Hi everyone. I live in New Zealand and have a 2005 1.2 Panda with about 90,000 miles (151,000km) on it and the Dualogic clutch action is very jerky especially in slow stop/start driving.
From what I have read on the forum this is probably due to clutch pressure plate finger wear and the solution is a new clutch.

I have just bought a clutch and before I tear into it has anyone removed a Dualogic box and replaced the clutch? Will I need to have the clutch recalibrated after fitting it? What happens if I don't, will the car still be driveable? Any other advice would be appreciated..... There are no Fiat dealers within 300 km and only a couple of Pandas in the country as private imports.

Thanks, Bergi, New Zealand.

The system will need to be recalibrated, it you don't it'll behave as it currently does, recalibration is possibly all it needs.

Can do it yourself using MultiECUscan.net software

Thanks for that reply. When the car is running with the temperature needle in the centre of the gauge the jerkiness is much reduced, almost gone. Any advice on using the multiscan software much appreciated.... Bergie, NZ.

Bergi again from NZ. Will the free version of multiECU scan recalibrate the clutch or do I need to pay for a nother version? Thanks, Bergi.

Bergi said:

Bergi again from NZ. Will the free version of multiECU scan recalibrate the clutch or do I need to pay for a nother version? Thanks, Bergi.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure if the free version will do it, as I've the licensed version.
You need to access the gearbox ECU on it, and I'd try purging / bleeding the hydraulic system first

Most Easterly Pandas said:

I'm not sure if the free version will do it, as I've the licensed version.
You need to access the gearbox ECU on it, and I'd try purging / bleeding the hydraulic system first

Click to expand...

Thanks again for your reply... The paid version is not too expensive to download and sure beats a weekend spent under a car removing a gearbox...!
I have tried to replace as much of the hydraulic actuator fluid as I could by removing the return pipe off the top of the tank in the front of the gearbox under the aluminium cover and having an assistant cycle the gear lever through the gears. The return pipe discharges the dirty fluid to a container and when the tank runs low I topped up with new synthetic fluid and repeated. Fluid now looks red not black. How do I go about purging the hydraulic system please? And if I go ahead with a gearbox recalibration I will need the correct cable, are you able to tell me which one it is please as there seems to be several. (sorry to ansk so many questions but I am reasonably competent mechanically but ECU's are something I have never played with before...)
Perhaps mine is the "Most Southern Panda?"

Bergi, New Zealand.

Hi Bergi, what fluid didn't you replace it with? It should ideally only be CS Speed fluid from Fiat used (or equivalent but I've yet to find out the equivalent fluid and Fiat isn't that expensive (in the UK) for it IMO).

Regarding the lead, it's the ELM cable you need I believe, not sure which one though, should have all the information on the MES website. A bit of a read but worth it.

Once you've got the software you need to connect to the gearbox ecu and then under 'actuations' tab from memory, you can select the different procedures which you can complete with the software on the gearbox

Thanks again for the ongoing information.
I did not use the Fiat approved fluid as there are no Fiat dealers close by. I reasoned that new syn fluid of another brand has to be better than the black syrup that was in there! I will try to track some of the Fiat fluid and change again as it's an easy job. Ghanged the gearbox oil yesterday as well. There is a European car repair garage here that may have the correct cable I can use or perhaps have them do the recalibrate if I take along the software on a laptop. Will investigate this week.
Otherwise a great little car to drive and much more alive in its feel then similar Japanese cars.

Bergi.