Hi everyone. I am new to the forum. My wife's 2006 1.2 Panda Dualogic stopped working last night. It will barely move in forward or reverse, revs really high and warning "Check gearbox" comes on. Does anyone know where to start? It still makes the sound of pump coming on when first starting up.
Thanks in advance,
Jimbo.

Hi Jimbo:
That sounds to me like it could be the clutch mate, is it the 1.2 8v ,
or it can (from experience) be the gear selector on the gear box. a nut can come loose, knocking out all the gears, this will need resetting and in some cases it is better to replace the gearbox,
I think it is the clutch. presure plate, seems to be a common fault of Pandas 1.2 with about 35 to 45k on the clock,

Sounds like the clutch is only just engaging. Either due to the linkage being jammed, the actuator for the clutch not moving its full range or a slipping plate.
The slipping plate could be worn out or contaminated with oil.

I wouldnt be surprised if the plate is worn out if the car has been driven like a normal automatic, instead of the torque convertor slipping this is all done by the standard clutch.

Like others have said Sounds like clutch. Any burig clutch smell from under the bonnet?

Could be clutch itself worn and need changing, or an issue with the clutch actuator. I highly doubt the gearbox will need changing though

Update, the clutch is replaced, other was totally shot. But mechanic says hydraulic pump for switching gears is now dumping oil out. Any ideas anyone? Also, what oil do I need for hydraulic pump? Thanks, Jimbo.

Oil needs to be 'CS Speed' and can be brought from a Fiat or Alfa dealer. Comes in 1litre bottles, and gearbox system will hold 600-800ml iirc from dry.

If pump is leaking I'd have thought it'd need replacing but strange it should leak. Try and find out exactly where it's leaking from. Might be from inlet of high pressure outlet pipe if it's been knocked.

Jon.

Can you replace actuators if this is where the leak is, or do you have to replace pump and actuators bought from FIAT? I hope not!

Pump and actuators are Different things. You need to find out exacty where it's leaking from. Sounds suspect to me that it's happened after clutch has been replaced.

They just rang me and said it was leaki ng from "potentiometer" or something similar. £180 to buy and fit parts. They also said it might need calibrating at Fiat, any ideas?

I believe that its on the front of the box from memory, sounds like they've knocked it. If its what I think it is its what tells the car what gear the gearbox is in (might be worth asking them what it does to see if I'm right).

It shouldn't just leak, from experience its either been knocked, or CS Speed fluid has been over filled.

I assume it only leaks when the system is pressurised?

Yes, it only started leaking after clutch fitted, but something must have caused original fault of losing clutch suddenly. Will have to go with what garage says, as I am no expert. Yet!

Garage has just rang me, saying still leaking and it COULD be actuator, which is another £600 for part alone. I will still have to pay for other parts they put on. Cannot afford to throw money at this without fixes. Thanks, Martin.

Garage also said it goes into gear and drives fine, oil leaks out when standing still ticking over. Hope this is useful info.

Clutch went as it was worn like A clutch would on a manual. You able to get part numbers of what they've fitted so far, can look on ePer then as see if it's the same as where we had our gearbox leaking from.

Hi, thanks for the link. Where exactly was yours leaking from? Yes, it only leaks when under pressure. They have now suggested the gearbox needs calibrating to clutch, at a Fiat dealership. Do you know anything about this?
Thanks, Martin.

From the front near the top, however ours is a revised one, they made changes in 2007/2008 I've been told. Ours is a mid 2009.

Calibration of the new clutch is normal and it Will need to go to Fiat for that but shouldn't take more than 30mins or so.