help, I assumed the air filter is ok as I changed it only 3K ago, I checked my tyre pressures, I too wondered if a new fuel filter would help since I didn't change it last time (looks like you have to remove the pipework and mounting off the bulkhead to unscrew the "easy change" filter )

And then I bought fuel from a different garage.........(both supermarket variety I'm afraid........) And economy is back where it once was.

I was reading a thread on another (american based) forum and they too were complaining about MPG and spiralling cost of "gas" (and yes I have pointed out that theirs is still half the price of ours and to stop whinging !!). The contributors expressed that one brand of fuel states-side were advertising that their brand of petrol contained upto 4% ethanol, proported to be on environmental grounds since it's a renewable/non-oil based hydrocarbon.......... which is of course usual marketing B.S. on their part, but interestingly enough the contributor was complaining that his "gas mileage" had suffered by close to 10% by using this brand, and it was restored by buying a different brand.

So despite those of us who are more paranoid than others........... not all "petrol" or "diesel" is formulated the same, the product merely has to comply with either a European standard Norm (EN) or British Standard (BS) which should be displayed on the pump, and different brands or suppliers may give different levels of performance or economy, and I don't just mean V-Power and the like.

By the way, most filling station pumps meter the fuel based on volume, so when the fuel in the undergound tank is colder you are actually getting more fuel for your money, although how much more is debateable. Early morning fill-up anyone ??

Phil.

 

[john55]

Usually a sudden drop in fuel economy indicates one of 3 faults:
Faulty MAF sensor
EGR valve stuck open
Intercooler pipe split.

Although the last two are usually accompanied by loss of some power too.

I have done the last 2 in the past and today I installed my new MAF sensor. Will let you know how it behaves over the next few days.