Car not cranking
Discussion
Trying to fault find the 280i and why it stopped cranking and burned out the ignition wiring.
It looks like there is a short somewhere in the system, with the ignition turned on there is only 1v power getting to anything, and there is no response from any relays. Obviously not helped by having a proper diagram or knowing what each of the relays do.
Does anyone have a relay diagram, there are 8 main relays in two rows of 4, and one larger relay above that with single cables connected to it.
It looks like there is a short somewhere in the system, with the ignition turned on there is only 1v power getting to anything, and there is no response from any relays. Obviously not helped by having a proper diagram or knowing what each of the relays do.
Does anyone have a relay diagram, there are 8 main relays in two rows of 4, and one larger relay above that with single cables connected to it.
Wedg1e said:
mrzigazaga said:
And fixed!....Could be worth a 
at the next BBWF...While we are standing there admiring the 390......
Admiring it? You do know it won the Rat Car award a few 'Fests back? Well it hasn't got any better since... at the next BBWF...While we are standing there admiring the 390......
Anyway, I'd rather spend a weekend sorting Wedge electrics than an hour on my mother's Fiat bloody Stilo: she was round the other night with a worrying knocking noise. That turned out to be the whole battery and electrics tray loose; not fixed properly by the monkeys who changed her clutch recently (no,not me!). Whilst test-driving the car I noticed the O/S dipped beam was pointing up in the sky.
When I walked round the front of the car I could hear a whirring noise: it was coming from the N/S headlamp. The electric leveller was working away but the lamp wasn't moving. I tried the buttons: the O/S headlamp now whirred but didn't move either.
So I went round tonight and took the rear cover off the O/S light: the dipped bulb was skewed in its holder, that's why the beam was off. But I couldn't get at the levelling motor and the front bumper seems to need to come off to get the headlamp out
So I looked at the N/S lamp. Which is obstructed by the battery box that I'd already bolted back in. Still, I worked my hand into the gap (where's Rolf when you need him) and got the back cover off, but again I couldn't do anything with the leveller, and now when I tried to put the cover back on I kept dropping it. My bloody wrist is now cut to ribbons from the sharp edges of steel and plastic.
I finally got the cover back on, tried the lights - and the N/S indicator had packed in! WTF?! Cover back off, wiggled the lamp, indicator starts working. Then I find one of the sidelights has fallen out. Not just fallen out of its clip; the whole bloody socket has come adrift from the plastic moulding.
So I work out how to get it back in, replace the indicator, drop the cover a few more times and end up getting a bit miffed.
So out came the battery, I bent the battery box out of the way and got the lamp cover back on, put the battery in, tested the lights and just for a laugh I tried the electric levelling: the O/S headlamp now adjusts perfectly. Aaaarrrggghhh!
...and don't get me started on the Occupant Classification Sensor in the passenger seat
- or the non-operational (and completely inaccesible) tailgate solenoid 
- these old Wedges are just fine by me
When I walked round the front of the car I could hear a whirring noise: it was coming from the N/S headlamp. The electric leveller was working away but the lamp wasn't moving. I tried the buttons: the O/S headlamp now whirred but didn't move either.
So I went round tonight and took the rear cover off the O/S light: the dipped bulb was skewed in its holder, that's why the beam was off. But I couldn't get at the levelling motor and the front bumper seems to need to come off to get the headlamp out
So I looked at the N/S lamp. Which is obstructed by the battery box that I'd already bolted back in. Still, I worked my hand into the gap (where's Rolf when you need him) and got the back cover off, but again I couldn't do anything with the leveller, and now when I tried to put the cover back on I kept dropping it. My bloody wrist is now cut to ribbons from the sharp edges of steel and plastic.
I finally got the cover back on, tried the lights - and the N/S indicator had packed in! WTF?! Cover back off, wiggled the lamp, indicator starts working. Then I find one of the sidelights has fallen out. Not just fallen out of its clip; the whole bloody socket has come adrift from the plastic moulding.
So I work out how to get it back in, replace the indicator, drop the cover a few more times and end up getting a bit miffed.
So out came the battery, I bent the battery box out of the way and got the lamp cover back on, put the battery in, tested the lights and just for a laugh I tried the electric levelling: the O/S headlamp now adjusts perfectly. Aaaarrrggghhh!
