Technical Dead Panda

[scout]

Well, after just under 3 months of Panda ownership Po is dead .

I popped out this morning to help out a mate and on the way back, 0.3 miles from home, Po broke his timing belt. Luckily the valves are far enough away from the pistons not to have caused any permanent damage.

Not all is lost as I think with some heart surgery he can be brought back from the afterlife. I have zero experience with this kind of work (I've always had new cars) but will be giving this a go. However if there is anyone that lives near me that has more experience in doing these I would be very grateful of the help

 

[firstcar-Y10]

Don't panic, it's not nearly the issue it is in most cars. As you say the valves should be fine, it's just a matter of lining up the timing marks, popping on the new belt and away you go!
(some sequences may have been shortened)
For the sake of brevity I may have ommitted the try and find a tiny socket/ratchet combo to get on the bottom bolt on the cover, then try and turn it on the bolt using the tattered remains of one little finger stage.

 

[Palio]

Sorry can't help with the actual technical side. I can stand drinking coffee and handing you tools & moral support though

The good news is that they are non interference engines so a new belt should be good to go. :worship:

 

[Freebo]

Cambelt is dead easy on a fire engine.

Plenty of guides on here too
https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-cla...-timing-belt-replacement-ohc-fire-engine.html
https://www.fiatforum.com/cinquecento-seicento-guides/100553-cam-belt-change.html

 

[VmanC]

Let me know when you do it Bob and I'll make sure I'm on the end of a phone if you need me.
It's quite a good little job to do, will really help you bond even further with Bo. Panda cambelts are just about as easy as they come so the best one to be your first.

 

[scout]

I'll get the kit over the next week and do the job over the Easter break. I've got two weeks starting after next weekend.

 

[VmanC]

I'll get the kit over the next week and do the job over the Easter break. I've got two weeks starting after next weekend.

Even going really slowly and carefully because it's your first one you will struggle to use up two hours of that.

 

[Dragon Man]

i've done a cam belt change in a pub car park.. in the dark.. and it was raining. with very limited tools.

really easy to do on these engines..

 

[Alixcompo]

i've done a cam belt change in a pub car park.. in the dark.. and it was raining. with very limited tools.

really easy to do on these engines..

Amazing what Panda owners will resort too when we run out of beer money..!

Still it's all entertainment:slayer:

 

[Liquid Knight]

Dead Panda?

Oh, just a cam' belt.

Twenty minute job.

Just remember the cam' turns twice for every crank revolution so if it doesn't work first time chances are you have the crank 180 degrees out. Test it without the alternater stuff fitted first.

 

[Dragon Man]

Amazing what Panda owners will resort too when we run out of beer money..!

Still it's all entertainment:slayer:

here, hold my beer.

watch this.....

 

[Freebo]

@blu73 did one at Stanford Hall last year

He also showed me how to do my first one, I was rather scared of it but since then I've done it a couple of times with ease.

As said just take your time.

 

[blu73]

yep its true, the belt was practiacally falling off at Stanford lol. I even managed to to do it without taking the wheel off (i was concerned about it being jacked up on grass so wanted to leave the wheel on - i only had a quality street tin lid to spread the weight).

FIRE engine is just about the easiest engine in the world to do the belt on, sure its covered in the haynes, the cinq one covers it very well.

I do hope i don't to do this again this year at Stanford!!!

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

As other have said really easy, I saw my mate Joe do it on Victoria year before last and thought to myself whats the fuss all about

I expect this pace next time though!

 

[Didge3]

I do hope i don't to do this again this year at Stanford!!!

Just in case anybody was worried about Cinq pics being in the Panda section you can see Char' tucked nicely behind, don't panic

 

[blu73]

hey at least its not a GP

 

[scout]

It's nice to know that I can't completely balls it up. Gives you the confidence to give it a go.

 

[onemanmade]

It's nice to know that I can't completely balls it up. Gives you the confidence to give it a go.

The non interference thing is great!

 

[firecolour]

Another vote that this is a pretty easy job to do. I'd add to the notes in the link above by suggesting you take the spark plugs out as well, makes turning the engine over really easy.

Haynes has it covered but as mentioned, just make sure of the timing alignment before the belt goes back on, there are two turns of the cam for every turn of the crank. You need to find yourself a reference (eg No 1 piston at top dead centre on compression stroke and about to fire ignition) else you might set it 180 degrees out and it won't start. If that does happen, it is easy enough to slip the belt off, rotate the cam 180 degrees and pop it back on.

From a mechanics point of view, always rotate the engine in the direction it normally turns (turn the starter over once to check if you are not sure).

 

[scout]

UPDATE:

Finally got the thing stripped down and found the water pump is also FUBAR. So now waiting on a new pump :bang: