Hi, Who can help me with this question? The ignition distributor of my Fiat panda 1000ie fire 4x4 from 1988 is broken. It makes a sound as if something is rubbing. I would like to buy another one. The choice is a new one of Chinese make or a second hand one. I have already bought a Chinese ignition distributor once but it was of poor quality. The earth wire was loose and the plastic cover was broken. Maybe I was just unlucky and it was a coincidence that it was so bad. If I buy a second hand one you also do not know what the quality is exactly. And the difficulty which one exactly fits my car. The number on the part is SE101C- 8E 829R1 829P1. I come across a lot of them where all numbers are the same except for the two numbers after SE101C - ....... Who knows how much those last two numbers matter?
Technical ignition distributor of my Fiat panda 1000ie fire 4x4 from 1988
- Thread starter Fou75
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Technical ignition distributor of my Fiat panda 1000ie fire 4x4 from 1988
This is the listing I have, if any help.
I notice further down the page there are different advance details etc. for the different distributors.
I suspect the last numbers are less relevant.
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tobywood13
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As replacement distributors seem to be quite unreliable these days, have you considered switching to electronic ignition?
Sounds interesting! Please tell me more!
If you look in my photo of manual above you will see the two most likely distributors for your engine are electronic already.
Personally having trained on cars with points and condensors back in the late 1960s I prefer them to electronic, the reason is when they fail I could fix them at the side of the road in minutes for a few pounds, unlike electronic where you wait for hours for a recovery truck to tow back to a garage for you to wait days/weeks for a new electronic distributor or part costing much more.
Personally having trained on cars with points and condensors back in the late 1960s I prefer them to electronic, the reason is when they fail I could fix them at the side of the road in minutes for a few pounds, unlike electronic where you wait for hours for a recovery truck to tow back to a garage for you to wait days/weeks for a new electronic distributor or part costing much more.
Than I guess I already have an electronic ignition. I hope that someone knows more about the impact of the two letter and number combination behind the SE101C. Than I can look for one and order it.If you look in my photo of manual above you will see the two most likely distributors for your engine are electronic already.
Personally having trained on cars with points and condensors back in the late 1960s I prefer them to electronic, the reason is when they fail I could fix them at the side of the road in minutes for a few pounds, unlike electronic where you wait for hours for a recovery truck to tow back to a garage for you to wait days/weeks for a new electronic distributor or part costing much more.
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First check your engine Series Number as if you look at my photo of manual there are only two significant versions so unless yours is the low powered "ecobox " version then all you need to do is look for the SE101A, as if you go for the other ones they "detune" the engine with less ignition advance etc. As the details I have given will show you. Check which of the last two columns relate to your vehicle.
The numbers that are in my Motor Trade Manual are the significant ones you need when ordering the part, I doubt whether there is much information available these days on those other details.
The engine number of my car is 156A2.246 but that engine isnt on the pageFirst check your engine Series Number as if you look at my photo of manual there are only two significant versions so unless yours is the low powered "ecobox " version then all you need to do is look for the SE101A, as if you go for the other ones they "detune" the engine with less ignition advance etc. As the details I have given will show you. Check which of the last two columns relate to your vehicle.
The numbers that are in my Motor Trade Manual are the significant ones you need when ordering the part, I doubt whether there is much information available these days on those other details.
just the 156A2.000 and the 156A2.100The engine number of my car is 156A2.246 but that engine isnt on the page
I have just checked on other pages and it appears you have had an engine change at some point, assuming that number 156A2.246 is from your actual engine as that number indicates a Panda 1000 ie Kat and doesn't describe it as a "Fire" version and certainly not for the 4x4, but suggests the distributor should be a Marelli SE 101C. See photo below.
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I got the engine type number from the little plaque on the inside of the engine bay. Does the engine have a type number somewhere so I can check if they match?I have just checked on other pages and it appears you have had an engine change at some point, assuming that number 156A2.246 is from your actual engine as that number indicates a Panda 1000 ie Kat and doesn't describe it as a "Fire" version and certainly not for the 4x4, but suggests the distributor should be a Marelli SE 101C. See photo below.
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Strange, it is definitely a 4x4 originally?
I don't know where the engine series number is on your actual engine, others on Forum will know I am sure.
I live in Sweden, maybe the 4x4 had a diffirent engine here. I found the engine code on the block and its the same as the plaque in the car. In the official papers its says it has a drive shaft in the front and in the back. So it seems it originally a 4x4. I added al the stickers and plaques that i could find in my car. Maybe somebody knows what they all mean.
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I agree it appears to be 4x4 from new and with that 156A2.246 engine so a different specification to the UK version I was giving details on . Sorry.
The first I think is just a E.U. Type approval, the second a detailed specification of your model when assembled, the third is the paint code and obviously the final one is your Vin number.
Interesting the second photo describes the model as a Lancia, Uno, Panda and Panda 4x4.
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I just heard back from another Swedish fiat panda 4x4 owner and he wrote this:
I think it is because the swedish pandas came with catalytic converters from 1988 (because of laws) but in the UK they didn't have catalysts until the 90s
I think it is because the swedish pandas came with catalytic converters from 1988 (because of laws) but in the UK they didn't have catalysts until the 90s
