Technical Little Help

[DoIbuyit]

Just had my Stilo 1.6 active a week. It is under warrenty for the next 11 weeks so I want to see if this is a major problem.

When I start the car from cold it runs like a dream. When it is warm and I have to re start it for small trips the tickover is unsteady until I run it for a couple of minutes. Also when I restart from warm it seems to smoke but I don't get this from cold.(It's hard to tell because its so cold). I am going to try and clean the Inlet valve as per this forums guide, but i was wondering if it could be anything else. Can't rember it being like this when I was test driving it and it had a service just before I picked it up.

Also the when I first got the car the computer was saying that it was getting 9 miles to the gallon. It is going up now but I was wondering if there is anyway to reset this so I can see what I alone am doing.

Please speak loudly and clearly as I am not mechanically orientated.

P.S Is there anyway to stop the radio from turing on automatically on starting the car, If I turn it offit comes back on when I restart.

Many Thanks

 

[Dogspods]

...It is under warrenty for the next 11 weeks so I want to see if this is a major problem...

Take it back and get dealer to sort the problem.

 

[Dominion]

Yep. Take advantage of the fact that you bought from a dealer and not private.

To reset your mpg figures etc. just press and hold the button on the end of the right hand (wiper) stalk.

 

[PNL]

If its a phase 1..1.6 car ..thats before the 04 cars [phase 2] ask the dealer do do a flash to check if its had all throttle body and ecu updates done..bet there are still some out there that haven't had dealer servicing since being sold on after the 3rd year warranty..

 

[DoIbuyit]

First reg was January 04. It was bought from a independant not a Fait garage - will they still be able to do the update?


Cheers for the MPG info

Any thoughts on the radio

 

[DoIbuyit]

Anybody?

 

[Ffoxy]

Anybody?

If they have "Examiner" they can do it, if not they probably take it to a dealer (or lie)

 

[DoIbuyit]

Did not get chance to take it yet but went out last night and it started to smoke bigtime. Managed to get it home and found water resevoiur was bone dry :bang:

Garage is having it back this morning.

How much damage could I have caused if it was running dry? It was not overheating. The exhaust fumes did actually smell like screen wash so i am wondering if on it's service it was topped up in the wrong bottle?

 

[Sparky1483]

if they have, give them a slap from me, and every other stilo owner, if you didnt overheat then should be no damage, but give em a slap for good measure

idiots:bang:

 

[DoIbuyit]

Checked oil cap and got no Mayo yet but will keep a eye on it. Going back first thing in the morning. Is there anything else I need to look out for?

And I will be slapping if they have

 

[JTD_Liam]

The uneven tickover when warm & the exhaust fumes smelling of screenwash (quite possibly anti-freeze), plus the empty coolant resevoir stinks of head gasket problems to me. It matches the symptoms that the 1.2 Puntos get when their head gaskets are going.

Id be inclined to hand the car back to the garage & ask for a refund, especially as it's only been with you a week. They can't really say you shouldve kept a closer watch on the coolant because youve not really had it long enough to need to check.

I know it sounds like an over-reaction but i just can't see the point in the garage having the car, repairing it (possibly on the cheap), then you getting it back and having further problems out of warranty. Better off just buying a Stilo that hasn't got a chip on its shoulder in the first place i think.

I think the JTD engine is probably the least likely to have head gasket problems. The 1.2 seems to suffer most. Not heard of a 1.6 having issues like this before but i could be mistaken.

 

[DoIbuyit]

I am tempted to hand it back but I am going to see what they say first. I think it def was screen wash I smelt. Even so should not behable to smell Antifreeze in exhaust fumes.

 

[JTD_Liam]

I am tempted to hand it back but I am going to see what they say first. I think it def was screen wash I smelt. Even so should not behable to smell Antifreeze in exhaust fumes.

By all means see what they say, but it doesnt sound too great for a car youve only had a week. Its quite possible that the garage had no idea there was a problem with the car when they sold it, but id just ask for my money back i think. Theyll have to spend the money getting it fixed regardless of who owns it, so i can't see it being a huge problem for them.

There's so many mint Stilos out there that it just isnt worth the faff in my opinion. Head gaskets seem to be one of those things that if theyre not fixed perfectly, theyll cause more trouble later, and id guess you dont buy a newer car to have more hassle.

Has it done many miles by the way? Coz January 2004 isnt that old.

 

[DoIbuyit]

Done 45k. Looks mint condition and apart from the smoking it has been a dream to drive. I really do like the car and it was perfect for what I want. Will have to have a long think about it

 

[Argonought]

I agree with Liam over this.

The other fact that would worry me is seeing 9 mpg on the trip computer (I presume this is average).

To manage that on a 1.6 would suggest mega issues to me

 

[DoIbuyit]

Just had it back from the dealer. they say they can't find anything wrong with it. Had it on the machine and no errors. Advised me to run it for a week and see if anything pops up.

Re the 9 mpg. When I reset it I am getting around 27 mpg for my short trips. Not done anything longer due to the weather. Is 27 mpg about right?

Will let you know how it goes.

 

[Sparky1483]

it wont show as an error as nothing is broke yet, stilo aint so clever to detect a broken head, common sence if its smoking there is something wrong, there trying it on now, running it longer may be doing more damage.

the engine may "pop" up, then there in the crapper, they aint got a clue:bang:

 

[ROWENA]

there is a simple sniffer test to detect head gasket failure take the car back and get em to do it preferably with you there as the garage seems a bit clueless it will only take a few minutes to do or there may be a DIY kit you could use hope this helps

 

[jostheboss]

I hate it how garages have no clue at diagnosing a problem without their computers....

 

[DoIbuyit]

Been over to the garage and made them do the test. It is the head gasket:bang:
Asked him if I could get another car and he said I could. Looked round and there are only 2 cars I like and both have done 120k (Vectra & Rover)

What to do?

I have to say the guy is genuine and really wants to sort the problem out. He has a good reputation for his after sales and the quality of work his garage produces. He talked me through about changing the head and pressure testing it.

Don't know where I stand to getting my money back because I part-exed and paid the surpluse cash. He has already sold my old car. Would I be in my rights to ask for my money back? Also I did have his arm up his back for the part-ex value so I don't know how keen he would be.