Hi all, you lot seem a helpful bunch! not like them over there on the Doblo forum (Joking! These forums are a brilliant resource)

I'm new to the panda (but not to fiats!) I have the 1.2 petrol 2011/12 model
Its done 55k miles and seems ok but..

I'd love some advice.
Every now and again it has a long crank time to start, when this happens the dash clock and odo resets, is this normal or battery getting old or something else.

In addition its a bit fluttery on the revs and the MPG seems quite high, not had long enough in it to properly work out but its not as economical as the 1.9MJ Doblo I've traded it for! Any ideas?

Lastly when I first picked it up and drove home it smelt a bit like coolant, I realised there was air in the system and bled it and since then it seems fine - so maybe I've sorted that!

oops, just realised this maybe the wrong forum...Mines the 2011 shape but 2012 build? 61 plate??

Bit confused..

Long crank and odo reset is typical weak battery.
However, can also be caused by poor connections, so check those first. Main battery cable from positive down to starter needs ensuring clean connection at both ends.
Earth cable from battery to gearbox and body is known to corrode internally, so end connections can look good, but electricity flow is poor. A jump lead from battery negative to good point on the engine can show if main cable poor.

If you've just bought it and it was on a forecourt for some time, battery may have been allowed to go flat, which may have killed it. It may revive over a few weeks of regular use, or may not. If you've got any warranty, go back and ask for a replacement.

Keep a good eye on the coolant. Once bled, it should be fine, for ever. So needing bleeding suggests a leak, or maybe poorly bled if coolant just changed. If no work done on cooling system recently, should be no air in. Coolant smell usually means leak, but check for any spillage if recently had work.

This section is for the curvy shape models from 2012 model year. If yours is the 2003-2011 edgier shape, should post in 'Panda' section, although for these issues should not matter. Panda section will likely get more views.

Cheers for the reply!

Just taken off the battery and put it on a smart charger - after a minuit the light turned green - ready and maintained light.
So battery is fine!

I had to change the earth lead on the Doblo so will check that next.

I also went to cleann the throttle body and snapped the air box breather connection as per loads of threads on here that I read AFTER i'd done it...so there is another repair to do...total 4rse innit