Panda Panda 100HP project (cooperman style!)

[cooperman]

So I popped out to the shops Sunday morning and I was greeted with a lovely misfire! I plugged in my diagnostic tool and got a p0301 code with points to cylinder 1.
All the coils were replaced last year so I thought that’s odd.
I took the air box off and it looked like the clip for coil 1 wasn’t pushed home fully with a bit of a push it clipped on.
The fault code was cleared and I thought happy days.
I went out for a test drive and nope still a miss fire underload from 2nd gear onwards at about 2,5k rpm but no warning light this time or no fault showing.
I then swapped out coil 1 for a good old one I had and still the same issue.
So it could be a plug (I didn’t remove it as literally hate doing spark plugs with a passion) but it looks abit rough from the top (think it was replaced in 2022) but
I did feel driving it last week under hard acceleration it almost feeling like it was tightening up.
So I got it fixed today! when I bought my panda back last year I could see in the service history it had a big service in 2022 where the plugs were apparently changed.
I hadn’t bothered to do them as they were only a couple of years old.
I took the car into DTR and Charlie (top bloke there) had a fight on his hands to remove spark plug number one as it was firmly stuck!
As you can see by the pictures they are all ****ed, my guess is they are the ones I had replaced at Fiat in 2018 and the garage never actually changed them in 2022!
Anyway a new set of NGK’s have been fitted and the Pandavan is driving like a new car!
The lesson don’t always believe the service history!

 

[A3jeroen]

Good catch. Bad plugs could destroy your new coils in no time.

gr J

 

[cooperman]

I don’t think the photos do it justice, I’m so happy with how the A-pillars came out with the suede covering. Who knows how long it will last but looks great!
Next job is the roof liner!

 

[A3jeroen]

Looking very good!

gr J

 

[cooperman]

Well the pandavan has gone it to have its head gasket done! I am praying to the gods nothing breaks or goes wrong but who wouldn’t put money on that!
In the mean time least I get a quality curtesy car!!

 

[cooperman]

Sorry for the lack of updates, so the garage came back and basically condemned the engine as uneconomical to repair due to the compression being low on 3 of the cylinders potentially pointing to piston ring issues on top of the head gasket issue.
The cost for them to go in and investigate by taking the head off and then them finding out it is a bigger issue wasn’t worth the risk.
I thought this might be the end for the pandavan as basically I now have a car with a scrapped engine!
I am happy to report I’m currently in the process of fitting a new 63k mileage engine thanks to Ryan Lynch for saucing.
Pictures and a full write up to follow!
A big investment but I think the car is worth it!

 

[koalar]

I don't full understand the conclusion from a compression test

It's rare for these engines to be beyond economical repair

A compression test can point to mechanical problem

A wet and dry compression test can point to rings

What were the results, I thought we were looking for a coolant leak, which maybe a head gasket

 

[The Panda Nut]

Our last 169 appeared to have woeful compression but still ran sweetly and went really well. It just smoked slightly, but not enough to show on MOT tests.

 

[DaveMcT]

It's a souped up 100HP so no surprise the cylinder bores are worn. Probably worth fitting turbo 500 pistons.

 

[cooperman]

So the new engine is in! I would like to say it went really smoothly but with all things Fiat it did put up a little fight here a there.
The main issue we ran into was at some point the hub nuts had been done up so tight to the hubs the drive shafts could not be freed, lucky for me Ryan Lynch had a spare set but they were at his house 5 hours away!
Day 2 lead to the new drive shafts being fitted and I’m happy to report I have a panda back to full health.
While the engine was out I took the opportunity to do the following bits:
New clutch fitted
Rust treated engine bay
Reconditioned the wiring that was left in the engine bay
Painted the front crash bar
Fitted the correct bumper clips and mounting clips.

I haven’t had a chance to take the old engine apart but looking at the exhaust port for cylinder one you can see it was burning antifreeze and there is pink marking at the top of the chamber also the valve looks horrible, also the cat and down pipe were very wet!
I have a few little tidying jobs to complete but overall I’m super happy with my 63k mile engine! It’s like having a new car
Also a massive thank you to Ryan lynch for taking on the job!

 

[koalar]

Not sure how this pink, confirms coolant being burnt

Pink/orange is fairly normal on unleaded fuel running correctly

 

[DaveMcT]

The drive shaft hub nuts on my Multijet were "impossible" to move, then I realised the socket was not seating fully onto the nut. I ground down the socket (Impact type was all I could get) until it fitted to the nut base flange. It came off easily with a 600mm breaker bar. The issue was poor fitting of the socket, not the fastener being excessively tight.

 

[cooperman]

The drive shaft hub nuts on my Multijet were "impossible" to move, then I realised the socket was not seating fully onto the nut. I ground down the socket (Impact type was all I could get) until it fitted to the nut base flange. It came off easily with a 600mm breaker bar. The issue was poor fitting of the socket, not the fastener being excessively tight.

Hi we could get the hub nuts off it was trying to get the drive shafts out of the hubs which was the issue

 

[cooperman]

Not sure how this pink, confirms coolant being burnt

View attachment 463783



Pink/orange is fairly normal on unleaded fuel running correctly
View attachment 463782

No worries