Technical 2015 Fiat Panda 4x4 cross 1.3mj clutch problem - advice needed please.

[Bio1213]

Can any members please help me -
I own a 2015 fiat Panda cross 1.3 mj (left hand drive) the clutch pedal keeps sticking to the floor, but can be lifted up again by using your foot.
The brake fluid level keeps going down despite several top ups, I have changed the complete brake fluid twice recently.
I believe that the brake master cylinder is a dual cylinder, and also operates the clutch?
I believe that clutch slave cylinder can only be replaced by removing the gearbox as this engine has a dual mass flywheel?
I'm presuming the brake fluid is leaking from the slave cylinder into the bell housing, there are no leaks on the brake circuit I have checked, and no leaks from the master cylinder to the bell housing on the clutch circuit.
As the car has completed 52,000 miles I intend to change the complete clutch assembly, that's a new combined slave cylinder/ clutch bearing, dual mass flywheel, cover and drive plate.
Has anyone changed their own clutch on a 4x4 here please?
I'm presuming both front half shafts would have to be removed together with the propshaft before the gearbox can be removed to access the Clutch?
Does the front side cross member where it connects to the front bumper on the gear box side, also needs to be removed to allow room to extract the gearbox?
I would appreciate any advice or information from any members who have completed a clutch replacement on their own 4x4.
I have checked shop 4 parts and the total cost of the parts would be approximately £585, I would be working on my own, from the floor, using axle stands and a trolley jack.
I have not contacted any independent garages at this stage, but I'm presuming the cost to replace the whole clutch would be in the region of £1,200?
If I completed the work myself I would
Save in the region of £600+
If any members can advise me on the potential garage cost I would be very grateful for Thier help.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Steve

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi

Most LHD are cable.. but no reason all hydraulic setups are not identical

@Herts Hillhopper may well know more

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Hi

Most LHD are cable.. but no reason all hydraulic setups are not identical

@Herts Hillhopper may well know more

I was also going to reply that I thought LHD was cable, but all signs suggest the OP has fluid. They share the same reservoir but the clutch has its own master cylinder. On my 2005 car the slave cylinder was external but I’ve never really gone looking on my current (2018 MJ) one.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

£1200 upwards for clutch and DMF change based on my research. Top quote £1600+

 

[andymob]

Can any members please help me -
I own a 2015 fiat Panda cross 1.3 mj (left hand drive) the clutch pedal keeps sticking to the floor, but can be lifted up again by using your foot.
The brake fluid level keeps going down despite several top ups, I have changed the complete brake fluid twice recently.
I believe that the brake master cylinder is a dual cylinder, and also operates the clutch?
I believe that clutch slave cylinder can only be replaced by removing the gearbox as this engine has a dual mass flywheel?
I'm presuming the brake fluid is leaking from the slave cylinder into the bell housing, there are no leaks on the brake circuit I have checked, and no leaks from the master cylinder to the bell housing on the clutch circuit.
As the car has completed 52,000 miles I intend to change the complete clutch assembly, that's a new combined slave cylinder/ clutch bearing, dual mass flywheel, cover and drive plate.
Has anyone changed their own clutch on a 4x4 here please?
I'm presuming both front half shafts would have to be removed together with the propshaft before the gearbox can be removed to access the Clutch?
Does the front side cross member where it connects to the front bumper on the gear box side, also needs to be removed to allow room to extract the gearbox?
I would appreciate any advice or information from any members who have completed a clutch replacement on their own 4x4.
I have checked shop 4 parts and the total cost of the parts would be approximately £585, I would be working on my own, from the floor, using axle stands and a trolley jack.
I have not contacted any independent garages at this stage, but I'm presuming the cost to replace the whole clutch would be in the region of £1,200?
If I completed the work myself I would
Save in the region of £600+
If any members can advise me on the potential garage cost I would be very grateful for Thier help.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Steve

have you checked the master cylinder this is a fairly well known problem with these cars and its not the clutch its just the master cylinder a relativlley easy and cheap fix to start with .ive spoken to few people who had this problem my wife included. she was conned into a whole new clutch by a garage that had no idea what they were doing and caused numerous additional expoensive problems to contend with ,anyway exact same porob 8 months later and it was the master cylinder changed it myself no probs since good luck

 

[chris3234]

Does the panda not have the quick connector In the wheel arch like the 500?
Or has that been removed in the 2012+ panda

Had this been checked for leaks?

