Technical ...and I thought I had problems!

[mac75]

It's comforting to know that I'm not the only Stilo owner to have endured recurring technical woes.

Here's my list in no particular order:

flat battery
loose object in the dashboard
flat battery
clutch pedal jolting on being raised
flat battery
clutch pedal jolting on being raised
flat battery
clutch pedal jolting on being raised
flat battery

Tragically there are no duplicates in the above list and I'm not sure whether it's 5 or 6 times that I've gone to the car in the morning to find the battery flat. To their credit the dealership have fitted a new battery, a larger battery and changed the alternator; all to no avail. On the most recent occasion one of Fiat's alleged national experts visited the car, claimed he could find nothing amiss, but advised that the internal computer should be changed.

I have met nothing other than a brick wall complaining to the finance company who legally own the car. Their line has always been that the flat battery must be my fault as the dealership mechanics claim there is nothing technically wrong with the car. I don't exactly travel 500 miles a week in it but when the battery is flat a day after I made a 50 mile run in the car, I refuse to believe my usage is to blame. Incidentally I hardly ever use the radio or heater. I harbour great suspicion that it is always first thing after a cold night when I have discovered the battery (and the car) lifeless. I have also yet to receive a genuine response to my outlining the great inconvenience caused to me by having to return the car to the dealer around 10 times.

I do like the styling but can't see me choosing Fiat again. Don't suppose anyone else has endured the recurring dead battery issue?

mac

 

[Dillinger]

Sorry for being obvious, but even with everything seemingly off it sounds like there is some kind of drain on your battery or perhaps a short.

Is everything in the car standard? perhaps some one has fitted something incorrectly?

perhaps someone electrically minded could help?

Come on ppl chip in.

Dill.

---

 

[big-al]

Snap! - my car started doing the same after I'd had it 3 months.
After the usual dealer to and fro'ing with no resolution, eventually sussed that locking the car was draining the battery. As I keep it garaged overnight I stopped locking it whilst in the garage and it was fine after that. Whilst waiting for the garage to come up with a solution, I had the door panels changed after someione had pranged it, then the problem went away.
Now 3 months later its just come back again!
Anybody else had this as well or found a solution?

Al

 

[pantjo]

The immobiliser could be to blame, but I hardly think that it consumes that much battery. Some short of short circuit has to be the cause.

pantelis
2002 Stilo 80 Active, no alloys, no power tuning, tinted windows, love the sky window though!

 

[pantjo]

then again I think MAC75 has sorted the problem cause he hasn't paid a vist to the site since he made the post!!

pantelis
2002 Stilo 80 Active, no alloys, no power tuning, tinted windows, love the sky window though!

 

[Lead]

The alarm/immobiliser can flatten the battery in my motorcycle if I leave it unridden - but it takes about 2 weeks to do it [:0]

_________________________
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.[^]

 

[ahatzig]

A frient of mine had this problem (not with a stilo) and the problem was a cable that was cut and it was having contact with the chasis.
An expert car electritian might sort this out!!!

Andreas (CY)
Fiat Stilo Black 1.6 3Door Dynamic, 16''Alloys

 

[big-al]

Well , the story continues. I took the car in, funnily enough the airbag light came on whilst driving, and left it at the garage.
They fixed the airbag (seat sensor we all know about) and left the car for 4 days with it locked. Technician came to it today and of course it fired up first go , fully charged battery with no drain on it apart from a few milliamps from the clock.
Everybody is stumped.
If it does it again I'll have to ditch the car - shame really as I like it (when it starts that is).

fingers crossed,

Al