lunchbeers
Established member
Just over 16k miles here, about 5.5k in the last 12 months
General What did you do with your Panda today?
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General What did you do with your Panda today?
Motorcyclist Colin
Established member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2018
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- 171
Taxed it. Not sure why as it hardlygets used at the moment. VED has gone up by £5 since last year and £10 since the year before, and don't even mention petrol cost (Sorry I mentioned petrol costs)
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Off to the builders merchant to get some of my cheap 2x2 cut down to 2x1 and to collect a new gas bottle for the cooking. Gas up 20% since the last purchase. My 44 2m lengths are £10 each new so £10 for the 44 seems a good buy! Panda does pull the trailer so well!
Booked Becky in for her MOT at Harrison's Garage. He's going to take her next Thursday which is just before the present MOT expires.
Bit of a disaster with my boy's Punto. He put it in for it's MOT last week without letting me give it the once over before it went in. FAILED on not being able to open the hatch - I didn't know that was a failure? Anyway he asked them to "mend" it and it turns out the actual lock mechanism is internally corroded. They've wasted a few days trying locks supplied by scrappies all of which didn't work and then reminded him that if it wasn't mended within the 10 days (I think) there will be a retest fee. So he rang me up in a wee bit of a panic. I know the garage where the car is (not my friends down at Harrisons I hasten to add) so I rang them up and got to speak to the mechanic working on the car. Yes it's passed on everything except this lock. No there's nothing wrong with the wiring (I was worried it might be a break in the loom where it flexes between the body and hatch) it's internal corrosion of the lock Itself. I tried a few people I know but without luck. Main dealer couldn't give an estimated delivery time so I rang Mick at S4p. Yes they've got them on the shelf. It's a lock shared by a few models, for instance the one we need for his 2012 Punto also fits the 500. He gave me the part number so I rang the garage back and got the mechanic to go on S4p's website and look at it. Yes, that's the one! Unfortunately Mick had closed up by the time I rang him back but I'll ring him first thing tomorrow and I'm sure he'll dispatch one to us right away. Should be here by Monday I recon which gives a couple of days before the MOT "free retest" time is up.
Bit of a disaster with my boy's Punto. He put it in for it's MOT last week without letting me give it the once over before it went in. FAILED on not being able to open the hatch - I didn't know that was a failure? Anyway he asked them to "mend" it and it turns out the actual lock mechanism is internally corroded. They've wasted a few days trying locks supplied by scrappies all of which didn't work and then reminded him that if it wasn't mended within the 10 days (I think) there will be a retest fee. So he rang me up in a wee bit of a panic. I know the garage where the car is (not my friends down at Harrisons I hasten to add) so I rang them up and got to speak to the mechanic working on the car. Yes it's passed on everything except this lock. No there's nothing wrong with the wiring (I was worried it might be a break in the loom where it flexes between the body and hatch) it's internal corrosion of the lock Itself. I tried a few people I know but without luck. Main dealer couldn't give an estimated delivery time so I rang Mick at S4p. Yes they've got them on the shelf. It's a lock shared by a few models, for instance the one we need for his 2012 Punto also fits the 500. He gave me the part number so I rang the garage back and got the mechanic to go on S4p's website and look at it. Yes, that's the one! Unfortunately Mick had closed up by the time I rang him back but I'll ring him first thing tomorrow and I'm sure he'll dispatch one to us right away. Should be here by Monday I recon which gives a couple of days before the MOT "free retest" time is up.
Update on the lock situation. Rang Mick (S4p) first thing yesterday (Friday) morning and bought the lock/latching mechanism. We are a little concerned to be sure the lock arrives and gets fitted before the MOT "free retest" period expires so I mentioned this to Mick who said he'd immediately box it up and get it shipped. - He's addressed it direct to the Garage, FAO Paul (the mechanic doing the job). I made a cup of coffee and checked up on my order for my new smoke/heat and Co alarms (we're all being "forced" to buy radio interlinked fire alarm systems up here due to new legislation introduced by the Scottish parliament in February - at considerable expense. In my case 4 smoke alarms, 1 heat alarm and 2 Co alarms) There's been very little public awareness of the new regs being brought in and then suddenly it was all over the local press and news stations. Everyone has suddenly tried to buy and, of course, there's not enough and many suppliers have run out of stock! Anyway, by the time I'd done that, an email had popped up from Mick to say he'd shipped the lock and shortly after an email from DPD to say they will deliver after 2pm on Monday. I've bought quite a bit of stuff from S4p and it's always been a good experience. On this occasion though I think they've quite excelled themselves and Mick has gone well above and beyond in getting my purchase on it's way so quickly. So thank you very much Mick and S4p!
