I spent the afternoon fabricating a brake calliper Spring clip from a length of spring steel.

Why I hear you ask ?
Well, for ever (2 1/2 years) I've had a rattle from the off side footwell/front wheel.

I've had two annual services and both times I've mentioned the annoying rattle from the off side front but no problems were found, that's if it was ever looked into ?
As the rattle was only noticeable over rough roads, I just put up with it and blamed myself for buying a fiat in the first place.
Recently my daily commute has changed and on the new road surface the rattle became annoying enough for me to look for the cause. I traced it to the front off side wheel but when I went to take the wheel off I could not find the security wheel nut tool, (at this point I should mention that the car has only ever been in the Fiat garage and I believe the wheels have never been off the car.
I was left with no other option other than to buy a wheel nut tool ( it was the one size missing from the dealers box of nut adaptors so they couldn't help either)
Today I had the opportunity to take the wheel off and instantly I could see the problem, conspicuous buy its absence a missing spring clip, the one that puts tension between the fixed and floating parts of the brake calliper.
While the wheel was off the car I phoned the service department and spoke to a lady who told me if I booked the car in someone would have a look to see if they could find the problem !
I explained that I know what the problem is and I just need it putting right. A subsequent call and I'm told, I could have the part fixed but at my own expense.
Me pay for it, I Don't think so !
Useing the near side clip as a pattern I got buissy with my pliers, a vice and a length of 2mm dia Spring steel.

A few hrs later and I'm Driving down the road and no rattle detected.
Pleased as small boy with a free pass to a sweet shop, I'm minding my own business in stop/start traffic and some numpty drives past me, straddling the white line only just missing oncoming cars ! He didn't miss me though, he twanged my mirror past its stop and made it all floppety no, he didn't stop but his mirror did, as it fell off
Fortunately for me some kind sole had posted on this forum a "how to fix a bent mirror"
1hr later and my mirror is good as new and my panda still dosent rattle

Having a new love for my panda doesn't change the fact that I have had an unnecessarily noisy car for two and a half years all for the want of a spring and someone to spot that it's missing.
Buying new and paying for servicing I don't expect or want to be fixing things myself.
It's these little things that can put someone off returning to dealer/brand when it's time for a new car (I also have been considering the 500X)

Regards Carl

Hi Carl.
What a story. I'm really beginning to think that Fiat dealers are all a joke. At least you have like me the DIY skills to effect a repair, many of course don't.
I really like the Panda but the dealers put me off. So long as I'm fit I'll do my own work but with heart issues and a bad knee I wonder for how long.

I send a email to make a appointment for a engine remap.
it will get 100+ hp and 170+ Nm.

Are you having it tuned at Savali's? Wonder what your before and after findings will be.
I esspecialy like the torque increase only thing I don't like is that it works best with 98ron fuell witch is impossible to get over here.

TheR said:

Are you having it tuned at Savali's? Wonder what your before and after findings will be.
I esspecialy like the torque increase only thing I don't like is that it works best with 98ron fuell witch is impossible to get over here.

Click to expand...

No need for 98 RON with a Savali tune, it is developed for 95 RON.

The Pretender said:

No need for 98 RON with a Savali tune, it is developed for 95 RON.

Click to expand...

Ok that's good. I remember there was something about 98ron in the past but I might be wrong. Also thought they claimed 105hp in the past so might have something to do with that.
Looking at there site you see that there's almost 20hp more on tap thrue a big part of the rev range and the torque is also much higher from the lowest revs slightly decreasing in the higher rev range.

TheR said:

Ok that's good. I remember there was something about 98ron in the past but I might be wrong. Also thought they claimed 105hp in the past so might have something to do with that.
Looking at there site you see that there's almost 20hp more on tap thrue a big part of the rev range and the torque is also much higher from the lowest revs slightly decreasing in the higher rev range.

Click to expand...

Test drove the Panda Savali with 105 hp back in the days, with turn-off WMI.
I believe that with the WMI, 98 RON would be necessary for the 120 hp result.
But i'm not certain, i haven't talk specifics about that.
Can't remember if the Panda Savali was any quicker then my present Panda.
Did not had a Panda TA85 at that time.
The present numbers are now, 102 hp and 172 Nm.

Amazing figures for 875 cc....... The same capacity as a Hillman Imp.

murphyv310 said:

Amazing figures for 875 cc....... The same capacity as a Hillman Imp.

Click to expand...

Don't knock the Imp! I had a Sunbeam Stiletto with that engine, and it flew (sometimes backwards, into the nearest hedge). And what a great name for a car!

Edit - just checked the specs, can't believe it only had 55 bhp. Must have weighed next to nothing.

gar074 said:

Don't knock the Imp! I had a Sunbeam Stiletto with that engine, and it flew (sometimes backwards, into the nearest hedge). And what a great name for a car!

Edit - just checked the specs, can't believe it only had 55 bhp. Must have weighed next to nothing.

Click to expand...

The imp in standard tune was only 37Bhp DIN (http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=35959)
The Imp sport and the 998 cc Rally Imp were of course more powerful.
My Dad had a Singer Chamois and I had a Commer Imp van with the low compression 8.5:1 with 34Bhp.
They did go well and mostly due to good torque that was quite flat rather than out and out Bhp.

I think you have rather eloquently stated the case for doing it yourself.

I agree I too have bought new to NOT have to fix it myself, but in the full knowledge that, unfortunately I will be out of luck.

This reminds me I will have to reset the service indicator in my Bravo which I paid to have reset at the last service.

The result of this shoddy work, is that the timing belt will be done elsewhere not at the dealer.

When you pay over £70 an hour, the 10 minutes to connect the wires and reset the service indicator is getting on for £15 worth of work which I resent having paid for, in spite of the offer to take the car back so it could be rectified supposedly free of charge. NO THANKS. - 33 miles of fuel!

I waited in for my spare wheel and accessories

Almost traded it in for a Abarth Punto Evo SuperSport.

The Pretender said:

Almost traded it in for a Abarth Punto Evo SuperSport.

Click to expand...

Traitor..

murphyv310 said:

Traitor..

Click to expand...

I could not come to a financial agreement for the trade in.

Serviced it. Oil, filters, plugs.

I tried out my new spare wheel and jack .All went well very happy with it.

Mariefred what Engine is your panda ?

Changed the rear shocks.

Cleaned the inside of mine. It's been a workhorse recently as been clearing my late father's house.

It was utterly minging!!