Stilo Diesel Starting and Stalling

I had similar issues with my old Saab 9-3. The symptoms you describe – poor starting, stalling, and the check engine light – all point to potential camshaft position sensor problems. Have you checked the crankshaft sensor as well? Sometimes a fault there can throw off the engine control unit and cause misfires. Is there any visible damage to the sensor or its wiring?

Thanks for the quick reply! Crankshaft sensor, eh? I haven't checked that. Where exactly is that located on a Stilo? And what kind of damage should I be looking for? I'm no mechanic, so ELI5, please!

While I'm not familiar with the precise location of the crankshaft sensor on your specific Fiat model, it's typically found near the crankshaft pulley. However, given the symptoms and the potential issue with the camshaft encoder wheel, I recommend consulting a qualified mechanic. A defective encoder wheel will require professional intervention. It ended up costing me 695€, including the defective camshaft sensor.

Okay, I hear you loud and clear. Sounds like this is beyond my skills. I'll book it in with a workshop and mention the encoder wheel and camshaft sensor. Thanks a bunch for the advice; at least I have a direction to point them in now!