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What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?

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What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?

DaveMcT said:
After a pile of hassle with Multi ECU Scan (MES) not working on a PC, I eventually got it going to find the OBD port on my non starting car is not powering on.

Good news MES is working. Yay :cool:

Bad news still no clue why the car's ECU is getting no power - probably. Boo :yuck:
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I can commiserate with you on that Dave. I've referred to the problems I had with assigned com port and baud rate when trying to install mine in a couple of my posts. Great sense of achievement when you finally get it sorted though?

Do let us know what the problem turns out to be with your OBD port won't you.
 
Pugglt Auld Jock said:
Sounds to me that you made exactly the right call there. "Rescueing" cars which had fallen off their "silly" scissor jacks whilst someone was trying to change a wheel, whilst not an every day task, was certainly something not unknown when I worked in the trade. Luckily never came across an injured customer. However doing anything under, or even partially under, a vehicle supported on one of these "infernal devices" should be a strict no no!
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I used to be of the opinion if you dropped a car off a jack you'd done something stupid for it to happen. Did all sorts on them back when I had my Fiat once I'd lost access to a pit.

And then the Suzuki happened when I was rotating the tyres at which point I decided unless I was stuck at the side of the road with a flat it wasn't going to get used.

I'd jacked it up 4 times already rotating the tyres and despite being on a perfectly flat bit of tarmac...away it went. It was either a bit of gravel or maybe the suspension hadn't quite settled from being lifted on the other side and moved but that was point at which I decided I wasn't messing about with them. It didn't fall left or right it moved away from me like the car had slid sideways so even if the wheels had been chocked front and back it still would have gone.

Nowt worse than that feeling of doing several 100 quids worth of avoidable damage trying to save a tenner, at least I wasn't under it.

120Y sounds similar to my current car...though the rust isn't THAT bad. Engine will be running like a Swiss watch long after the floor has turned to dust. Parts are expensive, but I've never needed any so balances out! One worry is the exhaust, it's stainless from the factory front to back so all original but one day it'll go at which point you cannot get a none oem replacement. Oem is about 6-800 quid and no one makes a copy part version as there's no money in it as most just last unless they get damaged.

So it'll be a trip to powerflow for a custom noise cannon..:ROFLMAO:
 
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Pugglt Auld Jock said:
Unfortunately the old girl fell apart with rust to a quite extreme degree and once it started it seemed to just rage through her to such an extent that i was welding patches into her almost monthly. In the end the front wings rotted so badly I decided to fit new ones but after I'd cut away the old ones I couldn't find any good metal to weld to and realized the inner wings and suspension turrets were about to collapse too! I kept the chocks though and they have lived in the boot of every car I've owned since. By the way, do you like the wheel trims? they were stainless steel and their edges were wickedly sharp. I suffered a number of quite nasty cuts from them - I thought they looked quite nice though? It also had one of the nicest wee 4 cylinder engines I've ever driven behind. Just a simple over head valve with pushrods, but oh so smooth. It ran like the proverbial Swiss Watch. It was the first car I owned which "suffered" from the, now common, practice of "exchange units". The windscreen wiper motor packed in and when I stripped it down the brushes were worn out. The com cleaned up quite nicely with sone glass paper (never use emery on a commutator - it's electrically conducting) and I popped down to the dealer to buy a set of brushes. Sorry sir, not available, exchange motor only listed! and in those days Jap spares were notoroius for being pricey - they sold the cars cheap but charged plenty for parts, although, to be fair, they were much more reliable than your average european offering. In the end I bought some brushes from an auto electrician and rubbed them down on some glass paper 'till they fitted. Now a days exchange units are the norm. Never thought I'd see that back in those days.
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It always amazes me how people still say fiats rust but have forgotten how bad the Jap cars were in the past. always remember a lovely blue sporty looking mazda in the garage i worked in 1982 looked in really good condition until you lifted the carpet and there was no floor left.
 
