Technical safe place to jack up front of panda?

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Technical safe place to jack up front of panda?

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Hey guys, girlfirend's 2004 1.1 active has a coolant leak which had been fairly slow and couldn't be sourced when it was in for it's MOT recently.

Car had sat for two weeks and after a good run there was a nice waterfall from the bottom right of the radiator dripping onto the ground! Unfortunatley with the bottom of the front bumper and such I really need to get under the car to pinpoint where exactly the source of the leak is (at least have a clue where it is now!).

Can anyone tell me a safe jacking point to raise the front of the car on the panda, or is it best to stick with the normal point under the front passenger door? I have a proper trolley jack.

Thanks again.
 
Hey guys, girlfirend's 2004 1.1 active has a coolant leak which had been fairly slow and couldn't be sourced when it was in for it's MOT recently.

Car had sat for two weeks and after a good run there was a nice waterfall from the bottom right of the radiator dripping onto the ground! Unfortunatley with the bottom of the front bumper and such I really need to get under the car to pinpoint where exactly the source of the leak is (at least have a clue where it is now!).

Can anyone tell me a safe jacking point to raise the front of the car on the panda, or is it best to stick with the normal point under the front passenger door? I have a proper trolley jack.

Thanks again.
Block of wood under the cross member - use thick ply if possible or hardwood.
 
Block of wood under the cross member - use thick ply if possible or hardwood.

NO NO NO!!!!!

Front panel on the mk3 is only plastic, it will not take the weight of the car, will snap and take out the radiator etc with it.

Far better off using the front sub frame :)
 
NO NO NO!!!!!

Front panel on the mk3 is only plastic, it will not take the weight of the car, will snap and take out the radiator etc with it.

Far better off using the front sub frame :)

Hi Jon, thats what I was referring to - not the plastic part lol ! :D

I perhaps should have referred to it as 'suspension' crossmember... (y)
 
Would this be the best place to use axle stands aswell.

Its fine, use a wooden block (I use 1" marine ply pads) and go just inboard of the suspension arm mount points - nearer the rear mount point - there is a nice area there you will clearly see.
 
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Thanks again MEP.

Leaking from the bottom pipe, off to eBay then for a new radiator!

wIb61tP.jpg
 
Mk4 Panda twin air one I believe. Didn't look like a mk3 one.

We've ordered a radiator so should be here tomorrow. Can I ask if I've got this right from your post history?!

To replace I need to remove/open up front bumper, remove the slam panel this should then give room to unbolt and lift out the old rad and slide the new one in?

Again thanks.
 
We've ordered a radiator so should be here tomorrow. Can I ask if I've got this right from your post history?!

To replace I need to remove/open up front bumper, remove the slam panel this should then give room to unbolt and lift out the old rad and slide the new one in?

Again thanks.

What Spec / year Panda have you got and has it got AC :confused:
 
2004 active 1.1 no AC.

Lovely jubley. In that case bumper can stay on. Remove the 2 hoses and disconnect the fan, top corner each end of the rad there is a small peg which lifts up, should then be able to pull the top of the radiator towards the engine and pull it up and out of the engine bay.

IIRC this is how I managed to do it on sisters 2004 1.1 Active when I changed her radiator a few years back (y)

Cracking little Pandas the Active - still have a soft spot for them :)

Let us know how you get on.
 
Lovely jubley. In that case bumper can stay on. Remove the 2 hoses and disconnect the fan, top corner each end of the rad there is a small peg which lifts up, should then be able to pull the top of the radiator towards the engine and pull it up and out of the engine bay.

IIRC this is how I managed to do it on sisters 2004 1.1 Active when I changed her radiator a few years back (y)

Cracking little Pandas the Active - still have a soft spot for them :)

Let us know how you get on.

Thank you very much mate! I was hoping/thinking it came out this way when I was looking at it the other day but got a bit astray looking at some old posts.

Will do, between this and getting her italia 90 fit for an MOT going to be knee deep in pandas all week!
 
I thought I'd add some photos I took during the process as they may help someone like myself in the future!

With the grill removed there are two plastic clips holding the top of the radiator on which can be found here.


These are what the clips look like, the non curved part at the back needs pulled forward for removal.


Once these are out you can lift the radiator up and out of the two holes it sits in and it will be free from the car. Can see the two rubber feet that slot into the holes, on the removed radiator here.


While it is possibly/probably possible to remove the radiator from the top, I found it far easier to slip the old one out downwards while the car was jacked up and insert the new one from below.
 
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