Hello everyone, I am new, having owned my brand new Panda for a day! I have the dualogic gearbox and have a question on parking. The dealer says it is OK to leave in Neutral, but the handbook says a big no (car even beeps at you). So want to leave in first/reverse but am worried about the exact procedure to do this.
Have tried this: stopped car, with engine on, first gear selected with brake pressed, handbrake on too - then what do you do? The handbook says wait for gear display to disappear, but it doesn't (engine is running) but if I then turn off engine then everything disappears immediately! Am worried I may do some damage if I am doing this wrong.
Would be grateful for advice on exact steps to follow. Thanks in advance.

Hi, and welcome,

select N - Neutral..NOT 1st gear..,

Charlie

Thank you for your reply, but I understand that you are not supposed to leave it in neutral so I'd still like to know how to leave it in gear.

when you stop the car will be in either first gear. or reverse.

Apply the hand brake. turn the ignition off.

The car is now parked in gear the way Fiat designed it.

When you next start the car. depress the brake, turn key in ignition. And the car will start in N

This is a very simple gear box to use when you understand it.

ThePostman said:

when you stop the car will be in either first gear. or reverse.

Apply the hand brake. turn the ignition off.

The car is now parked in gear the way Fiat designed it.

When you next start the car. depress the brake, turn key in ignition. And the car will start in N

This is a very simple gear box to use when you understand it.

Click to expand...

none of the duologics I've used ,


Panda (2005 - 05) , idea ( 2005 - 55)
have beeped at being parked / started in Neutral..,


sorry if I've confused you with poor info on a current model vehicle : - (


EDIT. perhaps it's to alleviate the chances of a "roll-way" if the handbrake fails.. ( happened on our '04 manual panda)


so does the car actually act like it's "locked" in 1st gear = doesn't roll at all..??


charlie

varesecrazy said:

none of the duologics I've used ,

Panda (2005 - 05) , idea ( 2005 - 55)
have beeped at being parked / started in Neutral..,

Click to expand...

I wonder if this was changed, later...?

Our 2009 Dualogic Panda won't let you switch the engine off if you're in neutral (I suppose it's like putting a 'normal' automatic -- or even my Speedgear Punto or Selecta Mk2 Panda -- in park...); but will then ask you to put it in neutral before you start the engine.

Thanks both, that is very helpful.


I'm still not sure what they mean about keeping foot on brake, when engaging 1st or reverse, until display of gear on screen disappears - as it never does until you turn off engine. Might be something new on the new Panda?

Crystal Tips said:

Thanks both, that is very helpful.


I'm still not sure what they mean about keeping foot on brake, when engaging 1st or reverse, until display of gear on screen disappears - as it never does until you turn off engine. Might be something new on the new Panda?

Click to expand...

foot on brake is "normal" for { automatics} when taking up / selecting drive.


Question ;


so if you stop your FIAT in 1st gear, and release the handbrake does it roll ?,
or is it "locked" in gear..like an AUTO in PARK..??


charlie

Yes, I haven't tried it yet (!) but that's why they don't want you to leave in Neutral as it would roll if handbrake failed.

Always leave an automatic in 'park', or in gear. And always leave a manual in gear too.

Hasn't that always been the rule?

My colleague had to take a test recently and was surprised to be told to park her car in gear. I was surprised she didn't know, so she tried it and then bunny-hopped when she started the car in gear without depressing the clutch and slipping into neutral. She knows nothing about car mechanics, but of course she has been driving for forty years and so quietly knows everything. Lol!

Another, maybe silly question, but when you leave in gear can you select gear after engine off or do you need to do it with engine running for it to engage. Thanks!

With a standard auto you switch off and put the car in 'park', with your foot on the foot brake all the time of course. But if I remember you can put it in park before switching off. I took my test in an automatic over forty hears ago, but driving one is so natural I can't even remember the sequence of actions . Oh dear.

What does the manual say re the Dualogic, if you need to be in gear before switching off, that's fine. Then into neutral to start.

Unfortunately, the dualogic manual doesn't say specifically whether to do it before or after turning off engine, but it does say wait for the 'display of the gear engaged to disappear before releasing the brake pedal'. The display stays on when engine on, so that suggests do it when engine off?

Try it.

I want to know it too! I worry my new Fiat500 will keep rolling on slopes. I'd like to know if the parking procedures with gear on will be like that:

Stop the car
1. Stop the car with Brake Pedal
2. If on uphill slope, keep the gear in A/M position (not in N). If on downhill slope, keep the gear in R position
3. Gear indicator is still on
4. Apply Hand-brake
5. Turn the ignition off
6. The car is locked

Star the car
1. Press Brake Pedal
2. Gear indication is blanking and shows N
3. Move the gear to N
4. Move the gear to A/M
5. Remove Hand-brake
6. Move the gear to A/M
7. Apply Accelerating pedal
8. The car moves forward

Am I correct?

Cheers

hardbeat said:

I want to know it too! I worry my new Fiat500 will keep rolling on slopes. I'd like to know if the parking procedures with gear on will be like that:

Stop the car
1. Stop the car with Brake Pedal
2. If on uphill slope, keep the gear in A/M position (not in N). If on downhill slope, keep the gear in R position
3. Gear indicator is still on
4. Apply Hand-brake
5. Turn the ignition off
6. The car is locked

Star the car
1. Press Brake Pedal
2. Gear indication is blanking and shows N
3. Move the gear to N
4. Move the gear to A/M OK
5. Remove Hand-brake
6. Move the gear to A/M WHY take out of gear..??
7. Apply Accelerating pedal
8. The car moves forward

Am I correct?

Cheers

Click to expand...

Hi,
what 500 have you got..? ,
what body / what engine,
how many speeds in your Gearbox..?

NOT driving a panda - could be the WRONG Info.

Charlie

hardbeat said:

I want to know it too! I worry my new Fiat500 will keep rolling on slopes. I'd like to know if the parking procedures with gear on will be like that:

Stop the car
1. Stop the car with Brake Pedal
2. If on uphill slope, keep the gear in A/M position (not in N). If on downhill slope, keep the gear in R position
3. Gear indicator is still on
4. Apply Hand-brake
5. Turn the ignition off
6. The car is locked

Star the car
1. Press Brake Pedal
2. Gear indication is blanking and shows N
3. Move the gear to N
4. Move the gear to A/M
5. Remove Hand-brake
6. Move the gear to A/M
7. Apply Accelerating pedal
8. The car moves forward

Am I correct?

Cheers

Click to expand...

I too was a little confused when I first got my Duologic panda. But its pretty simple when you know how.

STOPPING: After engaging the hand-brake, just switch off the engine!

STARTING: Whilst keeping your foot on the brake, start the engine. To move Forward, pull the lever towards you. This will engage 1st gear (if you want to start in 2nd due to slippery conditions, pull the lever twice). If you want to go backwards after starting, engage Reverse.

I'm not being condescending, it really is that simple. Basically, the car does everything for you. When turned off after coming to a stop, the car remains in gear to stop it rolling, much like the P position on a regular automatic. Upon starting with the footbrake applied 1st, 2nd or Reverse is allowed to be selected.

Moving the selector lever without the engine running has no effect at all. No need to worry about the A/M selection either. The reason it bleeps when switched off in Neutral is just because you're at risk of the car moving if the hand brake fails, you won't be damaging anything if you do leave it in Neutral, its just not good practice.

I too was told to leave it in Neutral by the dealer...