Hello friends. At long last, after more than a decade of reading the *Forum*, I have decided to join. My motivation was the question marks hanging over Fiat electrics and in particular the Stilo Airbag Warning problem.
First of all let me make it clear after 40 years of almost continuous Fiat ownership, most of the models from my initial 500 onwards, they all have a little ‘happy’ Italian fitted as standard. He is to be found hiding in the main electrical distribution and relay zone of your motor. What he does is get rebellious if you start to treat your Fiat as just another motor/automobile – It is not, it’s a FIAT – Fine Individual And Terrific !!!!! Without a doubt the finest was the 130 Supermiafiorie 3.8 Twin Cam (I think I have that right) – A breathtaking and untiring workhorse, that for me would do Inverness to London and back in a day and many times! There was also the Croma TI, mine had alloy wheels, leather trim, metallic black paint and if I remember correctly, that twin cam engine only a little more active! Yes, I enjoyed the Tipo and then the Brava 100 TI(?) which carried us many miles a day across the continent. Without a doubt the Palio 127 would be ‘gem’ in my memories.
So now at an age when I should know better, I have the fabulous replacement for the Fiat Coupe, a car I also wanted but never really liked the rear end of in the late nineties. Today at seventy three years old I have a Stilo 3 door 1.6 Dynamic with ally’s, in metallic black with cloth trim. It is a remarkable motor, more so after the computer was remapped. However, surprisingly it also has a resident ‘happy’ Italian in the electric’s somewhere. My wife and I have experienced assorted warning lights over the last few years on motorways, cured by knocking the Fiat out of gear, turning the engine off, and restarting with the key. After that another 5k+ or more miles without panic messages.
Now to the Stilo airbag warning light. This started a few years ago just after we bought it. The first warning just bleeps and puts the message on the computer screen that the airbag has failed. Not which airbag, but one of the 6 !?! At this point press the mode button on the computer control buttons on the dash (Right-hand side) – It will return immediately to the normal day; date, time, mileage. Within 60 sec the alarm will go off again. This time it will included panic messages, such as stop engine and other hectic attitudes. Just press the mode button again and return to reality.
As you pass through the seasons of the year this fault will pass through its phases. Warning, then no warning for a few weeks then warnings again for a month or so, then no warning. It is performing just to keep you enjoying the individuality and fun of your Fiat. I hope you find this useful information, remember, most things can be put down to ‘Fiat Electric’s’! They have never changed over the years. It must be one of the weakness points in putting advanced and original ideas into their cars. They do and can get it right though, look at the Fiat Ferrari?
