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RGZ the Stilo

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RGZ the Stilo

Cheers, I'll be honest and say I'm tempted to get the garage to do it. I was as has been said going to just replace the discs and pads anyway so technically could cheapen the labour on it. I think it is getting to be one of those jobs that needs to be tackled fairly soon though as that squealing's went from intermittent to fairly constant. I'll get the copper grease out to ease things a bit for a time at least.

From the Stilo section on FF there's plenty of stories of people having issues with the rear brakes. Whether it be a simple pad change or the sticking calliper like I've probably got, seems it's a given on the car and the design seems to be a built in obstacle to any work needing to be carried out on it.
 
Well, alternator win was short lived. Day after I fitted it and a cold night had passed, that tell tale sound of a not very healthy alternator decided to rear it's ugly head. Given the iffy way I had my dealings with the auto electricians - dropped off to be examined, nothing heard in 2 weeks, go in randomly and it's "fixed" with a repair bill waiting without me being asked...I'm not 100% sure they ever actually carried out the repair.

Not got a multi-meter so can't check myself and my Dad's misplaced his but taking the Stilo down to the place tomorrow, which'll hopefully be open and get them to check it out. If it's fine without any load and then goes haywire with heavy load going through it then it hasn't been touched - those were the symptoms before I handed it in. Won't be exactly happy if that's the case after paying £48 for them to sort it.
 
Right, update - took the Stilo down to Abercorn and they tested the alternator. Fine under load and off - think it was 16-17 volts without load and 12-13 volts with load if I was reading the readout correctly and that was steady, not jumping all over the place.

Chap tested the battery and the charge was sitting well but the testing machine said the battery was essentially not in the best state so I've ordered a new one. Think the combo of running on a not well alternator and all those charges on a rather ancient battery charger's taken it's toll. So that's £60 I could've done without spending :/ Plus, there's still the slight alternator worn sound from cold I'm still getting. Spraying some silicone spray to relieve it, but still worried the current dodgy battery's doing the refurbed alternator some damage :(

Also, the rear brake situ is getting a bit worse I think. Reading up on it, I'm wondering if the handbrake's out of adjustment (which could account for the brake dust on both wheels) AND the OS calliper's sticking due to dodgy seals or a build up of gunk in said seals leading to the sticking. 100% sure the OS one's in a worse state than the other side, can tell from the faint groove on the disc that's appeared the last week or so though any kind of squealing and indeed heat build up seems to have been eliviated via some copper grease thankfully.

Thinking the brake issue needs sorted sooner than the hg - looking back at old pics, I think the hg has been in the same state for literally the best part of 2 years. I've noticed a slight leak from the rocker cover and in the pics, I noticed the same. Had thought originally it was just AR being shoddy and spilling oil on there :p

Anyway, refurbed calliper's £59 minus £15 if I send my old one back, which seems decent enough. Seals aren't apparently the easiest to replace on the Stilo's rears from what I've read. It is apparently pretty straightforward so long as the pistons are wound back properly and the not just g-clamped like some have done. Not that I'm 100% certain I could do this myself :p

Mildly tempted to get the discs and pads I was going to settle on and get it all done at the same time :)
 
If you can make it to kirkcaldy this weekend, bring it to my garage, with any bits you need fitted, can give it a good look over and fit any bits, my weekends are pretty quiet, will cost you nuthing but the petrol..., just bring biscuits and be prpeared to make cups of tea. woerth poping the pistons out and see how bad they are, before commiting to purchasing new ones......
 
Craig, cheers man appreciate it. Haven't actually bought any bits yet apart from the replacement battery of course :p Wouldn't mind the callipers being checked out, not sure if I'd inflict my tea making abilities on you though - more of a coffee person myself :laugh:

Being a dense kind of person on occasion, I kind of overlooked the pads a tad and noticed in the rather bright sunlight that the OS one is massively down compared to the NS. I think possibly pretty much down to the plate in fact, though I drive with the windows down most of the time so hear any grinding if it happens, which I think occasionally it does :/

Thankfully the other pads all look fine, discs too though they all have a bit of a lip on them, which I was going to rectify with that grooved disc/Greenstuff pad set I saw on eBay for sub-£190 delivered. May well do that at some point anyway though if urgent, I may well just go OEM to save on the cash.

Ming, would the capacity of the alternator not change the amount of volts it's delivering though? Just I'm guessing the one on mine would be higher than the Punto(?) one on yours. Could be wrong - it's known to happen ;)
 
Rob, Just give me a shout when you wanting to do the car, available most days, could even open in the evening if you wanted. As for the Alternator, Ming is right that reading is far to high, It should only be around the 14.5 volts when not under load, Can check that out for you too. If you suspect the Pads being right down, just get a set in ASAP, save the discs from being Scored, Can pick up a set Cheap from my main supplier.
 