Final update on "that" lock. Early this morning I got an email from DPD promising delivery of the lock to the garage address between 12.52pm and 1.52pm. Shortly after 4pm my boy got a call from the garage saying the car was fixed and now MOT'd and ready for collection. So, obviously, the delivery must have taken place as promised. Thank goodness they were right about the wiring loom, I was quite prepared for a call saying "Dad, they've fitted the lock but the hatch is still not working"! In the event though, all done and dusted and no retest fee applied!
Anyway, all bow down to Mick and the lads (maybe lasses too?) at Shop4parts for so rapidly sending us the part needed. Now my boy's Mrs can have her car back!
I installed a pair of mudflaps that I bought of Ebay for 99p as it is annoying after the cars just been washed the back end gets filthy while the rest stays clean so hopefully they might reduce it.
Motorcyclist Colin
Established member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2018
- Messages
- 344
- Points
- 171
Would have loved to come to the AutoItalia and meet other Panda Nuts, but already booked for a Jazz day .
Amazing I do little for a couple of years then more than one thing happens on the same day.
I have NEVER turned down free doughnuts before Aaaaaagggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
Amazing I do little for a couple of years then more than one thing happens on the same day.
I have NEVER turned down free doughnuts before Aaaaaagggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
99p excellent. Smart too. TIP.. You must avoid backing over kerbs etc that are higher than your mudflap to floor distance to avoid ripping them off. Here speaks voice of experience.
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Just back from a 500 mile round trip up to Manchester area in Noop (TA 4x4), 46mpg up and 43mpg back, at speed fully laden. I'm quite pleased with that.
Summer tyres sorted, cleaned, pumped up and put back yesterday just in time for the weeks cold spell.....
Daffo our 169 throwing EML tantrums. On inspection the catch can was very full. I switched off the light and had a look at anything that ,might be an issue but no warnings noted other than misfire on 2. After cleaning out the inlet manifold again, by removing the throttle body and cleaning it with rag, I cleaning the throttle before reinstallation all seems well and the difference in performance is again profound. The car seems indecently fast now. I think more water is being produced running it on E10. Moral is empty the pot every single week,
Summer tyres sorted, cleaned, pumped up and put back yesterday just in time for the weeks cold spell.....
Daffo our 169 throwing EML tantrums. On inspection the catch can was very full. I switched off the light and had a look at anything that ,might be an issue but no warnings noted other than misfire on 2. After cleaning out the inlet manifold again, by removing the throttle body and cleaning it with rag, I cleaning the throttle before reinstallation all seems well and the difference in performance is again profound. The car seems indecently fast now. I think more water is being produced running it on E10. Moral is empty the pot every single week,
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The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
no worries mate. I'll eat yours for you!
- Joined
- May 18, 2014
- Messages
- 197
- Points
- 66
I quite like those! Do you have a link?
I'm afraid these were just a one off on ebay as it was a private selling & was also a no reserve auction with no other bidders hence 99p, I came across them whilst looking for something else. They do look good but are not perfect as they are aftermarket, they required a bit of trimming & also one is sitting just slightly lower than the other but is not that noticeable. If only Fiat made genuine ones
As my work decided they were closed today for easter I decided to sort out the one thing that was letting the Panda down which was the hubcaps & the rims. The paint was chipping off the hubcaps & the rims were starting to go rusty, so after a quick going over with an abrasive pad the rims got sprayed matt black & then painted the hubcaps steel silver which is a bit darker than they were but it looks so much better.
Today, I waited for the delivery guy with my new matts (as recommended by @Herts Hillhopper ).
(Photos to follow)
Whilst waiting, I've blocked the view with the Panda so I can stare at it, like a proud parent.
Monday arrives the cruise control which I'll fit (Photos to follow).
About to have a cup of tea. (If you so wish, photos to follow)
(Photos to follow)
Whilst waiting, I've blocked the view with the Panda so I can stare at it, like a proud parent.
Monday arrives the cruise control which I'll fit (Photos to follow).
About to have a cup of tea. (If you so wish, photos to follow)
Attachments
Very smart car, I think white suits them very well.
I had a white 4x4 -- looked great. Briefly (written off after seven weeks) a metallic grey, and now 'off road green'. Green is best I think... but I'm biased
This one used to be parked a couple of streets away.
I thought it looked pretty good. Unfortunately, although it's on one of my regular walk routes, I never met the owner and now it seems to be gone as I've not seen it since around Christmas.
I thought it looked pretty good. Unfortunately, although it's on one of my regular walk routes, I never met the owner and now it seems to be gone as I've not seen it since around Christmas.
The Police possibly told him to park it elsewhere, because someone was photographing it...
