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Technical Power loss on hills in Twin Air

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Technical Power loss on hills in Twin Air

Wee Jimbo

Wee Jimbo

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Location
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Hi folks, wee bit advice/help please with regards my Twin Air Panda, that I picked up Yesterday.
I bought a lovely 2015 Twin Air Dualogic privately, with only 11,000miles (Yes 11) but on my way back home it was down to 3rd gear and approx 60mph going up some of the Hills on the Motorway, now going by the service data on the In car settings it was last serviced at approx 2,250miles, which according to previous MOT's was approx 2020 , (so 5 years ago.) When on a Flat road it would sit and retain 70mph and approx 3,00 revs although it felt like my foot was fully down on the Accelerator and couldn't go any further down towards the floor. My last car which I had for 10 yrs was a wee Fiat 500 Dualogic, and it was trouble free for the 122,000miles and it was a proper little pocket rocket as and when required , so I'm thinking the Twin Airs issue is possibly requiring a good service and possible Coil Pack.
Any advice/help from Twin Air Experts/Owners or problem solvers of all things mechanical lol will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in Advance...... Jimbo
 
Model
Fiat Panda Twin Air
Year
2015
Mileage
11000
I checked it in both modes pal, Both on and off.
On my Previous 122,000 miles Fiat 500 Dualogic that I just got rid off After 10years, I drove that in Eco mode .most of the time with no power loss. The only difference was it held the gears slightly longer before changing up when it was not in Eco Mode.
 
Wee Jimbo said:
Hi folks, wee bit advice/help please with regards my Twin Air Panda, that I picked up Yesterday.
I bought a lovely 2015 Twin Air Dualogic privately, with only 11,000miles (Yes 11) but on my way back home it was down to 3rd gear and approx 60mph going up some of the Hills on the Motorway, now going by the service data on the In car settings it was last serviced at approx 2,250miles, which according to previous MOT's was approx 2020 , (so 5 years ago.) When on a Flat road it would sit and retain 70mph and approx 3,00 revs although it felt like my foot was fully down on the Accelerator and couldn't go any further down towards the floor. My last car which I had for 10 yrs was a wee Fiat 500 Dualogic, and it was trouble free for the 122,000miles and it was a proper little pocket rocket as and when required , so I'm thinking the Twin Airs issue is possibly requiring a good service and possible Coil Pack.
Any advice/help from Twin Air Experts/Owners or problem solvers of all things mechanical lol will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in Advance...... Jimbo
Click to expand...
Some earlier Panda TA's were only 60 or 65bhp so might feel sluggish. I would however expect a 65hp light weight car to cruise easily at 80mph. 60 would be too fast for limp home mode. There must be an engine issue. It sounds like it needs a service. I wonder if it had the wrong oil in the engine and its disrupting the valve operation. If its an 85hp turbo, have a look at the intercooler and check it has not been holed by road debris. This could cause such a fault if boost pressure is leaking. I would try and find a MES user and see if you get clues before letting a garage rip. Check the main air inlet pipe is properly fixed. Its easy to leave the quick release hose clip undone which could cause loss of boost pressure.
 
The Panda Nut said:
Some earlier Panda TA's were only 60 or 65bhp so might feel sluggish. I would however expect a 65hp light weight car to cruise easily at 80mph. 60 would be too fast for limp home mode. There must be an engine issue. It sounds like it needs a service. I wonder if it had the wrong oil in the engine and its disrupting the valve operation. If its an 85hp turbo, have a look at the intercooler and check it has not been holed by road debris. This could cause such a fault if boost pressure is leaking. I would try and find a MES user and see if you get clues before letting a garage rip. Check teh main air inlet pipe is properly fixed. Its easy to leave the quick release hose clip undone which could ccause loss of boost pressure.
Click to expand...
 
It's definitely in the log book as being the 85bhp, I've already spoken with my good friend who does my servicing (Ex Mechanic and MOT Tester) I've been reading the debates on the Oil for the Twin Cylinders as I will supply the Oil, but still not sure whether it should be the 0-30 or 5-40 in my car? Any recommendations???. cheers Buddy.
 
Pre 2017 it was 5w40 and 18K change interval but that was changed to 0W30 and 9K in 2017. I would stick to the one stated in the handbook (almost certainly 5w40) as the Uniair programme will be built around that viscocity of oil.
There is much debate on the best oil to use in a TA on here. l personally I find Petronas is better in my 2019 TA. If the car has been serviced the Uniair unit should be OK at just 11K miles, but too thick an oil could confuse it or cause malfunction. I have also found that the engine likes its plugs changed at the stated interval. Climbing hills is normally a strong point of this engine. As a matter of interest what fuel are you using E10 or the more expensive E5. My TA does not run nearly as well on E10 and I need two gears down on hills it will storm up with the better fuel. While it should run on either grade it seems a lot better on the expensive stuff. I have had periods of slightly odd runnong and I have given up worrying about odd clicking and tapping noises it sometimes emits. Make sure the ECO switch light is OFF as on some TA's the eco setting is a significant curse. It was subject of BBC watchdog action as the cars were so slow with it on some deemed them dangerous. My experience is they vary a lot, but with eco off it should go quite well. I strongly suspect either grade of oil would be OK in a 2015 car. We seem to be agreed on here the change was for economy reasons only, We dont know mof the engine maps were adjusted at the time of change.
 
