General Some stupid Qs about Pandas

[Bill Mitch]

Hi Panda Gang

First let me introduce myself to the forum and then ask my stupid Qs.

I am in Bristol and have a red (actually closer to orange) J reg panda 750L which as far as I can tell is still in standard trim. It has 51K on the clock and is going reasonably well. This is my first panda and it's grown on me so much I am going to name her Sophia (after Ms Loren of course)(no harm in dreaming is there?) Anyway, as we (Sophia and me) have become rather intimately acquainted I have started to take notice of some of her quirks and wondered if some of you could let me know if any of them are issues I should be concerned about (don't worry divorce is not on the cards(yet)).

I have looked round some of the threads so in some cases I am just checking my understanding . On others I am Mr Ignorant :doh:. Here goes:

1. The biggest problem is the engine takes forever to warm up. Once it is warm 85ish then the radiator fan jumps in at just under 90. From what I have read concensus is that the long warm up could be a passing thermostat. The fan cut in also seems to be rather low so I shall probably change the fan Thermostatic switch as well. I intend to flush and fill the cooling system at the same time as I know the antifreeze is past its best. Any other advice or things I should do at the same time?

2. Third gear crunches like a bowl of frosties. The only way I can avoid the crunch is very slow gear changes (A tad embarrasing at times). It has been the same since I got the car over a year ago so my question is this: Is it just one of the Panda's traits or an imminent gearbox problem?

3. There appears to be a DIY fuel filter in the line from the tank into the fuel pump. It is clear and always appears to be only one third full at best. This does not seem right to me as the pump should be creating quite a vacuum in the filter and any air will reduce the effectiveness of the pump. Is this a DIY jobbie or is it standard and should I remove it? I tried to remove it before but the fuel line has been hacke dto fit it and no longer reaches the pump so I will have to think of some way of extending the rubbery bit of pipe. I think there is a split somewhere as I am starting to get a strong smell of petrol since I last had a tinker.

4. The brakes terrify me with their lack of bite (too used to servo's I suspect). Is there any way to fit a servo system or do I have to go to the gym a bit more?

5. The drivers seat back is split down the door side and coming away from the frame. Can anyone recommend a repairist in my locale?

6. Where the **** [insert expletive as desired] do you fit an aerial? There does not seem to be anywhere natural for this most essential of bitz.

7. What sort of milage should I be expecting? It seems to run on air instead of petrol. Great but a little worried it is running too cold (see 1. above) as I am getting gunk inside the rockerbox breather hose. Used to get something similar on an old mini.

8. getting tired of typing so just a break here.....


9. Okay second wind. The drivers door is a bugger to shut. The back end seems to have dropped (it has been removed at some point in its life) and teh catch no longer lines up. It would seem that it is a simple enough job to loosen the hinge bolts to realign. However, having done this previously on other cars I know there can be problems and there is usually a knack. Any tips or things to watch out for?

10. Great Film.

Enough already I hear you cry so tara for now and look forward to some short replies...

 

[panda-sport]

Hi Bill, welcome to Panda madness

1. The fire engine should run between 70 to 75 on the temp guage with the fan kicking in at 90. I'm not sure if that is the real temp buts that's what the guage should read. If yours is running at 85 to 90 then all is ok and when you replace the anti-frreeze you may see this come down slightly.

2. It sounds like its time to learn to double-declutch

4. Its gym time. The later fuel injected Pandas and the 4x4 were fitted with a servo but you need the pedal box, cross shaft, mounts, servo and master cylinder as its mounted under the spare wheel. Needs replumbing the brake lines too.

6. There's a natty ariel that fits on the pasanger door top hinge. There is a post or 2 with the part number you need when you order it from fiat (about £14 )

7. Its all about driving style and luck with your car. 25 years ago we had 3 identical Panda 45's. They averaged 35,45 and 60 mpg The 750's seem to be anything between 35 to 65 too.


cheers Damon

 

[tashman]

Yep mine cruches in 3rd unless i'm very slow, and 5th won't even go in unless i double de-clutch.
My car is coming up for 100,000 urban miles.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Welcome.

