Does anyone have any idea how to prepare my 2007 Panda 4x4 for a trip to Sweden this January?
Winter tyres, etc are all good to go but what anti freeze, oil, brake fluid, etc is needed to ensure that my little truck enjoys the journey without freezing up? Still waiting for a reply from Fiat Sweden!

Finally some little charmer has tried tampering with the driver's side door lock - MUST I replace the whole locking system?

you can download a Swedish copy of the owners book here (if you can read Swedish)

http://aftersales.fiat.com/elum/Mod...b11d&market_code=EN_EU&cat=lib&part_number=#1

Thanks for that - I think my Finnish friends get taught Swedish at school, failing that, it can't be too much different from Icelandic!

I was in Sweden this time last year there was no snow.

Get your AA breakdown cover from eurotunnel. £94 for full European cover . I take a small travel bag with me that fits into a tescos home delivery crate on any long journey, tow rope,old torch, good jumper cables, cable ties,small selection of tools, bottled water,oil,screen wash,breakfast bars, tins of food, small camp cooker. A couple of leathermans(wave and mut)blankets for everyone in the car. Two warning triangles,first aid kit,box of surgical gloves, couple of pairs of rigger gloves. A few big black sacks.(to kneel on in the event needing to do something outside the car. A few spare light bulbs. Breatherlizer kitx2 for France and yellow jackets for everyone in the car. Probably a few bits more ive forgotten about. I've been stuck before in France for many freezing cold hours. I'm better prepared now. Also drive till half a tank then fill up. Just in case you get caught up in a incident. Good luck with your trip.

Which bit of Sweden are you going to ? There's a big difference between Malmo and the Artic Circle !
I'd check the battery specification in your manual, and whether you might need a sump heater and a battery heater if you're going far up North. I suppose it depends on where you are going to park it overnight.
Don't forget to post some pics on your return !! I seem to remember some great pictures on this site from previous Panda trips, possibly in Ireland.

As for the door lock, if you have to change all the locks, why not put a LHD passengers door handle on with no lock and rely on the central locking with the hatch access being your second way in if the fob stops working ? The little cherubs will spent all day looking round the car for the keyhole and you can then pan them one !

Take a look here: http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/countrybycountry.html and follow the link to Sweden. As well as snow tyres (which must have the correct markings on them), you have to carry a shovel...

Cheers everyone - I've been to the Arctic Circle before - but in the summer. 24 hour daylight with reindeer and elk jumping out infront of my Panda!
I might get a "power pack" and make sure it's not kept in the car over night.
Standard snow kit applies - snow tyres, shovel, etc. just need to add some hi-viz tape in case an animal is hit and runs, injured into the forest - that way the Police can track the animal and shoot it, if injured.
I think a Finnish friend should be able to read the Swedish user manual (i think they are taught Swedish at school), failing that, my local garge will try decoding it for me. the cost of a new set of locks is 300 quid (!) i'll take the risk of trusting my electronic key still works.
Just hope I see a wolf or 2!

Looks like mid Sweden is as far as I'll be getting up to as 24 hours driving as the arctic circle would be just far away - I don't fancy driving to 6 hours every day on my annual leave. Mobil and Shell helped with choice of oil whilst Fiat could have done better in their response.
(At least my car has done the Arctic Circle before)

Now I just can't wait to hit those snowy forest roads!

Ciderboy said:

Looks like mid Sweden is as far as I'll be getting up to as 24 hours driving as the arctic circle would be just far away - I don't fancy driving to 6 hours every day on my annual leave. Mobil and Shell helped with choice of oil whilst Fiat could have done better in their response.
(At least my car has done the Arctic Circle before)

Now I just can't wait to hit those snowy forest roads!

Click to expand...

good stuff ,
have fun and remember your camera..,
Charlie

Did you ever do your Swedish road trip? I am planning a Scandinavian road trip in December 2015 right up to Finnish Lapland in the panda 4x4 and would be great full for any advice.