(T) 58 Panda auto gearbox no drive

I have a 2008 Panda with autotransmission. Recently when coming to a stop at a junction I have noticed the gearbox drops into N and the transmission light comes on dashboard with a pinging noise. The display reads no gear available. No matter if I try manual or auto, pressing the E button, switch off Engine it will not drive. Had it taken to garage that reset ECU and said the fault may return. It duelly did. Any ideas to what the fault could be? It happened several times previously but I managed to get it working by flicking the gearstick between auto/manual. Seemed to free itself but this no longer works.

Hello and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you're having difficulties.

How long have you owned the car?

Sadly this sort of problem is not uncommon. The obvious thing to do is to check the fluid level in the selespeed unit and reset any fault codes, but if this doesn't work, complete replacement of the actuator is probably the only way to get a permanent cure. On a 2008 panda, this will likely cost more than the value of the car.

Have a read of this thread from the 500 section.

Hi. Did the Garage have the correct kit to ..after topping up fluid tank...
Bleed-purge the fluid through the system
Then reset all the necessary parameters..

Its a relatively simple job in principle.. but Impossible without the correct knowledge..and software.

Charlie . Oxford - Cardiff

Not sure what the garage did apart from reset codes. Im going to take car to a fiat specialist and see what they diagnose.

It does sound like the symptoms of a lazy pump motor (if no leaks and no clutch slip/noise.)
Certainly worth checking if "expert" advice is not actually expert, which, unfortunately, is often the case.
Motor brushes can wear down, and can be replaces (try an Alfa Selespeed expert) or replacement motors can be found (although pricey and you usually need to swap some parts over to the new motor).
Pump motors are same as used on some Alfa Selespeed, Ferrari and Maserati systems.