 

[Bio1213]

My sincerest apologies for the late reply and update, many thanks for everyone who replied and offered help and advice, it was greatly appreciated.
My Panda cross clutch is hydraulic not cable.
As you look at the brake master cylinder from the front, it's located at the right rear very close to the bulkhead of the car.
Located on the right rear of the brake master cylinder is a rubber feed pipe that eventually leads to the clutch slave cylinder which Fiat term "a concentric".
I have checked every brake pipe, master cylinder, and all 4 brake calipers there are no leaks.
After removing the engine sump guard I could see fresh clean oil, not engine oil emanating from between the transaxle bell housing and engine block.
The concentric (slave cylinder ) is bolted to the inside top of the bell housing, and cannot be visually examined even with the battery removed from the vehicle.
I can confirm that to replace the concentric the transaxle unit has to be unfortunately removed from the vehicle!
My clutch was starting to shudder noticeably when moving off especially from 1st gear, so I believe the brake fluid leaking from the concentric has contaminated the clutch assembly?
As the concentric seals are leaking it's probably allowing air into the clutch hydraulic system, which is the reason the clutch pedal was staying in the down position when depressed?
It was my intention therefore to replace the complete clutch assembly and hence my original thread asking for advice on this forum.
I do not have access to any ramp etc I would have been working from the floor using a axle stands and a trolley jack, old school style by myself.
I attempted to find out the weight of the combined transaxle and transfer box (pto) to determine if it would be possible to lift the unit back onto the jack by myself, but I could not find any information regarding this?
I contacted "shop4parts" who were extremely helpful with information, part numbers, and advice etc.
To purchase a complete clutch assembly that's the friction plate, cover plate, concentric, and dual mass flywheel would have been £685, I also considered purchasing a gearbox trolley jack to assist with the removal / replacement of the transaxle, another £160.
However "shop4parts" had everything in stock apart from the dual mass flywheel, these are currently on back order from Italy, and the expected delivery date approximately the end of August.
I contacted several Fiat dealers and was quoted £531 just for the flywheel!
I eventually managed to source the correct flywheel and was quoted £250.
I found an Italian car specialist namely "L&M" in Marlow, Buckinghamshire who repair Ferrari, Fiat, Lancia, and Alfa Romeo.
I spoke to the owner / mechanic "Karl" who was extremely knowledgeable and helpful, who quoted £1,293 fully inclusive to replace the clutch assembly.
Karl has changed the Panda 4x4 clutches previously and informed me that it's a very difficult job, and not something which is really possible working on your own using a trolley jack.
Karl took the time out from working in the garage and explained that the transaxle is very heavy in weight as it has the transfer box attached, I would have probably not been able to lift it on my own!
Also when re-installing the transaxle unit it has to be angled, and it takes 3 mechanics to complete the task!
So after Karl's advice I managed to deliver the Panda to their very well equipped workshop in Marlow, where I met Karl in person, I found him to be very knowledgeable, and Keith who was on the reception booked the Panda in for the work to be completed.
Before I made the appointment with Karl I Emailed 4 other garages, only 1 replied, I never received any messages or quotes from the other 3, despite 1 being a so called Clutch expert?
Karl can be contacted at "L&M" on -
01494 538899.
I hope the forum members find this information useful?
Thank you.
Best regards,
Steve.

 

[Bio1213]

An update.......
The Panda Cross was recently collected from "L&M" in Marlow where I had a conversation with one of the mechanics who completed the clutch replacement.
The transfer box (pto) has to be removed BEFORE the transaxle unit making this job even more difficult for any members here who are contemplating replacing the clutch on a 319 chassis.
Best regards,
Steve.

 

[oyumurtaci]

I'm late to the party again, but searching for my thread with the same exact issue might have saved some time on contemplation (I get to the slave cylinder/throwout bearing issue about half way through the thread).

Sudden clutch replacement (chalked up to user error) | FIAT Panda (2012+)

So, Friday last week I drove to work and everything was fine. Leaving work, I started the car (1.3 diesel 4x4) and the clutch suddenly went heavy. I couldn't get into any gears, so I had to have it towed to the nearest dealer. Their inspection stated that the clutch and flywheel need to be...

www.fiatforum.com

 

[jrkitching]

I found an Italian car specialist namely "L&M" in Marlow, Buckinghamshire who repair Ferrari, Fiat, Lancia, and Alfa Romeo.

@Bio1213; you could help others by posting a review in the garages section of the forum.