Hi folks,
Im looking forward to picking my Panda up tonight, but my trip to Halfrauds last night was less fruitful than id have hoped!

Firstly all the manuals (as my searches on here have confirmed) dont apply to the 4x4.
Will the haynes manual help at all - surely the basic engine and electric's stuff is the same? Is it only the 4x4 components that are not covered?

Also im having trouble working out which engine I have - its a 1988 4x4, so is that a 964 or a 999cc. I know that the 4x4 has an extra 2bhp but I thought that was a separate issue.
I ask as im looking for spark plugs and a fuel filter. Im unsure of the model however. (i always swear by NGK plugs)
I also want to put a k&N air filter in the box but im not sure which model I need.

One last thing - which oil do you guys suggest - Halfrauds own part synth at £17.99 or enhanced mineral oil £12.99.

Im going to give the oil a flush and probably ad some anti leak agent.


Any tips greatly appreciated.
Ill be taking some pics if anyone is interested and popping them on the web somwhere - making it a bit of an amateur project. Ill post a URL.

Cheers
Jonathan

Nearly own a 4x4 Panda.
Have a 1992 Eunos Roadster 1.6 (turbocharged - but looks standard)

Jonathan, I can't help with the technical questions regarding the 4X4, but I'd love to see some pictures. I've been hankering after a 4X4 for years. Congratulations on your purchase. I'm sure you'll be very happy together.

Steve...

Visit my Fiat website; www.forzafiat.com



2001 Brava 1.6 HSX 100, 1994 Uno 1.1 ieS.

As you've discovered, the Haynes doesn't cover the 4x4 at all.

The "Porter" manual covers it a bit, and is generally more useful than Haynes.

I found one on Amazon some months ago - they periodically appear on Ebay too.

ISBN 1-899238-22-0 according to the back of the book.

Regarding which engine - Porter only mentions the 964cc in as far as it was not available in the UK..

There are probably two ways of finding out:
VIN number of the car into a parts CD.
or, does the distributor horizontally "plug into" the end of the (overhead) camshaft??

If so, it's 999 FIRE.

Thanks Steve.

Cheers John - the distributor plugs in as you have suggested. So its 999cc then

Ill need to get that manual - ive never had a car with a carb before!
Or ever done anything other than check stuff before.


[:0]



1988 Panda 4x4 and loving it!
Have a 1992 Eunos Roadster 1.6 (turbocharged - but looks standard)

Two additional service tips for the 4x4:

1. You will need to tackle the 3-section rear wheel propellor shaft with a grease gun.
2. Check the oil level in the rear diff. The filler is in line with the prop shaft. 80 gear oil is the spec. Or better still, drain and refill.

Thanks David - will do. Im most deffiantely going to be busy every wekend this summer!

Im currently in negotiations with a sump plug thats standing its ground.[!]

1988 Panda 4x4 and loving it!
Have a 1992 Eunos Roadster 1.6 (turbocharged - but looks standard)

Further to my post just before - I dont think this plug is actually going to move at all!

Its completely ruined my weekends activities as I foolishly put the engine flush in before I knew if the plug was movable. So im at a loss as I really cant dive it -and its seems like ever again.

Its just sitiing there waiting to go for a spin!


1988 Panda 4x4 and loving it!
Have a 1992 Eunos Roadster 1.6 (turbocharged - but looks standard)

Have you got the correct hex drain plug adaptor??
(ISTR it's 10mm A/F but might be wrong)

IME, when they haven't been moved for a while they stick with a vengeance - and finally go with a "click", just when you think you're about to break something...

In full agreement with John H.
Forget 'Gentle'...give it some welly[}]

HHmmmmmmm

Ok guys - It is clockwise to undo right?
Think ive managed to confuse myself after all this.

[?]

Ill try again tomorrow.

to be honest im chomping at the bit to get it sorted.

Any Idea on the petrol? Should I go with LRP for now to be safe? Or unleaded with an addative?

I seem to have so many questions - perhaps I should do a new thread for each as then they would be easier for someone else doing a search with a similar question?

1988 Panda 4x4 and loving it!
Have a 1992 Eunos Roadster 1.6 (turbocharged - but looks standard)

Different threads for each seems a good idea.
I haven't had time to sus your engine yet so I'd fill her with LRP every fourth refill for the time being and unleaded every other time.

HHmmmmmmm

Ill do that then.

No rush on the petrol thing - just want to get it running as best as I can.

Thanks
Jonathan

1988 Panda 4x4 and loving it!
Have a 1992 Eunos Roadster 1.6 (turbocharged - but looks standard)

Originally posted by Roadsterchinsk
Ok guys - It is clockwise to undo right?
Think ive managed to confuse myself after all this.
[?]

Click to expand...

NO!!

Righty tighty
Lefty loosey

Or anticlockwise viewed from the top to undo, for the grown-ups..

Originally posted by Roadsterchinsk


Any Idea on the petrol? Should I go with LRP for now to be safe? Or unleaded with an addative?

