General What's going on with my Stilo...

[Stu DemonD]

Seems something is up with the Stilo, again

Only noticed it past few days, and haven't had a chance to look at it properly BUT symptoms are as follows:

I am getting horrendous judder right through the steering column when driving along, not even at speed - not all the time, but more noticeable on a long, straight bit of road; it feels as if the tracking is out by a long way, but I am also feeling and hearing some noise under there as well - like a rubbing noise, hard to describe....

I am also a bit concerned about my oil level and oil pressure; have topped it up quite a bit recently [like yesterday], and under normal acceleration I am getting 6/6 bars of pressure. BUT sometimes, when car is idling, I may get 4 or 5 bars only Now I recall having it serviced for its 36k'er back in July, and a few days later I took it back because there was a distinct lack of oil in it - this even surprised the manager. I watch my pressure like a hawk, and always have it displayed on the MFD.

Like today, left the carpark at 5pm, and had full oil pressure as soon as I started up, as normal - car seemed to be running fine - then a few miles in, on some dual carriageway, started getting severe judder - got back home, and left car to idle on driveway - on tickover, it kept flicking down to 4 or 5 bars... but as soon as I touch accelerator a smidge, full pressure again....

Would or could these be linked in anyway?!

I even checked the tyre pressures today, to make sure there wasn't a flat or something sticking out of them

I intend to jack car up at weekend, and take both wheels off and have a good old gander; BUT I am pretty concerned really hoping it is something fixable

 

[SLOVAC]

Hey Stu,

This is a total shot in the dark... but when is the last time yu had your wheels balanced?
As for lack of oil pressure, and loosing oil... it could be a gasket somewhere that has gone. Have you spotted any visible oil leaks? (suppose not, otherwise you wouldn't have asked on the forum :chin
If possible, pull the car onto a ramp and give it a good look-over for any signs of oil leak.

Cheers,
Slovac

 

[dave]

flat tyre (un even presures)? missing wheel bolts where some chav been trying to nick them?

 

[chrisunoman]

Try swapping the back wheels to the front and vise versa and see if that makes any difference.

 

[Deckchair5]

"I am getting horrendous judder right through the steering column when driving along, not even at speed - not all the time, but more noticeable on a long, straight bit of road; it feels as if the tracking is out by a long way, but I am also feeling and hearing some noise under there as well - like a rubbing noise, hard to describe...."
That could easily be track end/s. Hope so, cheap and easy to replace

Re Oil then I think the Abarth acceptable oil consumption figures are a bit of a joke but you'll always get the highest pressures when the engine is cold. Worn engines/ oil pumps/ big ends will show reduced pressure when engine is hot and on tickover. Depends how low it gets as to whether to worry. What's "a bar?" A bar on the oil gauge?

Guzzling oil combined with lowering oil pressure doesn't sound good. Is the correct oil being put in?

 

[Stu DemonD]

Thanks for the responses, guys

I haven't had the wheels balanced or tracked for some time, so may be the issue - I reckon a swap round from back to front may either give me the answer or rule that out altogether....

I did check the tyre pressures this morning - n/s/f was a bit low, but sorted that and problem remained. Reckon next plan is to check the tightness of all the bolts in the morning.

The track end sounds like a possibility - I still feel this is not an engine problem as such, and the oil issue is a separate problem. How easy is to check the track end visually? Or do I need a mechanic

Ok, a bar is what I call the bars on the Multi-function display - 6 bars is full, zero is no pressure, etc. I am using the same oil as used by the dealership [Magnetec, not Selenia] and the same grade as per the manual. Granted, I do drive the car relatively hard, so expect quite high oil loss.

As for checking for leaks, nothing visible - I park in the same spot in the multi-storey most days, and had a look this morning - nothing obvious. Plus no major leaks on my drive here....Car only has 32k miles on it, but I now seem concerned about the oil pump being faulty.....Aargh.....

 

[Deckchair5]

Track rod ends are pretty easy to check. Jack up the car then rock the wheels hard horizontally ie 9 o clock to 3 o clock. See if you can detect any clonking or see any movement at the track rod end. Takes a bit of David Blane orientation and sometimes,if the play is only slight, it's good to put your hand on the track rod end and feel for any play.while someone rocks the wheel

If the wheel rocks from 12 o clock to 6 oclock as well then wheel bearings might be gone or other suspension part but wheel bearings don't seem to be a problem on Bravos and Stilos

Low oil pressure AND losing oil is a bit worrying. Could be thinking worn piston rings and crankshaft bearings. Hope I'm wrong.

Worn oil pump will give low oil pressure but not explain the high oil consumption

The wrong oil would give high consumption and low pressure. As long as you're sure that's the best oil for the Abarth then that's fair enough

Didn't someone post about their Stilo crankshaft end float (horizontal movement) going way out as the bearing wore away and they found their oil being dumped out through the crankshaft seal. Sorry, I'll stop now. It's getting scary. It'll just be a piece of blue tack that's required.

 

[Neil Barker]

Stu, if you look at a conventional oil pressure gauge, on idle it'll be down at the lower end and then rapidly flick to mid-high pressure as the engine revs range - that's normal.