...and don't get me started on the Occupant Classification Sensor in the passenger seat
- or the non-operational (and completely inaccesible) tailgate solenoid - these old Wedges are just fine by me Wedg1e said:
Anyway, I'd rather spend a weekend sorting Wedge electrics than an hour on my mother's Fiat bloody Stilo: she was round the other night with a worrying knocking noise. That turned out to be the whole battery and electrics tray loose; not fixed properly by the monkeys who changed her clutch recently (no,not me!). Whilst test-driving the car I noticed the O/S dipped beam was pointing up in the sky.
When I walked round the front of the car I could hear a whirring noise: it was coming from the N/S headlamp. The electric leveller was working away but the lamp wasn't moving. I tried the buttons: the O/S headlamp now whirred but didn't move either.
So I went round tonight and took the rear cover off the O/S light: the dipped bulb was skewed in its holder, that's why the beam was off. But I couldn't get at the levelling motor and the front bumper seems to need to come off to get the headlamp out
So I looked at the N/S lamp. Which is obstructed by the battery box that I'd already bolted back in. Still, I worked my hand into the gap (where's Rolf when you need him) and got the back cover off, but again I couldn't do anything with the leveller, and now when I tried to put the cover back on I kept dropping it. My bloody wrist is now cut to ribbons from the sharp edges of steel and plastic.
I finally got the cover back on, tried the lights - and the N/S indicator had packed in! WTF?! Cover back off, wiggled the lamp, indicator starts working. Then I find one of the sidelights has fallen out. Not just fallen out of its clip; the whole bloody socket has come adrift from the plastic moulding.
So I work out how to get it back in, replace the indicator, drop the cover a few more times and end up getting a bit miffed.
So out came the battery, I bent the battery box out of the way and got the lamp cover back on, put the battery in, tested the lights and just for a laugh I tried the electric levelling: the O/S headlamp now adjusts perfectly. Aaaarrrggghhh!
...and don't get me started on the Occupant Classification Sensor in the passenger seat - or the non-operational (and completely inaccesible) tailgate solenoid - these old Wedges are just fine by me
Fiat Stilo? Value must be minimal, just cut holes where access is required.When I walked round the front of the car I could hear a whirring noise: it was coming from the N/S headlamp. The electric leveller was working away but the lamp wasn't moving. I tried the buttons: the O/S headlamp now whirred but didn't move either.
So I went round tonight and took the rear cover off the O/S light: the dipped bulb was skewed in its holder, that's why the beam was off. But I couldn't get at the levelling motor and the front bumper seems to need to come off to get the headlamp out
So I looked at the N/S lamp. Which is obstructed by the battery box that I'd already bolted back in. Still, I worked my hand into the gap (where's Rolf when you need him) and got the back cover off, but again I couldn't do anything with the leveller, and now when I tried to put the cover back on I kept dropping it. My bloody wrist is now cut to ribbons from the sharp edges of steel and plastic.
I finally got the cover back on, tried the lights - and the N/S indicator had packed in! WTF?! Cover back off, wiggled the lamp, indicator starts working. Then I find one of the sidelights has fallen out. Not just fallen out of its clip; the whole bloody socket has come adrift from the plastic moulding.
So I work out how to get it back in, replace the indicator, drop the cover a few more times and end up getting a bit miffed.
So out came the battery, I bent the battery box out of the way and got the lamp cover back on, put the battery in, tested the lights and just for a laugh I tried the electric levelling: the O/S headlamp now adjusts perfectly. Aaaarrrggghhh!
...and don't get me started on the Occupant Classification Sensor in the passenger seat
- or the non-operational (and completely inaccesible) tailgate solenoid - these old Wedges are just fine by me Wedg1e said:
V8 Fettler said:
Fiat Stilo? Value must be minimal, just cut holes where access is required.
Through the wing, then 
My mother bought the car on a Friday and my dad died the following Monday; I reckon he was just trying to get out of looking after the bloody thing...
Through the inner wing perhaps?
Hasn't everyone repaired a clutch fork through a jagged hole chain-drilled into a bell housing?
V8 Fettler said:
I was thinking more of the tailgate solenoid, 50mm hole cutter, finish with a nice bung. Just need to avoid any concealed cabling.
Ah, gotcha. I forget the details but the last time I tried to get at the tailgate lock solenoid I gave up in disgust after the first 40 or so screws, brackets and clips on the inside of the tailgate. It still opens with the key so I keep hoping she's forgotten 
I did a bit of reading and found that the Stilo is renowned for its poor headlamp access with garages charging up to £90 to fit a headlamp bulb, usually by removing the front bumper.
Apparently Halfords fitters' manual says 'Do not attempt'
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