Click to expand...

LRP is beginning to be withdrawn from sale.

If you do need a susbstitute for the lead (work on the basis you do, as it won't do any harm, until you find out for certain) choose something like Castrol valvemaster, Millers VSP, or one of the other FBHVC endorsed fuel additives - and stick with the same one once you've started as the different makes use different metals as the substitute (Millers-manganese, Redline-sodium, Castrol-phosphorus, Superblend-potassium).


P.S.

according to Haynes (p 176 in the "to 1993" edition:
Panda 1000 models from chassis number 4 112 510 onwards (but excluding any with a chassis numbe beginning 05) - 999cc engine.... 95 RON unleaded, but can use Super, or leaded.

FWIW the parts CD reckons yor engine number is:
1572677

But it also thinks the car was built in january 1980 ??
Probably not!

P.P.S. Somewhere in the back of my head I think that the "FIRE" engine was designed for unleaded, but I can't find it in print anywhere..

Haha - you chaps were correct -

I should have followed the old adage - "If Brut force doesnt work you're obviously not using enough!"

So, new rocker cover gasket (and a load of sealant) new oil and flushed new plugs and new filters and its sounding soooooo much better.

Ill start a new thread for my next question to make things easier.

I really appreciate the help.

My engine no. according to the plate is 156A30000 ??


Ive just realised what a big task this is going to be! [:0]

Ill go with the LRP until Im sure - and ill get that addative for unleaded.

1988 Panda 4x4 and loving it!
Have a 1992 Eunos Roadster 1.6 (turbocharged - but looks standard)

IME* - LRP or additive, but not both.

John H

* Morris 1000 - "A" series engine definitely not designed for unleaded.

Sainsburys still do LRP (my route to work) was the so ill use LRP 50:50 with unleaded for now.

Probably why the bloke thought it was pinking - as he only used unleaded. Also all of the sparks were oily, and two had grity deposits on them! [:0]

Not now though - fresh NGK's and a bit of copper anti sealant on the threads etc.
Also they were in way too tight.

Morris on unleaded sounds a nightmare - what are you going to do once LRP is gone?

Just driven about a bit-

1988 Panda 4x4 and loving it!
Have a 1992 Eunos Roadster 1.6 (turbocharged - but looks standard)

Roadsterchinsk - Glad to hear that everything is working out The 156A30000 number you refer to on the plate (that should be on the driver's side of the bonnet slam plate) is a version number and isn't the engine number. It's nothing to worry about [^]

John - The production date thing is a default reading if for whatever reason, the disc doesn't know B) But the majority of the time, it's correct.

You're probably correct about the FIRE engines being designed for unleaded, since they appeared around the same time as the new fuel.

However, I'd be inclined to stick with LRP, since it's an older engine (at 16 years old) and would benefit from valve lubrication.

FWIW, my 903 - although a non-FIRE engine that harks back to the 1950s - always runs best on Murco or Jet LRP. Esso's was good too, but they stopped selling it She doesn't like Texaco's LRP, and isn't all that impressed with unleaded from any vendor, although still runs alright with it every now and again.

Originally posted by Roadsterchinsk


Morris on unleaded sounds a nightmare - what are you going to do once LRP is gone?

Click to expand...

Not a problem:
unleaded plus additive (Castrol valvemaster, in my case) is what it already uses - OK for sensible use.

There are a number of separate issues, going from "leaded 4 star" to unleaded:
1 loss of octane/RON - timing has vernier screw fine adjustment
2 loss of valve seat protection - I don't run it flat out for hours on a motorway, and use an additive.

If/when I do wear the seats out (I understand the valves weld to the seats in localised hot spots, and when it breaks apart you slowly loose the seat metal - the valves need adjusting, and one day you run out of seat, or adjustment) I can get an "unleaded" head with harder seats.
The problem is exacerbated by high speed running.

Your pinking may be a timing/octane issue - which you could prove with a tankfull of Optimax, or other "super" unleaded.

It didnt seem to pink at all on the way back from filling with cheap sainsburys LRP.

Ive always been an optimax diehard since i tried it in my roadster (which has to have super and good super at that).

Ill see how it goes.

I need to read up on timingfor my Panda.
Ive only previously encountered a cam angle sensor system and ive no idea how to set it yet.
Maybe a job for the comig weekend as the Panda doesnt start regular service until next week.



1988 Panda 4x4 and loving it!
Have a 1992 Eunos Roadster 1.6 (turbocharged - but looks standard)

Originally posted by Roadsterchinsk


I need to read up on timing for my Panda.
Ive only previously encountered a cam angle sensor system and ive no idea how to set it yet.
Maybe a job for the comig weekend as the Panda doesnt start regular service until next week.

Click to expand...

Ask if your copy of Haynes/Porter hasn't arrived by then.

BTW you will need to buy, beg, or borrow a timing light - adjustment is by slackening the distributor mounting bolts ( 2 x 10mm A/F ) and rotating the whole body a bit..


Regards


John H