1. Sounds like the temp is where is should be, cooling system seems a bit to efficent when running along at about 50-60 mph on most 750L's

2. Sounds like gear box problem. I've got a F-reg 4 speed 750L and its covered 112900 miles and have no problems with any of the gears! If your used to it though, I'd not worry for the present.

3. Where is the filter? Is it inline in the engine bay? If so this is the type which needs to be changed when the car is serviced. Ours never seems to be more than 1/3 full, fuel pump is mechanical, to the right of the engine on mos 750L's I think.

4. Servo assist is lovely on my K-reg Panda Selecta (just thought I'd let you know)

6. 3 options. 1) get one of these which sticks to the windscreen behind the rear view mirror, they work well as we've got them in 2 of the Panda's. 2) Drill a hole in the roof and fit a roof mounted aerial like we have on our 750L, or 3) as above, get one which goes on the door hinge cover, but expect it to be snapped off by some chav depending upon where you live / park the Panda.

9. Doors are really easy to lift and align, although I seem to have a problem with the Selecta, it keeps droppings its doors no matter what I try and do to get them to stay up!

Hope it helps. Jon.

 

[FuzzyPanda]

Mine crunches into 3rd as well if you rush the shift, the benefit is I've learnt how to heel and toe to avoid crunches on downshifts.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

What speed gear box have all these 3rd gear crunchers got? 4 or 5?

 

[tashman]

mines a 5

 

[Lesnewell]

It depends a lot on what oil has been used in the gearbox. If it has been run with EP90 for any length of time the synchros will start to corrode, causing crunching. Usually 3rd is the first to go. If run on GL4 gearbox oil or the correct Fiat ZC90 oil then the synchros should last a long time.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

It depends a lot on what oil has been used in the gearbox. If it has been run with EP90 for any length of time the synchros will start to corrode, causing crunching. Usually 3rd is the first to go. If run on GL4 gearbox oil or the correct Fiat ZC90 oil then the synchros should last a long time.

That would explain it then. Although I think its EP90 in my 750L, but can't be sure.

 

[FuzzyPanda]

mines a 5

Mine too.

 

[posh pandas]

yep , got 5 gears and 3rd can be crunchie ! believe Alan d had the last of the zc90 in england at the moment
maybe we should consider a bulk order between us ?

 

[posh pandas]

sorry Bill , didnt even say hi :wave:
re doors; most of us have changed them ....but normally because they've rusted out !
gina X

 

[Bill Mitch]

Guys

Thanks for the advice. I shall take it in and keep you informed of progress.

Mine is a 4 speed. The oil is unknown so as the last owner wore a Stetson it is probably veg oil. I feel an oil change looming. I read somewhere on the forums about advice from a Castrol techie who gave some info on a synth oil that could be used in lieu of the ZC90, or was it semi synth? (was I dreaming... Ah! Sophia) (lol)

The fuel filter has been sorted. Still only 1/3 full but the strong smell of fuel and fuel starvation type symptoms were related. Had a look under the air box and guess what. Split pipe at the carb union. Bodged until I can get some more pipe tomorrow.

The aerial I will leave until I get a working radio. Another rodeo job as the amp has blown due to a short. I think I will get some of those speaker pods while I am at it. Sticky on aerial sounds like the best solution though. Yes Chav problems here in Bristol as well.

Thanks for all your advice. Appreciate it.

Ha! you fools... you'll never get rid of me now....

 

[gaz.d]

My 3rd gear cruches, it takes effort to get it into 5th and I have a floppy stick

I bent my door up with a lump of wood. I seen a garage do it once and thought I give it a try

 

[Bougainvillea Rosso]

Castrol Syntrax is the gear oil. I think that works fine in the Panda. Comma do a suitable non EP oil as well (which is cheaper than syntrax).