The Panda Nut said:
Pre 2017 it was 5w40 and 18K change interval but that was changed to 0W30 and 9K in 2017. I would stick to the one stated in the handbook (almost certainly 5w40) as the Uniair programme will be built around that viscocity of oil.
There is much debate on the best oil to use in a TA on here. l personally I find Petronas is better in my 2019 TA. If the car has been serviced the Uniair unit should be OK at just 11K miles, but too thick an oil could confuse it or cause malfunction. I have also found that the engine likes its plugs changed at the stated interval. Climbing hills is normally a strong point of this engine. As a matter of interest what fuel are you using E10 or the more expensive E5. My TA does not run nearly as well on E10 and I need two gears down on hills it will storm up with the better fuel. While it should run on either grade it seems a lot better on the expensive stuff. I have had periods of slightly odd runnong and I have given up worrying about odd clicking and tapping noises it sometimes emits. Make sure the ECO switch light is OFF as on some TA's the eco setting is a significant curse. It was subject of BBC watchdog action as the cars were so slow with it on some deemed them dangerous. My experience is they vary a lot, but with eco off it should go quite well. I strongly suspect either grade of oil would be OK in a 2015 car. We seem to be agreed on here the change was for economy reasons only, We dont know mof the engine maps were adjusted at the time of change.
Click to expand...
Seeing as I only picked the car up on Saturday, I have only put fuel in the once (E10) I've tried the Eco mode both on and off and to be Honest, I noticed no difference whatsoever , so unless the switch isn't working lol??? It was also rather gutsy on the fuel on the way back home , so hopefully a goid service should fix it .
 
My 2023 4x4 TA takes hills like a goat especially with the eco off but eco on it manages fine just a bit slow so we turn the eco off on one hill close to where we live it's actually on the M77, the approach to Newton Mearns from Darnley and just beyond where it levels out but it's a bstard of a hill that stretch.

My wife (her car) fills up with E5 the car's only done about 8k miles since we bought it new.
 
Wee Jimbo said:
Hi folks, wee bit advice/help please with regards my Twin Air Panda, that I picked up Yesterday.
I bought a lovely 2015 Twin Air Dualogic privately, with only 11,000miles (Yes 11) but on my way back home it was down to 3rd gear and approx 60mph going up some of the Hills on the Motorway, now going by the service data on the In car settings it was last serviced at approx 2,250miles, which according to previous MOT's was approx 2020 , (so 5 years ago.) When on a Flat road it would sit and retain 70mph and approx 3,00 revs although it felt like my foot was fully down on the Accelerator and couldn't go any further down towards the floor. My last car which I had for 10 yrs was a wee Fiat 500 Dualogic, and it was trouble free for the 122,000miles and it was a proper little pocket rocket as and when required , so I'm thinking the Twin Airs issue is possibly requiring a good service and possible Coil Pack.
Any advice/help from Twin Air Experts/Owners or problem solvers of all things mechanical lol will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in Advance...... Jimbo
Click to expand...

I've owned a few TA's,

One run from new and Very Good

We own a similar Panda,
2013 85 bhp
Slow by comparison, but lively enough with ECO Off

I now own a Mito

Also sluggish.. 🙄. Has a Different version of ECO. ( D N A)

I believe all UK cars are 85 (with SOME at 105)

The 60 hp were sold in Holland - Without a Turbo!


Plugs are well worth changing.. See my GUIDE

OIL - also worthwhile

Very strong possibility you have a leaky intake hose if no boost being seen


Good Luck, 🤞

Do let us know what you find 🙂
 
varesecrazy said:
I've owned a few TA's,

One run from new and Very Good

We own a similar Panda,
2013 85 bhp
Slow by comparison, but lively enough with ECO Off

I now own a Mito

Also sluggish.. 🙄. Has a Different version of ECO. ( D N A)

I believe all UK cars are 85 (with SOME at 105)

The 60 hp were sold in Holland - Without a Turbo!


Plugs are well worth changing.. See my GUIDE

OIL - also worthwhile

Very strong possibility you have a leaky intake hose if no boost being seen


Good Luck, 🤞

Do let us know what you find 🙂
Click to expand...
Thankyou
 
Twotone2 said:
My 2023 4x4 TA takes hills like a goat especially with the eco off but eco on it manages fine just a bit slow so we turn the eco off on one hill close to where we live it's actually on the M77, the approach to Newton Mearns from Darnley and just beyond where it levels out but it's a bstard of a hill that stretch.

My wife (her car) fills up with E5 the car's only done about 8k miles since we bought it new.
Click to expand...
Thanks Twotone2. The worst I noticed it was on one of the slight hills on the M8, I was down to 55 and my foot was flat down in the floor.
 
If it is starts ok, runs ok but is down on power, (certainly sounds like it), then most likely you are not getting full boost. I would check the air filter to make sure that is good, then it needs MES or a good garage code reader to check how much boost the engine is making. It's odd because if the boost was too low it would generate some DTC's but it sounds like you are not seeing anything?

As others have said, a full engine service is needed before going any further...
 
Eltezz said:
If it is starts ok, runs ok but is down on power, (certainly sounds like it), then most likely you are not getting full boost. I would check the air filter to make sure that is good, then it needs MES or a good garage code reader to check how much boost the engine is making. It's odd because if the boost was too low it would generate some DTC's but it sounds like you are not seeing anything?

As others have said, a full engine service is needed before going any further...
Click to expand...
Thankyou, Aye it's getting booked in for a look shortly. But no warning lights etc showing.
 
Wee Jimbo said:
Thankyou, Aye it's getting booked in for a look shortly. But no warning lights etc showing.
Click to expand...
Maybe a little back to basics, but does it roll freely? With such relatively low miles I wouldn't be surprised to find a binding handbrake or calliper?

TA DualLogic is a bit of a rare breed I think. Does it try and drop down a gear of its own accord? I'm not sure how it functions?

Finally there is no-way I would be going with an 18k mile Oil change/service period (mentioned above) OEM or not!
 
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