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Panda (Classic) Godiva -- the blue 750L (L is for "Low mileage")

Introduction

PIPPIN -- the blue 750L (L is for "Low mileage")

Well, having not "driven stick" for many, many years, picking up Pippin (the Panda formerly known as Godiva...) was one heckuvanadventure...! :eek:

It was fun, though! And I got him/her up to an indicated 70 mph, at one stage; but s/he cruises rather nicely between 60 and 65 mph. (It's a good job s/he doesn't have a rev counter...!) S/he also drove really well in heavy traffic in town... (it's the Shakespeare Birthday Weekend, here; and really sunny...). :D

Here s/he is, parked outside Black Cat Motors, in Stratford-upon-Avon: waiting to be MOT'd, serviced, and given a thorough once-over. (And I make no apologies for promoting them as a garage: they deliver sterling service -- which includes taking their customers all the way to pick up their new cars...! A big thank-you to John, the owner, therefore, for whizzing me up the A46 in his swish 4.2 Audi A8, earlier...! And for commenting that "It doesn't look like a twenty-three-year-old car, does it?") (y)











Thanks to everyone for their help and support -- especially to purple haze for bringing him/her to my attention...! :worship:

Watch this space...! :wave:

PS: Not a bad way to celebrate my 1,500th post to the Forum, eh...?! :cool:


2 August 2014
How Pippin looks now -- after a light fettling from VmanC... :slayer:

Yep, its around £400 a tonne, so a single Panda battery is worth about £3-£4. a small collection…..well you get the idea :(

The stupid thing is I am limited to how many batteries can be taken to the local authority recycling place (3 a year apparently, and only 5 tyres :rolleyes: no wonder people dump them), and I didn't know how to get rid of them (there are 2 more in a lock up!). If anyone had actually asked I'd have said they could have them - by doing that I now want to stick the replacement (to hold down the cover) bricks through their windows!!! Good, I feel better for saying that! :D
 
Just tried a little experiment (known as 'fishing in the dark'...). I connected my faithful multimeter to the new battery; turned the key in the ignition; and... nothing -- not even a flicker on the display. :eek:

This now makes me think that it is more likely(?!) to be the ignition switch -- as I would expect a short/earth problem further down the line (e.g. the starter) would at least draw some current (like when I put the hazards on...). :idea:

Can ignition switches wear out (sometimes working; sometimes not; before dying completely...)? And how difficult is it to drill the shear-headed bolts out to find out...? :eek:

Thinking aloud -- apart from the cost, is it worth just connecting everything to a replacement (working) ignition switch, without fitting it, to see...? Has anyone got one I can borrow, please...? :worship:

Hi Stephen,

Finally back at the workshop after dealing with family stuff over the last few days.

I've removed a steering lock and switch from a scrap Panda, I can post it to you if you'd like to try it. My shear bolts came undone quite easily with a centre punch and hammer, as Freddy suggested, you shouldn't need to resort to drilling. I also managed to separate the switch from the lock so you could possibly change the switch without removing the lock once you see how the two parts are attached. They are the later type not as described in the Haynes manual.
 
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