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Technical selecta transmission problems

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Technical selecta transmission problems

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leonsdada

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Hi guys
I am having an issue with the selecta.
since about a month, the transmission feels noiser than usual.
Yesterday, out of the blue, it started to make a loud high pitched noise if pressing the gas more than, say, halfway.
It started juddering a little going uphill and when stationary. The worse thing that happened so far is stalling at the lights :confused:
I managed to nurse it home last night and I am just about to go out and have a look under the bonnet. What should I look out for?
Has anyone had similar experience?
I am thinking the powder clutch is at fault (read 'hope is not the gearbox') .. is there a way to test this?
 
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The thing I've noticed with my VERY limited experience on the Selecta gearbox is that symptoms always point to multiple possible faulty items. :bang:
Until one of us really get to know this gearbox, work on and strip down half a dozen, we're only going to be making educated guesses at what it could be, you're probably just as educated as the rest of us at this point LD, with the exception of Jon (MEP) who is streets ahead.

Regarding your current problem it sounds like it could be the clutch or associated electrical components, or more seriously the mechanical internals, particularly the belt.

That's all I can contribute at the moment, but with Hal and Bo now under my wing I suspect a steep learning curve is looming. :eek:
 
VmanC said:
That's all I can contribute at the moment, but with Hal and Bo now under my wing I suspect a steep learning curve is looming. :eek:
Click to expand...

Glad you're skiing down that alpine pass - you've got another Selecta under your wing from the NEC onwards (assuming it all goes to plan), albeit slightly bigger than a Panda. :worship:

Edit: did I mention it has a potential gearbox fault :eek:
 
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VmanC said:
Until one of us really get to know this gearbox, work on and strip down half a dozen, we're only going to be making educated guesses at what it could be...
Click to expand...

When you're ready to strip Hal down, I'm more than happy to come down and act as grease-monkey and teas-maid... -- as I too would like to learn how this thing works.... :idea:
 
thanks for feedback!
The oil is bright 'pink', does not look bad at all. I have not changed the oil since I have the car, it now has about 40k miles (Fiat own oil is about 15 quid a litre, from memory :eek:). Having said that, one of the flexible pipes that go to the cooler was leaking when I bought the car. After an initial bodge fix with some rubber fuel line and a couple of jubilee clips, a few months later the leak came back with a vengeance. So the second time around I had the hydraulic hose properly renewed by Pirtek.
Because of these leaks i probably topped up 2 liters over time?

After i had quick look under the bonnet, checked fuses (doh!) etc, I took the car for a drive yesterday for about 20 mins. Well, nothing went wrong and the fault did not reappear :confused:
There was only a slight high pitch 'whine' the first time I pulled away, like if something was pressurizing. After that, all good.
(First thing to do, methinks, is an complete oil change and look out for other symptoms.)

So if the oil change does not fix it, what then?
option 1. Probably electrical? something to do with the clutch energizing? as if the 'box is fubar, it would sound like a bag of nails all the time?
option 2. Maybe the clutch starts slipping/binding when it gets hotter than on a 20 mins drive? on that note, I could not find a replacement powder clutch anywhere online. Does anyone know where to source one from and how much they cost?
 
leonsdada said:
Does anyone know where to source one from and how much they cost?
Click to expand...

My dealer has just quoted me £81.48 for the clutch kit (part number 71790547 -- thank you, Most Easterly Pandas...!), plus £14.98 postage. (I shall be collecting: as they're not that far away.) It will be in stock tomorrow...! :worship:

Hope this helps.... (y)
 
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leonsdada said:
Hi guys
I am having an issue with the selecta.
since about a month, the transmission feels noiser than usual.
Yesterday, out of the blue, it started to make a loud high pitched noise if pressing the gas more than, say, halfway.
It started juddering a little going uphill and when stationary. The worse thing that happened so far is stalling at the lights :confused:
I managed to nurse it home last night and I am just about to go out and have a look under the bonnet. What should I look out for?
Has anyone had similar experience?
I am thinking the powder clutch is at fault (read 'hope is not the gearbox') .. is there a way to test this?
Click to expand...

You seen this thread?

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/326104-calling-all-classic-panda-selecta-gurus.html

Sounds similar!
 
meh..
spent the last 2 weekends trying to get the selecta going, I think it has packed up for good.
Changed the gearbox oil and cleaned the filter, I could not believe the amount of metal shavings and gunk in the sump... not a good sign :(
Anyway, fresh oil went in, problem persists. Gearbox is dead.
I cannot get it to go faster than 20mph. Sometimes it will come unstuck and actually pick up speed up. But when it happens, when comes to pulling away after a stop, it' like doing so in 3rd in a manual..
I am no expert, but if the gearbox works like this I think the main variator is dead.

It is a real shame as the rest of the car is actually quite good, but I will have to let this one go :cry:

If anyone wants a donor panda for another project, please let me know. I will be shortly putting an advert on the Classifieds.
 
Oh dear Panda Selectas seem to be dropping like flies at the moment. Can't help feeling that the practical way forwards is just convert them to manual gearboxes. The parts situation for Selectas already seems bad and can only get worse.
 
Palio said:
Am I ostrichsized for not having a Panda, or can I still join? :cry:
Click to expand...

Only because you've got your head in the sand, and bought one of those Panda estate Selectas...! :nutter:

Of course you can join: but there's a large fee involved for non Panda Selecta owners, of course.... :p
 
homeward said:
Only because you've got your head in the sand, and bought one of those Panda estate Selectas...! :nutter:

Of course you can join: but there's a large fee involved for non Panda Selecta owners, of course.... :p
Click to expand...

:worship:

It might as well be a Panda selecta - seems to have the same problems!! :(
 
Giacosa said:
Oh dear Panda Selectas seem to be dropping like flies at the moment. Can't help feeling that the practical way forwards is just convert them to manual gearboxes. The parts situation for Selectas already seems bad and can only get worse.
Click to expand...

Yes I thought of perhaps fitting a manual gearbox, but I would prefer to keep it as original as possible. And (when it works) the CVT box is actually great fun!
I am having sooooo many second thoughts right now... Selling it like this feels like abandoning your dog tied to a lamp post
I have been looking today for a replacement gearbox, as apparently these gearboxes were used in micras as well. I am not sure what I am looking at though :confused: I should firstly remove the knackered one and compare it to possible donors as I am sure it will not be that straightforward.
I even considered stripping the current gearbox as I would love to known what is going on in there and I am sure it is not as complicated as it seems. As I mentioned before I think the variator is probably the culprit here. Unfortunately I no longer have a decent workshop with a nice bench where I can mmmm and ahhhh with a cuppa while staring at some random bits.
Well if anyone knows of or has a selecta gearbox for sale, I am seriously considering putting this one back on the road. At least i am pretty sure I can do this on the driveway....
 
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