dave said:
It always amazes me how people still say fiats rust but have forgotten how bad the Jap cars were in the past. always remember a lovely blue sporty looking mazda in the garage i worked in 1982 looked in really good condition until you lifted the carpet and there was no floor left.
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My first car was a 1983 Toyota, and to be fair to it, it was 18 years old before you could see the road through the boot floor, which makes it as old a mk2 puntos are today. Realistically if its reached 18 - 20 years old in our climate with bad weathers, road salt and nearly persistent rain for all that time, its doing well.
 
dave said:
It always amazes me how people still say fiats rust but have forgotten how bad the Jap cars were in the past. always remember a lovely blue sporty looking mazda in the garage i worked in 1982 looked in really good condition until you lifted the carpet and there was no floor left.
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I remember a potential trade-in Japanese pickup, caked with mud underneath. The owner agreed to us steam cleaning it before the salesman could value it. As teh mud dropped off, so did large parts of the chassis. Oops! Can't remember what make it was, but then only about 5 years old.
 
I always liked the old joke about the reason why Jap cars rusted so much.

Answer: They didn't, but British cars were so unreliable that they broke down before they rusted!
 
Fiat were the first (with the Uno) to introduce zinc plated steel for body pressings. But before that they (and Alfa especially) were notorious for poor paint and body rot.
 
Pugglt Auld Jock said:
I can commiserate with you on that Dave. I've referred to the problems I had with assigned com port and baud rate when trying to install mine in a couple of my posts. Great sense of achievement when you finally get it sorted though?

Do let us know what the problem turns out to be with your OBD port won't you.
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It's in the Panda section. 100HP refused to start, gave some odd warnings on LCD screen, battery charged still no start. Back seat out, hot wired the fuel pump. Still no start. Pulled all fuses, for the Nth time, tested every relay with 9V battery and test meter all working fine. Still no start. Went out later to check the screen messages and it started on the button.

It's working fine now. I have not found the fault.

I've not rechecked the OBD port but expect it's now working.
 
DaveMcT said:
Fiat were the first (with the Uno) to introduce zinc plated steel for body pressings. But before that they (and Alfa especially) were notorious for poor paint and body rot.
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Yes.. indeed

My 1st bigger FIAT was a Regata ( think Montego..)..1984..and a trade.in from 150 miles away.. Cornwall

It was mega rusty

The boot wouldnt close..as the lock mechanism just bowed under the pressure.. flexing out of the way

It was 9 years old and £100..

Its eventual replacement an estate was far better.. but only 6 months newer

Later Tipos were Galvanised... :)

'Sacrificial Anode'.. things that dont normally rust would bubble away.. :(
Flat tyres from bubbling rims being a prime example.. :eek:
 
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DaveMcT said:
It's in the Panda section. 100HP refused to start, gave some odd warnings on LCD screen, battery charged still no start. Back seat out, hot wired the fuel pump. Still no start. Pulled all fuses, for the Nth time, tested every relay with 9V battery and test meter all working fine. Still no start. Went out later to check the screen messages and it started on the button.

It's working fine now. I have not found the fault.

I've not rechecked the OBD port but expect it's now working.
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Obviously that particular gremlin just got old and died!
 
jackwhoo said:
I think it got bored and ran away knowing that it's victim will never be happy until he finds out why car didn't start !
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I don't blame you.

Sadly, my long distance weekly commutes restart at end of the month, so would like to find why it was p***ing me about. I do have breakdown cover but don't need the hassle. Especially if it happens on the way TO work.
 
Forgive me Fiat Forum, for I have sinned....

This weekend, I had thoughts of unfaithfulness to my Panda. I considered a number of other cars for sale including a Ford Focus Titanium, Astra GTC and most of all, a DS3 Prestige with 120hp and a tonne of equipment...

BUT, I have managed to convince myself that it's not worth it so that I can keep saving towards my house deposit......

It's upgrade now and be stuck paying for a car until 2023 soonest, or keep the Panda and have it paid off fully by next summer :) I think it's worth ignoring the other cars until then...
 
SB1500 said:
most of all, a DS3 Prestige with 120hp and a tonne of equipment...
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Probably just as well, the DS3 experience is very much skin deep.

Ours looked very pretty but that was the sum total of the good bits, C3 is significantly more rounded car and at least it has an excuse to be so crap to drive.

Highlight of the experience was the exhaust hanger rotting through and falling off at year 2.
 