Johno933 said:
Rob, Just give me a shout when you wanting to do the car, available most days, could even open in the evening if you wanted. As for the Alternator, Ming is right that reading is far to high, It should only be around the 14.5 volts when not under load, Can check that out for you too. If you suspect the Pads being right down, just get a set in ASAP, save the discs from being Scored, Can pick up a set Cheap from my main supplier.
Click to expand...

Well, disc is a tad scored already. Not amazingly fussed though as was going to replace them anyway. Thing is as well with the pads is they'll just wear down at a rate of knots if I don't sort out the calliper in some way. As said, the seals could well be all that need replaced, but have heard they're not the easiest on the Stilo to replace. Refurb calliper on eBay seems the cheapest option.

Anyway though, shall let you know if and when I can pop over :)
 
Yep...Charging volts is too high, the charging circuit within the alternator is trying to maintain the terminal volts (14v approx) regardless of the load drawn from the car. At that voltage level the battery will dry out and fault, and any sensitive electronic circuits will throw a wobbly!
 
Nice to know that the chap knew what he was talking about then *rolls eyes* Shall take it back to them armed with the info you's have provided, cheers :)

Calliper wise, shall check out my finances and see if I can get it. Should be able to though. I think :D
 
Right, though I had slight electrical issues yesterday, brakes need to be done and pretty soon.

Depending on how much cash I can stump up, from eBay browsing I've spotted this...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brake-Caliper...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item35b0d562cc

...and these...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....859687&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_3998wt_905

...which look like the cheapest/best option to sort it. Or, I could get these...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....797824&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_793wt_1139

...to replace both sides along with the discs for not a lot of money even though I was hoping to get these...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....865134&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_3282wt_905

...which would replace the worn pads on the rear OS as well as upgrading them all round and replacing the fairly worn discs all round with a far better performing (in theory) set of discs. Have heard good things about those last ones, which is why I'd prefer them but if the £££s won't allow, then cheap/oem equivalent it'll need to be.
 
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Johno933 said:
The Grooved Discs and green stuff pads can be bought for just under £146 straight from EBC website.....Save yirself £40 Rob

http://www.ebcbrakesdirect.com/car/parts_disc.asp?part=disc&make=FIAT&model=Stilo&year=1.2+(2001-)

Defo go for the calipers, price is reasonable

Will save you the cash on any fitting costs, so treat yourself get em all....LOL
Click to expand...

That link's just showing pairs of discs, though I'd love an all EBC set up - had been planning that originally. Discs listed there as well, cheapest set up would be the standard OEM EBC equivalent at £166.54. Turbo Groove versions £278.90, both cases I'd need to add the pads onto those costs.

Anyway though, just checked my bank balance and I've not got enough to stretch to the full set. So, what I'm thinking is replace the pads and that caliper for £80.96 and then when I can afford to, perhaps get that other set later down the line should I decide to keep the Stilo. Just need to work out how I'll swap them over though as that £80 odd pretty much wipes me out till I get paid in 3 and a half weeks :p
 
Yeh but if you added the pads from the search to the basket £146.75...

Anyway, if just to get mobile get the one caliper and the cheapest pads & discs. Will check out my supplier, see if i can get them any cheaper for you, will PM you with costs if less. What caliper is the one that really needs replaced?
 
Johno933 said:
Yeh but if you added the pads from the search to the basket £146.75...

Anyway, if just to get mobile get the one caliper and the cheapest pads & discs. Will check out my supplier, see if i can get them any cheaper for you, will PM you with costs if less. What caliper is the one that really needs replaced?
Click to expand...

Hmm, double checked and I do see you get a bigger discount if you add everything together but using the cheapest combo with the oem replacement stuff, I still only get a figure of £182.50. With the Greenstuff pads and Groove discs, it's well over £350 - maybe I'm doing it wrong :S

Yeah, definitely is that one caliper as there's plenty material left on the NS one. Bugger all of the pad remains on the OS, which I know is damaging the disc - thankfully I don't do a tonne of mileage and braking's normally not done crazily hard either.

Would really appreciate you looking into it mate, even with the finance paid off on RGZ, my finances in general ain't the best the now :/
 
The "Slight" Electrical issue Rob had with RGZ yetserday was DEAD battery.
12.64V with everything off, dropping to 2.68v when trying to start.
Tried jump starting from my car, no luck.
Loose Live leed on the Alternator, 12mm socket & rachet later lead tightend up, RGZ still wouldn't start. By this time Ally & I suspected Starter Solenoid had gone, so Ally had bought with him a Type 063 Battery from his Peugot 106, removed the Battery in RGZ and Rob said "If this start's I'm going to scream!", so what happens when we connect the battery up? RGZ starts first time, but NO scream from Rob... :laugh: :D
 
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