Noticed that the radiator on my wifes 4x4 is leaking (oh bu**er!). Radiator looks a bit of a swine to get at - possibly bumper and bonnet 'slam panel' off(?). Thinking of getting the local garage to do the job, but just wondering about labour charges (fella at local garage doesn't know, as he's never changed one on a Panda) Has anyone on here had to have a new radiator fitted? If so, do you know what the labour charge was?

I think Most easterly Panda has done one

Andy Monty said:

I think Most easterly Panda has done one

Click to expand...

I have indeed during the front end re-build I done.

Main question is has the car got AC?

If so its a tad more difficult as the rad and condenser are one (unless you've a Dual Logic gearbox and then it becomes a nightmare to source none OEM parts. But the 4x4s are all manual so thats ok).

You'll need to remove bumper, and possibly the slam pannel and front pannel (slam pannel has to come off to allow front panel to come off).

From memory you can remove radiator through front pannel. Undo Rad, push forwards (towards the engine) and slide up to allow you to pull it out through the front pannel downwards pulling the base of the radiator down and through the front pannel first.

Replacement is the reverse.

Hope this makes sence. If not give me a scream and I'll try and re-write it

Jon.

Thanks for the replies fellas. Luckily for me, the car hasn't got air-con. Most Easterly - I get what you mean with the front panel extraction/insertion. Removal of the panels looks easier than trying to get the very rusty bolts undone on the 4x4's underbody 'armour plate'!. (might have to dunk the front end of the car in WD40 for that job)

Cheers

If you're planning on doing this yourself, you might like to download the FIAT workshop documentation - there's a link in the downloads section. The procedure described there is to drain the rad by removing hoses, remove the fan & front grille, unbolt (but not remove) the top of the bumper & carefully remove the rad through the gap. There's some piccies there as well. That's for the 1.2; not sure if the 4x4 is different but perhaps the chaps who do this regularly might have some experience to contribute?

Thanks for the info. I've downloaded the Fiat workshop stuff, but cannot open it (have tried downloading various things to try and open it - don't know if you've any tips? Probably me being inept with computers - give me a set of spanners any day!!).

No worries if I can't open the manual, I think you've given me enough of a lead to go on.

Cheers

What you've downloaded is a compressed CD-image file. You need to unzip it using WINRAR (free download) which should give you a .iso file. You then use the .iso file to burn your own CD using image burning software.

Another way to use it is to download & install Daemon Tools Lite (it's free) from:

http://www.daemon-tools.cc/eng/downloads

which allows you to mount the .iso file you already have as if it was a real CD.

The online workshop manual is incredibly useful so worth persevering with this.

arcmet said:

Thanks for the info. I've downloaded the Fiat workshop stuff, but cannot open it (have tried downloading various things to try and open it - don't know if you've any tips? Probably me being inept with computers - give me a set of spanners any day!!).

No worries if I can't open the manual, I think you've given me enough of a lead to go on.

Cheers

Click to expand...

google and download
7-zip

use that to extract files then burn them to CD via nero or the like

i took the front bumper off (car has ac) and managed to swap my rad without takeing the front pannel off, took me about 45mins all in with takeing bumper off aswell, easy job to do

eurorob said:

i took the front bumper off (car has ac) and managed to swap my rad without takeing the front pannel off, took me about 45mins all in with takeing bumper off aswell, easy job to do

Click to expand...

How did you deal with the AC side of things?

Thanks for the advice on the workshop manual & rad fitting. Have succesfully burnt manual to CD and had a read - doesn't look too bad a job at all Now all I've got to do is fix the gearbox oil leak, the split rear CV boot, the anti-roll bar droplinks, rear shock absorbers (phew!)

Thanks again for letting me know about the manual - looks like it's gonna get a fair bit of use.