Fiat Misfire - Repair Help

ChrisD. · 31 Dec 2012 at 00:09

Loads of VAG cars in the top ten.

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/what-car-reliability-survey-2012/263555

Third Opinion · 31 Dec 2012 at 11:51

How can Rover be in it? They haven't sold any cars in years?

Or are they referring to the Chinese firm that owns MG?

Chevrolet number 9. I gotta get saving.

GeX · 31 Dec 2012 at 11:53

Ian_Eb said:
Not sure it is exactly the same but had something similar on a 2002 punto. Turned out that the coil had failed in some way that caused HT to travel back into the ECU and killed that channel on it.

Ended up with a refurb blank (not immobilizer programmed) which sorted it until we sold the car 3 years later.

That's a known fault on that model of Punto's ECU. The ignition driver inside the ECU gets wiped out. I don't think it's an issue on the Stilo.

I do love how this thread has panned out. Ask for help, get good solid advice re diagnostics. Don't do said diagnostics. Ask about dealer vs indie. Get told indie. Go to FIAT. Meanwhile, everyone else is weighing in saying get rid and go VAG. (Or a Mondeo, not seen that yet).

iaind · 31 Dec 2012 at 11:54

Third Opinion said:
How can Rover be in it? They haven't sold any cars in years?

Or are they referring to the Chinese firm that owns MG?

Chevrolet number 9. I gotta get saving.

Read the text, it's cars up to 8 years old.

To be honest, the Stilo is a notoriously unreliable car but if its just a coil pack and he's had no other major issues then getting rid is pretty stupid

Third Opinion · 31 Dec 2012 at 11:59

iaind said:
Read the text, it's cars up to 8 years old.

To be honest, the Stilo is a notoriously unreliable car but if its just a coil pack and he's had no other major issues then getting rid is pretty stupid

I get it now, lol.

Just seen the highest warranty claim. £10,120 on a BMW 7 series. What the hell went wrong with that!

lol

4T5 · 31 Dec 2012 at 12:01

Does the heater still get hot inside the car ? Early sign of HGF is the heater doesn't get as hot/warm. Not 100% reliable method but if you have other symptons & the heater is running cold it points to HGF on it's way.
I'm surprised the recovery dude didn't have a better look around it but then what am I saying of course I'm not surprised.

Could be dodgey plug/plug cap/plug lead/coil pack. As it's been dead cold recent I'd check the plug lead & cap first.

lordrobs · 31 Dec 2012 at 12:06

To be fair I've found Fiat dealer servicing to be very competitive price wise so it might not be such a bad shout. In fact when asked if someone should take a car to a main dealer or an independent they have no experience or feedback of I'd say main dealer every time.

At very very well respected independents I've had a quote for a full service (nearly £300) and when I said "obviously that includes spark plugs etc." they got very defensive and started going on about "anything "extra" will need to be on top of the price quoted". Also at another well respected independent I had a faulty secondary air pump misdiagnosed as a faulty alternator after I specifically asked them to check the pump as I had a CEL on for it. In their defence they did refund all money for the work, courtesy car and even a bulb they put in.

In summary, independents aren't a sure fire way of not getting shafted, even if they have a good reputation.

OP hopefully it will be something simple like a coil pack or spark plug that has given up.

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 1 Jan 2013 at 17:35

miniyazz · 1 Jan 2013 at 19:06

Wowsers. I'm in the wrong business

GeX · 1 Jan 2013 at 19:12

markyp23 said:
I've suggested a Mondeo. Just for you GeX

Thanks!

FYI

Part Number: S4P1534
Retail Price: £60.81
Our Price: £27.36
(Save 55%)

That's what a coil costs to buy

iaind · 1 Jan 2013 at 19:33

So, 2 of at the retail price plus labour - sounds about right then

Brookert · 1 Jan 2013 at 19:44

GeX said:
I do love how this thread has panned out. Ask for help, get good solid advice re diagnostics. Don't do said diagnostics. Ask about dealer vs indie. Get told indie. Go to FIAT. Meanwhile, everyone else is weighing in saying get rid and go VAG. (Or a Mondeo, not seen that yet).

Never a truer word spoken.

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 1 Jan 2013 at 21:53

miniyazz · 1 Jan 2013 at 22:00

If it's similar to my car, no spanner is required - just a simple unplug and replug jobby

By the way, £190 isn't less than £100?

Dogbreath · 2 Jan 2013 at 06:54

iaind said:
So, 2 of at the retail price plus labour - sounds about right then

It looks like some of the 1.6 16v Stilos come with a coil pack cassette so you have to effectively replace all the coil packs at once (which isn't a situation unique to Fiat). If this is the case the total cost would be pretty reasonable. For two pencil coils+fitting it seems very steep to me ("diagnostics" would be 5 minutes worth of time).

Locky · 2 Jan 2013 at 09:28

05 onwards had the 4 in 1 coilpack, pre 2005 had the single coilpack.

GeX · 2 Jan 2013 at 11:31

markyp23 said:
What's your point?

That that garage isn't particularly cheap, so don't go back there. I appreciate that it needed doing ASAP and they did that for you - but those prices I quoted are what you can go out and buy the parts for, they're not trade or special prices at all. I fully expect the garage to be able to source them cheaper still.