Technical stilo electrics fail....

[stiloman3]

If the voltage at the battery terminals is only 4-5 volts when the engine is running, it sugests the alternator isn't working or there'a a problem with the wiring or connections between the battery and alternator.

Mechanic said the alternator was ok,so even tho I bought a new battery the electrics still don't work.

 

[fender mender]

i would look moore at the battery i have just had to change the 2 on are stilos after them chucking up all soughts of problems and both diffrent all soughted now

 

[stiloman3]

Sorry mate,I don't get what you mean.

 

[richydraper]

the ONLY 2 things to drop voltage by 4-5v (unless of course you have a monumental short but id expect all kinds of things to go wrong if this was the case) when running is

1) battery (but you've put a new one on i gather)

or

2) alternator/connections if your mechanic tested alt output at the battery then id find a new guy who knows his arse from his elbow, if he tested it at the alternator then id check the connections!

 

[MarkThompson4]

the ONLY 2 things to drop voltage by 4-5v (unless of course you have a monumental short but id expect all kinds of things to go wrong if this was the case) when running is

1) battery (but you've put a new one on i gather)

or

2) alternator/connections if your mechanic tested alt output at the battery then id find a new guy who knows his arse from his elbow, if he tested it at the alternator then id check the connections!

I had a problem similar to this a few weeks ago. I took my Stilo to a garage to get the clutch bled, done that no problem but on the phone the techy said they got it several yards down the road and it died on them, came up all sorts of faults like asr abs low oil pressure and such like. Instead of getting ripped off by Arnold Clark again I took it away. As I knew my battery was on it's last legs and was bound to fail when the cold snap came I thought that should be my first port of call.
When my mate towed me back we tried jump starting it and got no response when I turned the ignition. I checked all the fuses/relays and the wiring for the alternator and all seemed well.
When I put the new battery in (orignaly for a 1.9 diesel Bora so had plenty punch) I noticed my front fog lights came on when I hooked up the terminals - key was out the ignition - so must of had a short circuit which prevented it from starting. I located and pulled the relay for the front fogs and they went off, went to start it and she burst into life!

For me I had a dead battery and a short circuit, but luckily for me the short was staring me in the face, I couldn't start the Stilo when the fog light relay was in place

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Sounds like a stuck relay than a short circuit

 

[MarkThompson4]

Sounds like a stuck relay than a short circuit

Ah right yeah that makes sense as well lol

I'm just glad it was that and not a more serious fault elsewhere in the car, think I got off lightly in that respect!

Just shows you though that the simplest things can cause what appears to be a very serious problem - always worth checking the simple things yourself first before you splash out at a garage - to think I was going to let Mr Clark take more money off me for them to run checks on it, glad I took it away as I probably saved myself about 100 quid!