Hi All. Just joined the forum and wonder if I could get some info on pandas. I have a 2004 Fiat Panda Eleganza 1.2 and I've had it for 5 months now. It is very different from my previous car, Ford Fiesta. For instance, I find it hard to get a smooth gear change as 3 out of 5 times, it jurks. Also the pedals, esp brake and clutch are quite hard.
As I am new to driving also, just wondering if those are 'NORMAL' in an 11 years old Panda?
Thanks all

ObedJJ said:

Hi All. Just joined the forum and wonder if I could get some info on pandas. I have a 2004 Fiat Panda Eleganza 1.2 and I've had it for 5 months now. It is very different from my previous car, Ford Fiesta. For instance, I find it hard to get a smooth gear change as 3 out of 5 times, it jurks. Also the pedals, esp brake and clutch are quite hard.
As I am new to driving also, just wondering if those are 'NORMAL' in an 11 years old Panda?
Thanks all

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How old was the Fiesta?

Smooth gear changes will be a combination of driver skill and clutch bite point / weight of the clutch through the hydraulic system.

If its not been done will probably be worth a clutch fluid change if nothing else to see if it helps at all.

Could possibly be the clutch is worn out.
The thinner the friction plate gets, the stiffer the pressure plate gets.

It's also feels like there's no action in the clutch, so it's either in or out with little slip in between, hence the judder.

More often than not, the bite point will be near the top of the pedal travel or working it's way to the top of it's travel.


As for the brakes, check the servo is working.
Pump the brake pedal a few times before starting the engine to expel any vacuum still in there, the pedal should go rock hard after three or four pumps.

Push your foot on the brake with just enough force to hold it as low as it will go without stamping on it and hold it there (it should be fairly stiff now).

Start the car's engine.
The pedal should dip a few cm's under your foot as soon as the engine starts, this is the vacuum assisting.

Again, hold the brake pedal down with just enough force to hold it in the same place and switch the engine off, now start counting.

You should be able to count to 20 or more before the pedal starts to push up against your foot.

Anything less than 20 and you have a vacuum leak on the brake servo or vacuum pipe.

The fiesta was the same age, 2004. Thanks, I will get it change. Of the various mechanics I have been to, one suggested the fluid change.
Thanks again

I will try that. Thanks guys