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SB1500 said:
Forgive me Fiat Forum, for I have sinned....

This weekend, I had thoughts of unfaithfulness to my Panda. I considered a number of other cars for sale including a Ford Focus Titanium, Astra GTC and most of all, a DS3 Prestige with 120hp and a tonne of equipment...
Click to expand...

All Fords, like the DS3 are a skin deep experience. Below the surface they are as cheaply made as they can get away with. Adequate is what they do. If looked after, they can continue to do adequate for a very long time, but will still likely to be a slight disappointment.

Astra GTC brings all the good bits of an Astra, which are a lot better than the press suggest, usually comfortable, reliable and cheap to fix when necessary. (Might get worse as they become rebaged Peugeots) But, the GTC is a facade. A lot of sacrifice in practicality for its looks. A normal Astra will be just as good and so much more practical.

The Panda meanwhile is more honest. Presents itself without pretence. Keeps expectations low, then overdelivers. Part of the reason it'll keep making you smile, where the others are just transport.
 
SB1500 said:
Forgive me Fiat Forum, for I have sinned....

This weekend, I had thoughts of unfaithfulness to my Panda. I considered a number of other cars for sale including a Ford Focus Titanium, Astra GTC and most of all, a DS3 Prestige with 120hp and a tonne of equipment...

BUT, I have managed to convince myself that it's not worth it so that I can keep saving towards my house deposit......

It's upgrade now and be stuck paying for a car until 2023 soonest, or keep the Panda and have it paid off fully by next summer :) I think it's worth ignoring the other cars until then...
Click to expand...

It's a hard call, but TBH keeping the Panda another year really does make the most sense. When I bought my first house my wheels were a knackered old Mini 1000 that slopped water around the rear floor when it rained. But it went & stopped until the temperature gauge failed to tell me it was overheating (radiator leak on a long journey).
 
StevenRB45 said:
Probably just as well, the DS3 experience is very much skin deep.

Ours looked very pretty but that was the sum total of the good bits, C3 is significantly more rounded car and at least it has an excuse to be so crap to drive.

Highlight of the experience was the exhaust hanger rotting through and falling off at year 2.
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That doesn't sound good. As tempting as the DS3 is - btw, mostly just because for around £9k there's 2017 maxed out equipment models going with low enough miles - maybe I should forget it.. :(
 
portland_bill said:
All Fords, like the DS3 are a skin deep experience. Below the surface they are as cheaply made as they can get away with. Adequate is what they do. If looked after, they can continue to do adequate for a very long time, but will still likely to be a slight disappointment.

Astra GTC brings all the good bits of an Astra, which are a lot better than the press suggest, usually comfortable, reliable and cheap to fix when necessary. (Might get worse as they become rebaged Peugeots) But, the GTC is a facade. A lot of sacrifice in practicality for its looks. A normal Astra will be just as good and so much more practical.

The Panda meanwhile is more honest. Presents itself without pretence. Keeps expectations low, then overdelivers. Part of the reason it'll keep making you smile, where the others are just transport.
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Okay, so Ford and Citroen not great. I do like the Astra but everybody I speak to for advice has nothing good to say about Vauxhall. I think the styling is nice on some of them and after 2015 they seemed to load them all with a good set of equipment! But then the attractive pricing used is probably a sign that there's something amiss?
 
DaveMcT said:
It's a hard call, but TBH keeping the Panda another year really does make the most sense. When I bought my first house my wheels were a knackered old Mini 1000 that slopped water around the rear floor when it rained. But it went & stopped until the temperature gauge failed to tell me it was overheating (radiator leak on a long journey).
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Seems like the house is the thing to focus on then!


Out of curiosity, if I keep the Panda for another five years or more... what do you guys reckon a good next step would be?

Fiat would tell me a 500X or Tipo, but owners of those Fiats might not agree?
 
hi portland bill, you have reminded me back in early 70s i started a job in a company that sold anything ford and garden machinery .on the first morning a group of new staff were taken round the whole company .when we got to the ford spares dept the MD said this is the only place that makes us money , and i have never bought a ford . mowermender70 now (74)
 
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