Latest updates

Thought I'd treat my Panda to a brake upgrade!

HEL stainless steel braided brake lines, in purple (let my Mr's choose the colour).
Brembo Xtra drilled discs.
EBC Greenstuff pads.
Pagid DOT4 fluid flush and bleed.

I'm really happy with how it looks and after a few hours of driving, I'm starting to notice a difference. Really happy with the EBC pads!

I know it's overkill on a Panda, but maybe that extra foot of stopping distance could save an accident.

Since steel rims where in very bad shape, bought myself one more set of random alloy wheels....
Made some custom paint with red xirallic and 3d printed wheel caps.

But right when i Finished these rims, I got one idea from internet and started making totally new rims for my fiat.....pictures of that will be here soon...

Since in the last post, the purple color was just a undercoat, Then here you can see the end result of the colorshift what went onto the purple.

Hi folks,

My stepdad has been enjoying the Panda buy I believe we've run into a problem,

At the fuel station he says when filling up, the nozzle fills about £0.20 then the gun clicks and this just repeats, which must be quite frustrating. (As in he can't just hold the trigger until the tank is full)

Would this have anything to do with a faulty EVAP purge valve?

Thank you
Adam

Since the body was quite beaten up. Alot of dents, scratches and rust, so I decided to take care of that. But As I said in the beginning, this car for me was thing where i can live myself out So I decided to paint it purple.....A bit later You will see why...

If I drove around a little bit, I started to feel that this Car should be a bit more than it is....

First...Soundproofing....I took out interior and soundproofed it with Sound mats....Floor, sealing, sides, everything...

Next step was squeeze in 7 speakers (2 midwoofers, 2 coaxial, 2 high end and one subwoofer )

And car got itself a webasto electric sunroof and central locking with opportunity to start car remotely
And i Found some old alloy rims, that looked better under the car than in the corner of my workshop

So while I’ve not done much on the car for quite a while, I have been experimenting with a process I picked up from another youuber.

Basically it’s the process of changing the colour of interior plastics without painting them which is well known to chip off or crack.

So here is the finished result, well ish because my next plan is to cover the wheel in leather.

The first ever black Punto ELX mk1 steering wheel.

As time goes on new issues emerge... A couple of Bravo/Bravas passing through my hands in the last year or so have had headlight washers which have split open as the steel fixing pillars inside rust and expand, forcing open the polyurethane mouldings. As bought my HGT had had them both removed. Whilst you might argue the design was a bit clunky they are part of the OE look; I refurbished a pair (including cutting and filling with plastic bumper filler, primed and sprayed. Quite pleased with the result....

Remaining issues - a dodgy patch of lacquer down the centre line of the bonnet (see above), rear washer pipe needs reattaching inside the tailgate. A/C evaporator has a slow leak (doing a good job of coating the subframe in luminous yellow A/C dye) - but that's a big job (dash and heater box out) and it's still working for now.....maybe next summer

PASSED it's MOT on Wednesday 26th with only front tyre advisories.

This little vanilla scoop is now in possession of my Stepfather!

It'll remain in the family as a back-up. I'm so glad the effort and time I've put into this has paid off!

I'll keep updating here about it, and see where it goes!

Thank you everyone who has helped me from saving this from the scrapyard!

- Adam

After buying the Nardi Gara 3, I discovered the steering wheel hub didn't fit into the Tipo. I bought a hub specific to the Fiat Tipo at mad.mikes.store (they also have the period optional sports steering from the Fiat Catalog available).

After some months with both of them at home, I finally sent it to be installed this Monday. The car I dreamed of having now also has the steering wheel I always dreamed hehe

Doing it's pre-MOT checks today,

Hopefully all goes well on Wednesday!

Usual, noticed the oil weep from the rocker cover gasket but should be here soon!

I believe this little bean will be staying in the Family as unfortunately his Doblo is going to the scrapyard on Wednesday and needs a runabout!

Talk about lucky timing!

