Technical 'lumpy' running?

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Technical 'lumpy' running?

PandaEleganza

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Hi everyone

bear with me as this may be nothing.

In the three years that I've had the Panda (1.2 60hp, Eleganza, 2010, 45000 miles) it has always felt slightly 'lumpy' at idle. The engine sounds fine, but when the car is stationary with the engine running (at normal temperature) it feels like it is 'swallowing' or juddering slightly. There's no regular pattern or rhythm to this, and it doesn't matter whether the AC is on or off (with the AC on the condenser turning on and off is more noticeable anyway, and the engine fan is always coming on so that hides it too).

I run with standard Esso/BP petrol (not supermarket) and a mixture of town running and some longer distance. Petrol consumption is not great but it is hilly here - about 37-42 around town, up to 55 on a longer run.

I've read elsewhere on the forum about lumpy running but before I start messing around is this just how they all are?

Thanks!
 
Don't know where to start with this.

First I suppose is mine a 1.2 and GF 1.1 are both smooth at idle.

From the disciption it sounds like a random missfire.

Could be 1001 things


Start the engine and put your hand over the tailpipe for a second. Does pressure build up. A hole in the exhaust near the lambda will make it run rich.

Next read any codes or take the plugs out and post a picture on here. But keep them in order so if one is different we know which cylinder it belongs to.
 
I've read elsewhere on the forum about lumpy running but before I start messing around is this just how they all are?

It's not at all unusual and my 2010 1.2 started doing this after about 8000 miles.

My fix was to upgrade to iridium plugs; NGK DCPR7EIX are an (almost) direct equivalent. It fixed the random lumpiness, and it's now on 78000 miles and still running fine on that set of plugs.

I really ought to get around to changing them, but there's no obvious reason to! Saved me quite a bit on both time and plug replacements over the past six years.
 
Hi everyone

bear with me as this may be nothing.

In the three years that I've had the Panda (1.2 60hp, Eleganza, 2010, 45000 miles) it has always felt slightly 'lumpy' at idle. The engine sounds fine, but when the car is stationary with the engine running (at normal temperature) it feels like it is 'swallowing' or juddering slightly. There's no regular pattern or rhythm to this, and it doesn't matter whether the AC is on or off (with the AC on the condenser turning on and off is more noticeable anyway, and the engine fan is always coming on so that hides it too).

I run with standard Esso/BP petrol (not supermarket) and a mixture of town running and some longer distance. Petrol consumption is not great but it is hilly here - about 37-42 around town, up to 55 on a longer run.

I've read elsewhere on the forum about lumpy running but before I start messing around is this just how they all are?

Thanks!

hi, :) worth getting it scanned for codes,;)

but - as an easy 1st thing.. remove the battery earth lead overnight.. then reconnect and use as normally(y)

it SHOULD wipe the "LEARNT" / adaptive memory.. and resort to factory ECU settings. if it still runs funny, get the plugs changed ( compare the burn colour between all 4 of them for an indication of general engine health)

the clock should reset.. but apart from that you may even find the radio presets hold .. it will NOT ask for a CODE if it's the vehicles original unit

Charlie - 13 years of "modern" panda'ing
 
Thanks - I'll try that. (And it is the original radio, plus I have the code, although I shouldn't need it)
 
Hi everyone

bear with me as this may be nothing.

In the three years that I've had the Panda (1.2 60hp, Eleganza, 2010, 45000 miles) it has always felt slightly 'lumpy' at idle. The engine sounds fine, but when the car is stationary with the engine running (at normal temperature) it feels like it is 'swallowing' or juddering slightly. There's no regular pattern or rhythm to this, and it doesn't matter whether the AC is on or off (with the AC on the condenser turning on and off is more noticeable anyway, and the engine fan is always coming on so that hides it too).

I run with standard Esso/BP petrol (not supermarket) and a mixture of town running and some longer distance. Petrol consumption is not great but it is hilly here - about 37-42 around town, up to 55 on a longer run.

I've read elsewhere on the forum about lumpy running but before I start messing around is this just how they all are?

Thanks!
Hi, I have exactly the same model, 05 plate, and near millage as well! If yours is also metallic grey then that would be real spooky!!! lol
I also have the condition your having. when the car is first started from cold it had/has (remember it's a panda!) random tendency of running then for a split second the idle rpm would suddenly drop 200rpm then back up again as if id turned the engine off.
I did change the plugs for better quality ones and the HT leads which seemed to cure this problem, but alas its back BUT its intermittent only when cold. At normal temperature she runs like a dream. My MPG's at this moment are 47-50 going to work and back or 54-56 avg on a longer run so no complaints there! Also no error codes to report and that's from the fiat garage!
Ive had the car for over a year now and after having a nasty crank sensor replaced she has been very reliable.
Hope you get to the bottom of your problem and lets us know
 
Hi everyone

bear with me as this may be nothing.

In the three years that I've had the Panda (1.2 60hp, Eleganza, 2010, 45000 miles) it has always felt slightly 'lumpy' at idle. The engine sounds fine, but when the car is stationary with the engine running (at normal temperature) it feels like it is 'swallowing' or juddering slightly. There's no regular pattern or rhythm to this, and it doesn't matter whether the AC is on or off (with the AC on the condenser turning on and off is more noticeable anyway, and the engine fan is always coming on so that hides it too).

I run with standard Esso/BP petrol (not supermarket) and a mixture of town running and some longer distance. Petrol consumption is not great but it is hilly here - about 37-42 around town, up to 55 on a longer run.

I've read elsewhere on the forum about lumpy running but before I start messing around is this just how they all are?

Thanks!
hi again, just check my posts and if you can, take a look at a post I sent 'rough idleing on start up' which I posted on 19-09-2016
Some good advice there which like I said worked for me but I think pandas are built to test us! lol
 
Hi everyone

Checked carefully, and had friendly mechanic look too, and all seems fine, so it's obviously just how it runs...may need a blast on the motorway and some fuel system cleaner.

Thanks all for your suggestions.
 
the Italian Tune up works best with a good 200 miles at "motorway speeds". Gentle use leads to a clogged up engine and some cars are always slow because the cylinders glazed before they were properly bedded in.

A small air leak to the inlet manifold can cause random tickover hunting. Excess air confuses the electronics. You can find it by spraying easy start around the inlet. If the engine note changes when you spray its likely the "fumes" has got pulled in so you can home-in on the source of the leak.
 
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