Car has now been rebooked for 19th Nov so a bit longer for the part to be fixed but im going on hols and didnt have the time on friday to get it repaired...

Mines decided to join the fold. havent phoned my dealer yet. Is it a quick job for them?

Oh god...... I need a new car too: which one ...?

Re: Tailgate mechanism...

Apparently (once the part is in stock), the job only takes about an hour. I'm still waiting for the call from Fiat in Norwich to say that the part has arrived. I suppose I'll have to give them a call or I could be waiting a long time...!

Unless its a re-engineered replacement wouldnt it just happen again?

My boot lock has been repaired took around an hour to fix. As for the posts re sticking back doors i have sprayed a thin film of silicone spray around the rubbers and the problem has been solved. Mine was only slight if the door hadnt been opened for 4-5 days. The silicone is water resistant and will stay on there for months at a time. Had a similar problem on my punto so i know in the long term it works a treat!

SCORCHIO12 said:

As for the posts re sticking back doors i have sprayed a thin film of silicone spray around the rubbers and the problem has been solved. Mine was only slight if the door hadnt been opened for 4-5 days. The silicone is water resistant and will stay on there for months at a time. Had a similar problem on my punto so i know in the long term it works a treat!

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Many thanks for the advice, will try it out when (if...?) I get a dry day! Still nothing from my dealer on the boot mechanism. It was supposed to be with them early last week. They haven't called me so I'm assuming it's taking longer than they thought!

catnash said:

Unless its a re-engineered replacement wouldnt it just happen again?

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A good point there... if it was happening on just a few cars then a straight swap would, I assume, normally be enough. As this is appearing to be quite a widespread issue it does make you wonder what the long term plan from Fiat is, regarding it. Assuming they have one, that is...

Just out of interest, if the problem happens again, and the warranty period ends - and it continues to malfunction, would the replaced part still be under guarantee or would us unlucky owners have to then pay for subsequent replacements? It is a dark picture I've just painted, but I'm just curious

dansdan said:

Just out of interest, if the problem happens again, and the warranty period ends - and it continues to malfunction, would the replaced part still be under guarantee or would us unlucky owners have to then pay for subsequent replacements? It is a dark picture I've just painted, but I'm just curious

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Unfortunatly not covered so I've been told with other situations

SCORCHIO12 said:

My boot lock has been repaired took around an hour to fix. As for the posts re sticking back doors i have sprayed a thin film of silicone spray around the rubbers and the problem has been solved. Mine was only slight if the door hadnt been opened for 4-5 days. The silicone is water resistant and will stay on there for months at a time. Had a similar problem on my punto so i know in the long term it works a treat!

Click to expand...

My boot lid was repaired last week, and the replacement driver's door beading was also fitted - but not perfectly: they admitted they'd had trouble making the new one lay flat even with warm air. It's a big improvement, but still not as good as the passenger door. I've been told to take it back if it gets any worse.Also - Sod's law, the number plate light fault refused to materialise on test. I expect slamming the boot lid a few times will regenerate the fault! And I do mean slam, as the lid needs a firm hand to close properly.
The whole job took about 90 minutes.
Mike.

I had a call to say the part is now in (it took 2 weeks to arrive) and it's being fitted on Saturday

On a separate issue, has anyone had an issue with their brakes? I don't know whether it's a fault or my driving , but every so often when I touch the break pedal it's as though the car does an emergency stop. Thanks, C

I know that the brakes on the Panda are very good

Wahey! Looks like I might be joining the club...

Couple of times in the past few days I've unlocked the car using the top button on the fob and gone to open the boot; nothing happened when I pressed the boot lid.

However I have since opened the boot using the bottom button, locked all the doors again with the middle button and then pressed the top button again - was then able to open the boot.

Does this sound like it's about to fail, or did all of your examples on here stop working altogether and that was that?

How confusing, and annoying. Why can't it just have one button that opens everything with one press and locks everything with a second press? Total simplicity.

FIAT probably could also remember that this is 21st century, and automotive technology evolved handy things like keyless entry (at least as not so expensive options).

Ulpian said:

How confusing, and annoying. Why can't it just have one button that opens everything with one press and locks everything with a second press? Total simplicity.

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Because any Tom Dick and Harry can then get into the rest of your car if its only the boot you want to get into, and the same applies to getting into the boot if its only the car you want to get into.

Because any Tom Dick and Harry can then get into the rest of your car if its only the boot you want to get into, and the same applies to getting into the boot if its only the car you want to get into.

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And when did that ever happen, outside a war zone that is? I can't remember ever unlocking my car and having people flock to get in with me.

And as for keyless entry: no thanks, it creates more problems than it solves.

With all these faulty boot releases I think it is pretty certain that no Tom, Dick or Harry is going to get into a Panda boot.

Ulpian said:

And when did that ever happen, outside a war zone that is? I can't remember ever unlocking my car and having people flock to get in with me.

And as for keyless entry: no thanks, it creates more problems than it solves.

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Fairly often in certain parts of London etc in the 90s!

Only has to prevent it happening once to one person and it's been worth while fitting to all motors. Like airbags, fitted but hopefully will never be needed.

Ulpian said:

And as for keyless entry: no thanks, it creates more problems than it solves.

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... such as? It simply avoids the need for you to fish for the key in your pocket and press this button on it, you press button on the door, otherwise it works the same. Very useful in the rain or when you have hands full.