Fiat Stilo problem

[auzziegogo]

Hello

I have joined in an attempt to try and find out what is up with my 2003, 1.6l Active Estate. It has done around 107k miles and I have owned it since April.

Before the last cold snap of weather the engine started to miss and when I first started it there was loads of smoke coming out. The smoke comes out until it is warm and the engine runs pritty well until every now and then the engine miss fires. It also cuts out sometimes when coming to a roundabout and changing gears from 3/4 to 3/2 to go around the roundabout. I put around £180 to get to work the last week of using it as I had to get to work. When it cut out it would go from half a tank full to the next mark down, crazy!

The engine management light in on and it comes on as soon as the car is started. I have stopped using the car as the management light was constantly going off and could not do with the hassel and cost of breaking down. I do not know much about cars apart from where the fuel goes and the engine as at the front!

I have had the plugs changed, dropped the oil and put fully synthetic oil in. I have had it plugged in to 2 different computers and they each said that valve 3 was not working and the circuit is open. There is also something about the A/c not working properly but I do not think that the engine not running properly has anything to do with that.

Have taken it to a mechanic and he said that this could be a job of throwing money to do different things and then at the end of it not fixing it. Not sure what to do with the car. Father in law is a car dealer and he has someone who will take the 'head off' and have a look (not sure what exeaclty this is but could fix problem). I now think that I paid to much for the car anyway so do not really want to throw loads of cash at it but the size and everyting else with the car is great. This is the last effort before it goes on ebay!

Anyone got any ideas? All ideas welcome.

Auzzie

 

[Davren]

Hi, Welcome to the FF.

I have had it plugged in to 2 different computers and they each said that valve 3 was not working and the circuit is open.

What fault codes did you get? There are no codes that are specific to an engine valve.

Have taken it to a mechanic and he said that this could be a job of throwing money to do different things and then at the end of it not fixing it.

If your mechanic is adopting the 'diagnosis by substitution' approach, you need a new mechanic.

 

[auzziegogo]

Hello

The first time the computer had 88 diferent codes then 13 with the same computer. The second computer had 2 or 3 different codes each started with a P03** I think. More than that i cannot remember. Something about the valve 3 circuit being open?

Can you point me in the right direction with someone who knows what they are talking about when it comes to a FIAT? No disrespect to the bloke who looked at it I think he was out of his depth so he did not really want to start messing with it. Any ideas generally what the problem could be apart from the obivous?

Thanks for the reply.

Austin

 

[Davren]

The P03XX codes refer to ignition system problems and misfire detection. They could be Crankshaft Sensor, Camshaft Sensor, Knock Sensor or Ignition Coils or the wiring and connectors to any of them. Without accurate codes, all you can do is 'diagnosis by substitution' but it's likely to be an expensive way to do it.