Has anyone changed the auxiliary drive belt on a Panda diesel (with air conditioning)? I need to replace mine and I'm wondering whether to have a go myself. I know that access is via the RH front wheel arch, but are any special tools required to deal with the tensioner?

Many thanks

With aircon you have an automatic tensioner, which is a spring-loaded pulley, with quite a strong spring.
It has a hexagon on it for a spanner to push it away from the belt, the petrol is 13mm, so yours is probably the same. You may need a long spanner, to get the necessary leverage.

Haynes says just wheel and wheelarch liner removal to gain access, so quite easy.

With the tensioner held away from the belt, ease it off the pulleys, then release the tensioner gently, don't just let go. When removing or refitting belt, keep fingers away in case you let go of the tensioner, or it slips.

That's exactly what I was going to say, with the addition of phoning a mechanic in order to retain the required number of fingernails, knuckles and, at a push, fingers.

Thanks for the help - I think I'll leave this to a mechanic!

I had to buy a long 13mm spanner. Not strong enough with the standard length. Probably too many pies, not enough exercise.