Hi, I'm looking for advice on this problem. I can drive slowly on a flat road without pressing accelerator pedal for about 3-400 metres in 2nd gear and probably in 3rd. Does this seem to be the result of a too rich fuel/air mix or perhaps too fast idle? Would new plugs and air filter be a possible solution. (The engine is warm when this occurs)

As a result of this problem I believe is undue wear on the brake pads is caused in addition to the extra fuel used.

The garage says there isn't a problem.

Thanks for any help.

Slowly as in about 8 mph? Thats the engine turning at tick over, and is completely normal.

It's Normal. Any car will pull on tick over in any gear on the flat

What rpm is the engine doing while you perpetrate this amazing trick? Is it over or under 1000 rpm?

What does 'probably in third' mean? Have you tried it?

ExBrava2012 said:

Hi, I'm looking for advice on this problem. I can drive slowly on a flat road without pressing accelerator pedal for about 3-400 metres in 2nd gear and probably in 3rd. Does this seem to be the result of a too rich fuel/air mix or perhaps too fast idle? Would new plugs and air filter be a possible solution. (The engine is warm when this occurs)

As a result of this problem I believe is undue wear on the brake pads is caused in addition to the extra fuel used.

The garage says there isn't a problem.

Thanks for any help.

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The garage is correct - there isn't a problem. With your foot off the pedal, the engine management system will automatically adjust the amount of fuel injected to maintain tickover rpm through a closed loop feedback system. The time to worry would be if it didn't do this.

And if you do it when the engine is cold, you'll go a bit faster, because the ECU will keep the engine at fast idle (about 1200rpm IIRC).

Thank you for quick replies. Pandissimo - I don't know the rpm as the 1.1 doesn't have a rev counter.

I cant' remember whether I was in 2nd or 3rd when this occurred but was going at about 12-15mph.

It seemed strange to me. I feel as though I am using too much footbrake when the engine should be slowing me down. I have never driven this way before in my 30+ years driving.

Thanks again for the input.

jrkitching said:

The garage is correct - there isn't a problem. With your foot off the pedal, the engine management system will automatically adjust the amount of fuel injected to maintain tickover rpm through a closed loop feedback system. The time to worry would be if it didn't do this.

And if you do it when the engine is cold, you'll go a bit faster, because the ECU will keep the engine at fast idle (about 1200rpm IIRC).

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:yeahthat: Mechanical sympathy aside, my panda is quite happy to do this from cold from 1st through to 4th gear and have managed around 20mph without any throttle input . The only time I find this a little disconcerting is driving from a cold start when you need engine braking, say downhill in snow or ice.
Incidentally, my 500 isn't as eager as the panda to self drive on fast idle, possibly due to a difference between the Euro IV and V engine mapping?

ExBrava2012 said:

....I have never driven this way before in my 30+ years driving....

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Never? Just over 40 years driving and I've done it on probably every car I've owned, especially when creeping along in traffic, just ease the clutch up gently and along they trundle, hot or cold - definitely not a problem. Oh, and no, not something I do as a matter of course, just that I'm very well aware it works.

gazz_bee said:

Incidentally, my 500 isn't as eager as the panda to self drive on fast idle, possibly due to a difference between the Euro IV and V engine mapping?

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Yep, there's definitely a difference between the Eu4 Panda & the Eu5 500. It's clearly reflected in the fuel burn to warmup; from personal experience, my Panda is noticeably less efficient than my 500 at low temperatures - this has been independently reported in other posts too. That's why I started experimenting with grille blanking on the Panda in preference to the 500 - any differences will be easier to spot, as the Panda's economy is significantly more temperature dependent than the 500. (I'm speaking only for the 1.2 petrol here).

Starting off at -5C this morning and with my right foot nowhere near the 'go' pedal, the Panda practically shot along the road in 2nd and quickly settled down at about 1300rpm. Unfortunately I didn't have enough clear road today to see how long it would take before the rpm began dropping back as the engine warmed.

Thanks for each of your replies.

Seems my paranoia is getting the better of me! You guys obviously know your stuff so I will now behave like a contented Panda owner instead of an old f**t!