Was on away job hence the delay but, swapped over the steering column, fitted the ignition barrel and clock spring etc, everything all lined up.

We have power steering again!!! - YIPPEE

Ordered a new bumper too as the crack was always a sad part of the car.

Will book this in for it's MOT again!

With the car developing a random heavy misfire, diagnostics predictably pointed to an injector. These are basically service items on this generation of 1.6 16v - they eventually get fried by the "excellent" Marelli engine management system which is prone to voltage irregularities (I was told once by an expert). Last one went about 12 years ago, according to the file.

Luckily genuine injectors are still readily available (wonder why?!) and only about 30 quid a pop, so I've replaced all four and we're back to living the dream. It's a bit of a fiddle because they are behind the front of the long inlet manifold, all of which has to come off.

Hopefully good for another 12 years....!

So, today was meant to be the pandas MOT, however I changed the Torque Sensor but the power steering is still dead. I believe that's now indicating its the electric motor?

I'm frustrated as I thought I was onto a winner, but I'm still happy to get a used steering column and swap everything over.

Hopefully get it back on the road for new year.

new front calipers fitted and painted september 2025, throttle body clean & relearn, idling smoothly and stop start now working faultlessly, next service mid november 50000 new air and oil filters, 3.2 litres selenia 0w30 oil oil reset then i will adjust tracking which is slightly towed out, new battery fitted last week

Hi everyone! Since I would be away for almost a month during my trip to the UK, I left the Tipo with my dad to address the minor damage caused to the front bumper by a neighbor. During the trip to take it to my dad, I also noticed that the A/C stopped working properly.

The front bumper, A/C system, and cracks on the passenger door handle were repaired, the paint was corrected, minor corrosion on the doors was addressed, the back seat was repainted, and OEM wiper arms were located and installed. Front foglights appear to be a future project, as they didn't fit into the bumper.

During the trip to Europe, I acquired some stickers (Car Of The Year 1989 and Fiat Forum), speaker interior trim, a Nardi Steering Wheel adapter (which will be utilized in a future update), and a Haines manual (although I'm not a huge expert).

For those wanting to check updates on Instagram, here's the profile!

So I decided I'd give the Panda a small drive to make sure it was good for its MOT, but realised the steering felt, off? I took my hands of the steering wheel when accelerating and like a poltergeist, it started rocking left and right (centre top going to the 11 o clock position to the 1 o clock position). Then after approx 3 minutes, the steering went completely dead.

Checked the obvious;
Battery - charged and good ️
Earth straps - good and clean ️
Loose AUX belt - good ️
Alternator - charging ️

I was a bit puzzled but I actually stumbled across a post from 2015 on here regarding similar issue and it being the Torque Sensor on the steering rack. As none of the other 'probable causes' seemed to be the issue, I'm hoping this is it.

I managed to remove it without disassembling the steering wheel, lower cowling and 7 bolts, 1 big circlip and 1 small circlip.

Just waiting for new one to arrive then I'll update if issue is fixed.

Got it's MOT booked for the 4rth November at a local garage!

Re-adjusted the handbrake cables, at the drums first then the adjustment nut at the handbrake.

Repainted the plastic trims

Painted the rocker cover, exhaust manifold heatshield and the engine mount. Certainly freshens it up!

Hi folks,

I'm nearly at a stage I'll be MOT'ing this. Was just wondering if anyone could give me some selling advice?.

2004 Panda Dynamic, 64,500 miles.
Timing belt/water pump was done 2023️
2X new ignition coils️
New HT leads️
New sparkplugs️
Underside cleaned and undersealed️
New front discs and pads️

Bad point ️ rear bumper is cracked but no damage to the rear crashbar.

Would £1500 be too high a price to advertise? And would you recommend I source a new/colour matched rear bumper?

Thank you
Adam

Didn't really need them done BUT thought I'd do it anyway, front discs and pads changed!

Gave front end/subframe some undersealing!