Just a note for anyone considering buying a Panda. I have a 2005 Eleganza which is going to be scrapped because of a mystery electrical fault. A fiat specialist has told me to replace the ECU (£500) which I have done. Car still doesn't work. Now told that it is some form of "CAN line" fault which cannot be traced. It is so difficult to trace that the car is most likely beyond repair. The Fiat examiner testing system does not help with this pinpointing the problem.

Think about what you are getting into before buying a Panda unless I am unusual in thinking that a £4000, 5 year old car is just a bit too young to be consigned to the scrap heap!!!!!!

My father in law also has the exact same car. That has had the boot release failure plus it jumps out of gear when going around tight left hand corners. It seems that what initially appeared to be a reliable new model for Fiat is now starting to show it's build quality as the cars are getting to 5/6 years old. It's a pity because it was a really nice car.

Anyone else had this problem or have any thoughts to share regarding a solution? Any bids for scrap value? It would be a good vehicle for spares because it is in otherwise perfect condition!

Have they tried updating the ECU software?

My car's just over a year old, Panda MJ, and had an unknown fault since new, which manifested as an intermittent fault showing no error codes, lack of power then all the electrics fail including the steering.

I've just had mine overhauled by Vospers of Truro, who updated the ECU software as it was running on an old version and it seems (touch wood) to have cured the problem for me.

Ask the garage to update the software if they haven't already done it, and see if that cures the fault.

My previous Panda an 06 had done 35,000 when I traded it in for this one, and apart fom an exhaust sensor going which was replaced under warranty I had no problems with that one at all and it was as reliable as anything.

i have a 2004 eleganza, one of the first into the uk, aside from the odd niggle, all dealt with under warranty, regular servicing, it's been fine, and continues to do so, 3rd MOT due next month, i see no reason for it to get any advisories, let alone fail. there have been rogue builds, that no one can deny, every manufacturer has them, including toyota, doesn't make it any better i know, but there it is.

Which garage you been taking the car to?? they don't sound very good to be honest.

tomlee said:

Just a note for anyone considering buying a Panda. I have a 2005 Eleganza which is going to be scrapped because of a mystery electrical fault......

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Did you replace/find which sensor was causing the rough running?

Thanks for your comments - The ECU is now brand new so it should have good software installed. The garage are alfa/fiat diagnostic specialists (i'm not sure if forum rules allows me to mention them by name). A Fiat main dealer actually recommended them because they were fully booked up.

I now have a further update to this fiasco after being told that the car may also need a body control unit at a further cost of £500, but there is no guarantee that this will fix the problem. If it does need this part then the car will be written off. Anybody want a car for spares? all offers considered.

tomlee said:

My father in law also has the exact same car..... plus it jumps out of gear when going around tight left hand corners.

!

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sounds like engine mounts worn and as the car turns the engine is pushing against the gear change linkage and knocking it out... could be wrong.. but it sounds a possible in my head..... (presuming is not that he's stripped a tooth or two in the gearbox and its jumping out on over run.. that he only notices on that bend...?)

Steve

To be honest this is not a FIAT thing but any car with a complex electrical system could suffer with an "impossible"(read expensive) to fix fault.

Years ago (80's)we had a Renault Fuego in the garage that had a faulty Cruise control (it applied full throttle when switched on and just kept going)in the end after hours and hours of work and various new parts we gave up and sent it to an auto electrician he eventually gave up and we removed the system from the car !!!

It's just bad luck really any make of car could have the same fault.
Unless the mechanic has seen the fault before its going to be expensive unless his first guess is right.

tomlee said:

Anybody want a car for spares? all offers considered.

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PM sent

Doesn't put me off to be honest. All cars have problems. We had a VW Lupo before the panda and that had gearbox problems, plus a friend has a 5 year old mini with the common power steering problem.

So far 20k 2 years+ and just a climate control attuator replaced. Happy with that. No uneven tyre wear, no boot problem....

It might be a brand new ecu but that doesnt mean its got the latest software. Mine's a 58 plate, so reasonably new and that had old software on it. Think the latest update is quite recent, if not this year, so worth a go before you scrap the car.

I can now provide an update on this rather sorry affair. After almost 4 weeks off the road the specialists have eventually got the car started and running. Woopee was my response, I can believe it I said. Don't get so excited said the auto-electrician. My heart sank. What now!

The car will run, but not in automatic mode. It works fine if you keep in in manual, but it does not recognise full auto.

It has had the previously mentioned ECU software upgrade, but to no avail. Essentially, the car is now a perfectly working clutchless manual but that will seriously affect the value. No fault codes are showing on the Fiat examiner system. I have now bought another car in view of the lengthy delay.

No different to a base model smart fortwo then. Clutchless manual, the auto bit was an option on most.

Out of interest what happens if you try to select auto mode then? It muck it up compleatly, or just not work and then work again when placed back in manual mode?

almost identical problem been seen in the post - https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/227302-05-panda-dualogic-auto-problem.html

Steve

Hi,

What was wrong with your panda? Mine just died and sounds like it could be the same thing.

Basically I was driving round a corner and put her in third gear and went to accelerate away and no power, there were no revs she tried but nothing happened and talk about noisy. Got her to work car park where we tried to rev the engine to see what would happen and much roaring from the engine and revs dropped away almost to stalling then tried to pick up and then dropped away to eventually stall completely.

The mechanic's tried everything, changed the CAT converter, drained the fuel and refilled [had refueled that morning and thought it might be contaminated - it wasn't], checked timing and nothing.

No apparent warnings on the dash either to point us in the right direction.

Mine is an Eleganza too, 2004 1.2L.

I would really really appreciate your help so I can point my mechanic in the right direction, I only bought the car about 2 months ago and from a private sale so no going back to them.

Thanks in advance
Talford

Is yours a dual-logic?

Hi MEP, if your question was to me 'talford' about my Panda, no she isn't a dual-logic, she's a manual but the original problem tomlee had with their Panda seemed to be similar to the problem I have with mine.

I spent £2600 on the car about a month ago, so if I need to spend £500-£1000 on it to get it fixed it's still a reasonably priced car although I'd rather not spend that kind of money obviously.

Do you know what might be wrong with her? I'm going to ring KJM in Reading [Berkshire] where I'm based to see if they can help at lunch time.

Tx

Don't guess with these things you need to get a diagnostic done. It dosn't mean you need to get it repaired at the dealer though. You could buy one from Argos for £50 which might do the job.

It could be the cramshaft position sensor but that wouldn't explain the noise.

talford said:

Hi MEP, if your question was to me 'talford' about my Panda, no she isn't a dual-logic, she's a manual but the original problem tomlee had with their Panda seemed to be similar to the problem I have with mine.

I spent £2600 on the car about a month ago, so if I need to spend £500-£1000 on it to get it fixed it's still a reasonably priced car although I'd rather not spend that kind of money obviously.

Do you know what might be wrong with her? I'm going to ring KJM in Reading [Berkshire] where I'm based to see if they can help at lunch time.

Tx

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Was the car brought privatly?

Are there any MIL's (malfunction indicator lamps) illuminated on the dash?

JD82 said:

Don't guess with these things you need to get a diagnostic done. It dosn't mean you need to get it repaired at the dealer though. You could buy one from Argos for £50 which might do the job.

It could be the cramshaft position sensor but that wouldn't explain the noise.

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Will only help if a MIL is on though and a code recorded unfortunatly.