General Panda dahsboard clock not keeping time

[Theleman]

Hi All

We have a Panda 2010 model. 1.1 Litre engine.

Recently the clock on the dashboard beside speedo meter has not been keeping time at all.

I set correct time, and it would keep the time, but when I park the car and restart engine, the clock changed time to crazy wrong time.

Is it powered by the car battery in the bonnet? Or does it use its own battery?

 

[chris3234]

Does it resets to midnight after starting?

If so the battery is probably on its way out

 

[jrkitching]

Is it powered by the car battery in the bonnet? Or does it use its own battery?

It's powered by the car battery.


Erratic clock behaviour is one of the early signs that it's time to replace it.

 

[koalar]

:yeahthat: powered by the big car battery under the bonnet.

 

[DaveMcT]

Car batteries have 6 cells giving just over 2.1V each. They will often show 12 volts at no load, but a fully charged car battery should be just over 12.7V.

Just to confuse things, the battery will show 13.5V for a while after the car has been used. This is the "saturation" charge which drops back to 12.72V after a few hours or if any power is taken from the battery. A bad cell will often support normal voltage under no load but lose it as soon as it's asked to do any work. The starter might turn but the bad cell can't keep up so the system voltage drops and the clock stops. Power steering is usually the next thing to give trouble.

Sooner or later the battery will let you down, so might as well get it replaced.

 

[Theleman]

I am not sure what time it resets, but when I start the engine in the morning 7am, and the clock is 0:00, and during the day when it is 3pm, and it is 01:30 or something like that.

So, the main battery is going bad. The car is now almost 10 years, and battery is from the factory.

Tonight we have noticed also gear was not engaging very well, and clutch was stiff too. Would it have anything to do with the battery? I guess not.

Maybe clutch is going bad too?

 

[koalar]

I am not sure what time it resets, but when I start the engine in the morning 7am, and the clock is 0:00, and during the day when it is 3pm, and it is 01:30 or something like that.

So, the main battery is going bad. The car is now almost 10 years, and battery is from the factory.

Tonight we have noticed also gear was not engaging very well, and clutch was stiff too. Would it have anything to do with the battery? I guess not.

Maybe clutch is going bad too?

The clocks normally reset while cranking the engine. The high power draw of the starter motor lowers the volts below the threshold to keep the clocks alive.

If the battery goes much worse the car will start to struggle to idle and or fail to start and possibly loose the power steering.


A stiff clutch is normally the first symptom the clutch is on its way out. However its worth checking the hydraulics are in good order first.

 

[DaveMcT]

The clutch should release well away from the floor. If the pedal is going well down before releasing, it's likely to be air in the hydraulics (UK car). Bleed the hydraulics and see if that helps.
Air gets sucked in through the master seals, so you will probably need a new master and slave cylinder.


If the clutch itself is failing, the pedal feels heavy and like you are forcing something. Get the hydraulics replaced when the clutch is done.

 

[Theleman]

I just drove the panda, and this time clutch was not too stiff.

Gear seems going in properly, I felt, but even if accelerator was pressed, emgine races but car was not driving faster, as if it was not in gear.

 

[Theleman]

Could it be engine not running at full power and lost power due to weak battery? I have gone to Amazon, and ordered a new battery. It is S4 Bosch type 202. Due to arrive in next few days.

 

[DaveMcT]

Engine revving with gearbox in gear, yet not moving sounds like the clutch has failed. There are other possibilities but that's the favourite.

It's counter intuitive but Fiats often fail with the clutch refusing to release when its worn out. The pedal goes heavy but nothing happens and you cant engage a gear. Its also possible for the pressure plate to fail so there is nothing holding the clutch together then you have no drive to the wheels.

 

[Theleman]

Yes, it is strong possibility that clutch is failing.

I will replace the battery when arrives, and then take it to clutch specialist garage for them have a look.

 

[DaveMcT]

Yes, it is strong possibility that clutch is failing.

I will replace the battery when arrives, and then take it to clutch specialist garage for them have a look.

DO NOT use a clutch specialist. Find a local garage that survives on personal recommendation. They will probably be no more money but if they are a bit more, its worth the cost to have the job done properly.

Get them to check the final drive is ok. Some cars had a problem with the gear ring coming loose on the shaft. The easy fix is a used gearbox but it can be repaired by an engineering machine shop. It's unlikely on a Panda but should be checked.

 

[Theleman]

Any one who could do the work good standard and good price is whom I would go to.

 

[Theleman]

Bosch S4 battery arrived this morning, and I managed to replace the old battery with the Bosch. Set the clock, and all seems OK.

 

[DaveMcT]

Now to get that clutch sorted. Avoid the fast fit outfits. They are fast for a reason and often not as low cost as you'd expect. The local chap needs to maintain his good name so will not be looking to rip people off.

 

[Theleman]

Would it be good idea to check it out whats actually wrong with the panda?

If it were bad clutch cable, then replacing clutch would not sort the problem? And it would be waste of money?

But some of the garages charge money to have a look at the car finding out whats wring with it.

 

[A3jeroen]

Clutchcable would only be on LHD Panda's. Yours will be hydraulic.

gr J

 

[Theleman]

Clutchcable would only be on LHD Panda's. Yours will be hydraulic.

gr J

Thanks for your confirmation.

Yes, in that case, it could be master / slave cylinder, pressure plate, or the fluids for the cylinder, or could be clutch itself gone bad. I mean would it be worth getting checked out paying for it before actual work going ahead?

 

[DaveMcT]

Would it be good idea to check it out whats actually wrong with the panda?

If it were bad clutch cable, then replacing clutch would not sort the problem? And it would be waste of money?

But some of the garages charge money to have a look at the car finding out whats wring with it.

A better made version of the point I was trying to make. The battery wont sort out the lack of drive.

A worn out and abused Fiat clutch will probably need a new actuating arm (old one being bent). The hydraulics will be worn out and sucking in air as they wont outlast a normal clutch life. New master and slave cylinders are around £130. The clutch kit is cheap at around £70 but you will need to add another £200 to fit everything plus Vodka And Tonic of course.

That's assuming it is the clutch. Punto Mk2 gearboxes went though a phase of the final drive gear coming loose on it's shaft. It is easily fixable at a machine shop. I've not heard its a Panda problem but the basic design is unchanged. That needs to be ruled out before swapping the clutch.