Hi there,
I got my 2007 panda for a year now. I think the problem was there when I bought the car, but it is barely noticible in the summer when its warm outside. During winter, when its cold outside and car is cold as well, it struggles to gain revs up to roughly 2500 when turbo kicks in and car gains a lot of power. To the extreme Im struggling to get out of my driveway which is almost flat. I had a problem with turbo initially and swapped the wastegate. My original issue remained however and no garage could find a fault. Once the car will warm up, the problem goes away. There are no faults in the ecu. Ive managed to get used to it as 99% of times I would drive downhill for first couple of miles while the car slowly warms up, but I would prefer to sort it out before the winter comes
Any ideas? Anyone had a similar problem? I can connect to the ecu again if there are any tests I can carry. There are no Fiat garages nearby and I would see it as a last resort anyway due to cost :/
Any help will be greatly appriciated!

I had cold issues in Winter until I sealed the little screwhole in the middle of the black piece beneath the windscreen wipers. If this hole isn't sealed it drips and can fill the airbox with water. This is what causes the sluggish behaviour. Haven't had the issue since I sealed it.

Hi Wee Smurf, thank you for your response. I have checked the recommended area. I do admit - the water extraction holes were completely blocked! I have cleared them out, which will hopefully help things out. I am not sure though which screwhole you meant? Is this the one in the attached photo? Also, I have never noticed if the issue was when it was rainy or dry, which in this case I would imagine I should notice?
Even in the summer it just doesnt feel right when the engine is cold, simply in the winter - or generally when its cold outside it becomes significantly more apparent, to the extend I would struggle to drive uphill straight from the start.

Thanks

Yes that's the screwhole I was talking about. Get a bit of sealant around it. It's amazing how much water can drip through it.

What fuel are you using btw?

Will do, def worth a try Its 1.3 diesel 70hp.

Lol I meant brand of fuel. Reason being, mine simply hates Sainsburys diesel. No idea as to what's different about their fuel, but my car ran exceedingly poorly when I bought a tankful of it one time when I was given a 15p off per litre voucher. The poor running was solved by a tank of my usual Maxol and I learnt my lesson and won't do that again.

Mine loves Maxol too .'Cheap' diesel is a false economy .Way more smokey just for starters ...

Or remove the screw AND the nylon fitting it locates into, and put a strip of double-sided tape underneath it.

That said, I don't think it's the cause of your problem ... but it's still a mod worth doing to stop water entering the air cleaner.

Also, on the subject, pull off the air cleaner and check that the top fits snugly on the base, because some air cleaner tops warp, and you can see the edge of the air filter in the gap. This allows unfiltered air to pass the filter and enter the engine. Just a precaution for the future. Very poor design.

I've scrapped my airbox completely and fitted a cone filter directly onto the Maf.

Im usually using Esso, as its close to my home, but used other stations over the year and never noticed slighliest difference. Will check the air filter.

Could be a sticky wastegate actuator rod which may be stuck partially open. In cold weather the cast iron contracts down on to the actuator rod . When the turbo body warms up it unsticks. Plenty of WD40 at the top of the rod (behind a cold exhaust) and leave it for a bit and lever gently the actuator rod to and fro to make sure it's free . Use a long lever (I used a lightweight crowbar) inserted to the right of the exhaust down pipe......a powerful torch will help you identify it. The wastegate should move quite freely....you don't need much force. You need to buzz these engines up now and then to make the wastegate work so it remains free. Regarding the water in the air filter issue.....remove air filter and make sure the three rear tongues are properly engaged and also .....MOST IMPORTANT......that the three screws are tightening down properly.....if they don't there's a gap right where air is delivered to the turbo and water can get sucked in. There's a thread on re shaping the air filter box to make it water tight.

Check out this thread......"Bad 1.3 multijet air filter housing water ingress".

Check this thread on water ingress to engine.....https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-guides/426032-bad-1-3-multijet-air-filter-housing-water-ingress.html