As Murpy310 says its probably the pedal switch. If the pedal does not fully return it may not properly actuate the switch and might be the cause. I cant however remember a warning light with my clutch issue just finding the pedal sticking down. The more of these types of issues I see the more I wonder if we could get into the ECU and delete 95% of the rubbish it collects and just keep the things that make the fuel injection, timing and essentials. Why doesm the ECU really need to know if the clutch is down or up. It seems that we have come nowhere in the last 30 years.

I think this is my senior moment...

The Panda Nut said:

Why does the ECU really need to know if the clutch is down or up.

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Stop:start and cruise control both use it.


My punto TA Uses it for 'anti.stall' too

Brings revs up from 800 to 1500 as you lift clutch pedal in 1st gear whilst stationary

varesecrazy said:

Stop:start and cruise control both ise it.


My punto TA Uses it for 'anti.stall' too

Brings revs up from 800 to 1500 as you lift clutch pedal in 1st gear whilst stationary

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Brrr Humbug....

I've got a key for stopping and starting, I have a pair of feet to operate the clutch and accelerator pedals and stalling occurs when I am incompetent. Rest of the rant moved to an alternative thread.....

The Panda Nut said:

Brrr Humbug....

I've got a key for stopping and starting, I have a pair of feet to operate the clutch and accelerator pedals and stalling occurs when I am incompetent. Rest of the rant moved to an alternative thread.....

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Purely designed for those who don't know how to balance accelerator and clutch.

Horrifying to think that there are lots of people learning to drive on cars fitted with these 'artificial aids'. My daughter's just passed her test, having learned on a car with a similar anti-stall feature. The first time she drives a car where she has to balance the clutch and accelerator, feel the clutch engage, and feed the power in at the correct moment, she'll be kangaroo-hopping down the road like nobody's business (hopefully not into the car in front).

Sales of new cars have the lowest percentage of MANUAL gearboxes on record

We are obviously in the minority

Oh no please don't tell me we are getting Americanised.

I wouldn't have had a manual when I ordered my Panda 4x4 if auto had been available as an option. I was dreading going back to a manual after nearly two decades of automatics.

I passed my L test and my advanced test in a manual, but who has the energy any more? Manually swapping between sets of cogs is a human activity well past its sell by date.

Give me a manual anyday!

I can't think of anything more dull than a 'press and go car' - but that's not to say they don't have their place.

A handicapped friend of mine was very lucky finding a very rare MGB, allowing him to continue driving a sportscar - something he was passionate about.


Driving around places like Muharraq and Los Angeles became very tiring and hard work in manual cars; I know that from experience so in the city with endless stop-start traffic lights and intersections not to mention endless queues of traffic, they're a must.

But out on the open road I'd be bored senseless in the first five miles in an auto.

The only reason I even countenanced a manual is that I now live in a very remote rural location and I actually need to do very little cog-swapping. If I’d still lived in the city with constant stop/start traffic there’s no way I could have put up with it.

murphyv310 said:

Oh no please don't tell me we are getting Americanised.

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As much to do with the Electrically driven cars all being Auto's

And this morning, literally the day after I pre-paid to order the clutch switch, bugger me if the light hasn't gone out :/

On the other hand, I still don't have the gear-change indications and even though the Stop&Start warning has gone away that doesn't seem to work either, so maybe it's not just all better spontaneously.

So I got this fixed at last, after six weeks waiting for the switch to arrive. Of course it turns out there was nothing wrong with the switch, but the metal flange it attaches to on the pedal had snapped off. So they removed the pedal box (more new lingo) and welded it back on, at a cost of four hours' labour. I suppose credit should go to the diagnostic code, which was spot on.

And now I have one of these surplus to requirements, if anybody needs one.

MaxHeadroom said:

Give me a manual anyday!

I can't think of anything more dull than a 'press and go car' - but that's not to say they don't have their place.

A handicapped friend of mine was very lucky finding a very rare MGB, allowing him to continue driving a sportscar - something he was passionate about.


Driving around places like Muharraq and Los Angeles became very tiring and hard work in manual cars; I know that from experience so in the city with endless stop-start traffic lights and intersections not to mention endless queues of traffic, they're a must.

But out on the open road I'd be bored senseless in the first five miles in an auto.

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I used to agree 100% but had a Golf GTD with the 7 speed DCT and got on well with it apart from its poor reliability. Oddly I tried the 160 HP car and it did not agree with the DCT and was jerky and unpleasant. After 1.5 million miles I have grown well fed up with changing gears and would love another auto, but not a Fiat one thanks!!!

The Panda Nut said:

I have grown well fed up with changing gears and would love another auto, but not a Fiat one thanks!!!

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Are FIAT auto boxes problematic? Why do you say that?

The Panda Nut said:

I used to agree 100% but had a Golf GTD with the 7 speed DCT and got on well with it apart from its poor reliability. Oddly I tried the 160 HP car and it did not agree with the DCT and was jerky and unpleasant. After 1.5 million miles I have grown well fed up with changing gears and would love another auto, but not a Fiat one thanks!!!

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And therein lies the difference - those that drive for fun, involvement, excitement , a hobby, satisfaction and reward, or just for the hell of it - versus those after convenience and comfort as pure A-to-B transport. Both valid, just horses for courses, and an argument that will go on until the earth expires

R1NGA said:

an argument that will go on until the earth expires

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Or 2030, when there will be no more gearboxes

MaxHeadroom said:

Are FIAT auto boxes problematic? Why do you say that?

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Take a look at this thread.

At the time of writing, 43 pages of posts relating to problems with these gearboxes.

Anyone running one of these needs either a lucky leprechaun, or a cast iron warranty.

MaxHeadroom said:

Are FIAT auto boxes problematic? Why do you say that?

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I think jrkitching probably has the post to say it all. Its a shame as I tried the Panda 'auto' and its a charming thing but the inability of people to fix it when it goes wrong is its weakness. I cannot understand mans inability to master this. its just a box of bits and these ought to be gettable... and repairable.

I got quite excited about an Alfa Giuietta 2.0D auto in 2014 and as really quite keen.... but I asked to test drive it and... it got 200 yards before the box decided enough was enough. 1st gear only I am afraid. I am not accustomed to pushing my cars and even less inclined to push a main dealers cars for them so after getting it back onto their forecourt..... Would sir like to come back and try it once we have made it work.... NO! I bought a Bravo from an alternative garage.

The Dualogic gearbox in the Panda, 500 & 500L is dreadful and seems to fail expensively after a few years. However, the Dual Clutch Fiat DCT/DDCT also known as Alfa TCT, which is used in the 500x & Tipo amongst others is absolutely fine and more reliable than VWs DSG.

People would be right to run a mile from the Dualogic which is old and unreliable, but to level anything other than the odd isolated criticism at the newer Dual Clutch box is highly unjustified.