As for the judder, I recall once in a previous Ford Sierra Sapphire I was driving along and had the most horrendous judder. Me thinking the worst phoned Dad and all it was was all bar one wheel nut being very loose.

 

[Deckchair5]

Talking oil pressure, if the 6/6 marker shows shall we say 100psi pressure then at 4/6 at warm idle then that's still 60psi which is perfectly ok and would just show the engine is wearing from new. At 37k then the engine is 1/3 through it's life and driven like it's stolen with ECU power tuning then the loads accelerate wear so you may just be seeing a normal Abarth wear characteristic. Other Abarth owners with Angel tuning could compare their oil pressure with you as to what is "normal"

Now if you have a sudden change in oil pressure characteristics from what you have seen happening as "normal" then that's more cause for concern

The Abarth oil consumption is a Fiat joke

Re your steering you say
" am getting horrendous judder right through the steering column when driving along, not even at speed - not all the time, but more noticeable on a long, straight bit of road; it feels as if the tracking is out by a long way, but I am also feeling and hearing some noise under there as well - like a rubbing noise, hard to describe...."

When you say you feel the tracking is out by a long way do you mean the car is pullling or that you have less grip with the road?

Is it under acceleration? Does it get better if you brake? More/less noise when you turn? Does the judder only happen arond 40-50mph?

 

[Stu DemonD]

When you say you feel the tracking is out by a long way do you mean the car is pullling or that you have less grip with the road?

Is it under acceleration? Does it get better if you brake? More/less noise when you turn? Does the judder only happen arond 40-50mph?

The car still has as much grip on the road as ever, and no discernable pull apart from the usual 'going to the left' due to road camber...

Started off this morning ok, but then got the shudder at certain speeds - and then it eases off again. Turning the car makes no major difference!

I will get it up on ramps at weekend, then book it into dealership for a once over next week - as for oil consumption, I will just keep an eye on it; not actually getting any warning lights as such, just trying to be cautious

 

[Deckchair5]

That sounds like wheel balance, especially if it's around the 40-50mph range

What did you mean when you say "it feels like the tracking is way out?"

I tried Etyres this week, by the way, and what a fantastic experience! They come to YOU to fit the tyres and do the fitting, balancing etc in your own driveway at a time to suit you while you sit back and have a cup of coffee. They carry all the equipment in their van. £135 inc vat for 2 Dunlop 2000 205/55 R16 V fitting and balancing AND they said they'd come out and repair any puncture I might have at any time free of charge. Jeez! No more hanging about around tyre shops for me'

 

[Stu DemonD]

What did you mean when you say "it feels like the tracking is way out?"

Not sure now :chin: I suppose because of the amount of judder I am getting at speeds. Maybe I didn't quite mean tracking, I dunno

I think up on ramps Saturday morning, then take it down to a local place in the village, if they are open - he will give me an honest verdict.

 

[Stu DemonD]

I tried Etyres this week and what a fantastic experience! They come to YOU to fit the tyres and do the fitting, balancing etc in your own driveway while you sit back and have a cup of coffee. They carry all the equipment in their van. £135 inc vat for 2 Dunlop 2000 fitting and balancing AND they said they'd come out and repair any puncture I might have free of charge. Jeez! No more hanging about around tyre shops for me'

Excellent - just had a look at the Bridgestone RE04s, and the price is £85 fitted - same price I paid from local fitter

 

[Stu DemonD]

Ho hum, decided to bite the bullet and phone up local dealership - luckily, the service receptionist I know took the call

They are fully booked up Saturday morning, but she said drop it down that morning, and they will check it out, plus look to see if there is anything obvious with the oil pressure - can't say fairer than that

 

[Deckchair5]

Well if she said she's going to drop everything and give you special attention then I'd take up the offer!

 

[Stu DemonD]

Well if she said she's going to drop everything and give you special attention then I'd take up the offer!

Not with her :nono:

 

[Deckchair5]

Moustache? It's an Italian thing. You get used to it

 

[Stu DemonD]

Hmmmm :chin:

Car has been down to Fiat, and it was taken for a quick spin round the block, and physically inspected - but as envisaged, nothing wrong can be seen the guy felt a 'slight' judder, lol - tyre pressures and torques are fine, and nothing felt loose under there....

...so I kicked up a stink, and said 'well something is wrong with it, I drive it 50 miles each and every day and it isn't safe'.

So it is going back in on Wednesday, for 2 days, to have a better look - maybe they will remove the wheels this time

 

[Koa]

Good luck Stu, it's very frustrating with stuff like this, never seems to happen when they have it :bang:

When you get any pics mate, send us a few and I'll pop your car on my website I haven't done any work to it for a while so I need to get off my ass, or actually stay on my ass and do it

 

[Stu DemonD]

When you get any pics mate, send us a few and I'll pop your car on my website I haven't done any work to it for a while so I need to get off my ass, or actually stay on my ass and do it

Ok - the car needs a darn good clean [last time was before Gaydon ] - but now got a replacement Karcher 4-way pressure wash jet attachment off eBay this week [my excuse for not cleaning it], so may even clean the car tomorrow - it is filthy....