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General Panda Cross diesel niggles etc

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General Panda Cross diesel niggles etc

Seg10538

Seg10538

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Aug 7, 2014
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Hi everyone just added another Fiat to the family today, came with a few issues and would appreciate some help if poss
1 I’ve got the flashing odometer and no Blue & Me issue
2 I’ve got a space saver wheel but none of the tools to change a wheel, plus the carpet in the boot is not there ?!
3 I’ve got the controls either side of the steering wheel but the one on the left has the top ‘ answer call’ button missing with a red light visible
Does anyone know if the above can be bought or have I got to try to find a write off and buy the whole steering wheel, boot floor and jack set ? If anyone has these I would be keen to buy
Cheers from Newcastle
 
3. Well I have definitely seen the switch gear separate from the steering wheel in a parts breakdown. Sure you will pick one up on eBay.
2. I have a tool kit from a 2 wheel drive. It does work if you add a decent block of hard wood to put under the jack otherwise the jack is too short. I bought a tool kit in a bad from afor £30 approx a couple of years back. Doblo or 500X kits work. I have no use for the Panda kit which will fit in a spare wheel and will part with it for postage costs (c.£5) Unless you are in the vicinity of Dereham Norfolk when we can organise a meet to collect FOC. The bigger jacks will not fit in the wheel well and are in fact a pain because of this.
T'other issue I have no idea about there are threads on here covering both issues. If you have more than 1 Fiat get MES from Gendan.co.uk it is easy to use and will reveal the causes of problems and often the cure, Worth every penny!

Good luck with your excellent choice of car!
 
Last edited:
The Panda Nut said:
3. Well I have definitely seen the switch gear separate from the steering wheel in a parts breakdown. Sure you will pick one up on eBay.
2. I have a tool kit from a 2 wheel drive. It does work if you add a decent block of hard wood to put under the jack otherwise the jack is too short. I bought a tool kit in a bad from afor £30 approx a couple of years back. Doblo or 500X kits work. I have no use for the Panda kit which will fit in a spare wheel and will part with it for postage costs (c.£5) Unless you are in the vicinity of Dereham Norfolk when we can organise a meet to collect FOC. The bigger jacks will not fit in the wheel well and are in fact a pain because of this.
T'other issue I have no idea about there are threads on here covering both issues. If you have more than 1 Fiat get MES from Gendan.co.uk it is easy to use and will reveal the causes of problems and often the cure, Worth every penny!

Good luck with your excellent choice of car!
Click to expand...



Thanks very much , interesting about Jack I’ve got an old punto cab and was thinking that might suffice. I’ll search for steering controls
 
Seg10538 said:
Hi everyone just added another Fiat to the family today, came with a few issues and would appreciate some help if poss
1 I’ve got the flashing odometer and no Blue & Me issue
2 I’ve got a space saver wheel but none of the tools to change a wheel, plus the carpet in the boot is not there ?!
3 I’ve got the controls either side of the steering wheel but the one on the left has the top ‘ answer call’ button missing with a red light visible
Does anyone know if the above can be bought or have I got to try to find a write off and buy the whole steering wheel, boot floor and jack set ? If anyone has these I would be keen to buy
Cheers from Newcastle
Click to expand...

Hi there; can add my experience re Blue and Me (your point number 1); rather than repeat it all here have a look at this thread; https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii/480771-wheres-blue-me-module-2.html

My experience is that it will drain the battery over the course of a week (if car is not used) this is I believe because the body computer cannot shutdown the Blue and Me module (B&M) if it is faulty. A contributor here has suggested used the MES scan software, I am not sure that (if the B&M has failed) this scanner can resolve the issue. My solution to the draining of the battery was to actually physically disconnect the faulty unit (under the drivers seat) pulling the cable from the radio head unit did not prevent the drain on the system. If you read the above thread you will see that I have a work around for the aux inputs and USB but it does not restore bluetooth functionality. But then it did save £400.00 plus any labour that Fiat wanted.

The odometer still flashes and I think I may have to get the body computer retrained to stop looking for the B&M module; I don't know if the Multiscan software has this functionality since this requires the B&M to be removed as an option for my car? If you fit a new B&M module you have to have a so-called proxy-alignment to get the new module speaking to the body computer.
 
Panda IIs said:
Hi there; can add my experience re Blue and Me (your point number 1); rather than repeat it all here have a look at this thread; https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii/480771-wheres-blue-me-module-2.html



My experience is that it will drain the battery over the course of a week (if car is not used) this is I believe because the body computer cannot shutdown the Blue and Me module (B&M) if it is faulty. A contributor here has suggested used the MES scan software, I am not sure that (if the B&M has failed) this scanner can resolve the issue. My solution to the draining of the battery was to actually physically disconnect the faulty unit (under the drivers seat) pulling the cable from the radio head unit did not prevent the drain on the system. If you read the above thread you will see that I have a work around for the aux inputs and USB but it does not restore bluetooth functionality. But then it did save £400.00 plus any labour that Fiat wanted.



The odometer still flashes and I think I may have to get the body computer retrained to stop looking for the B&M module; I don't know if the Multiscan software has this functionality since this requires the B&M to be removed as an option for my car? If you fit a new B&M module you have to have a so-called proxy-alignment to get the new module speaking to the body computer.
Click to expand...



Hmm wondered why the guy I bought it off had just put new battery on ! Can Fiat fix properly?
 
Haha, well its another misdiagnosis but you got a new battery out of the "deal" I guess.

I believe it can be sorted with a new Blue and Me module but they ain't cheap from FIAT (unless we are talking transferred warranty here)?

I did do a bit of research (it took me a while to find the actual unit!) There are secondhand ones out there - eBay etc but I would strongly recommend you get your old one out first to check the actual part number and replace with the same part number since I believe there may be different variants. In the end I had decided probably the best route was to get a refurbished exchange (I found an Italian site offering this service at 200euros) since then you get some guarantee.

Since I rarely used the Bluetooth I was prepared to ditch that functionality and go down the OEM multimedia adaptor route FIAT part 50926305, I got one of these for £20 from a main dealer via eBay. It was cheap as the velcro pads were missing from the box...

Installation was straightforward and I swapped the B&M USB/aux sockets (they have a funky multipin connector straight into the cars wiring loom) for extension plugs intended for in-car use.

I haven't completely given up on the B&M replacement module but refuse to pay the maindealer spare part price.
 
Panda IIs said:
Haha, well its another misdiagnosis but you got a new battery out of the "deal" I guess.

I believe it can be sorted with a new Blue and Me module but they ain't cheap from FIAT (unless we are talking transferred warranty here)?

I did do a bit of research (it took me a while to find the actual unit!) There are secondhand ones out there - eBay etc but I would strongly recommend you get your old one out first to check the actual part number and replace with the same part number since I believe there may be different variants. In the end I had decided probably the best route was to get a refurbished exchange (I found an Italian site offering this service at 200euros) since then you get some guarantee.

Since I rarely used the Bluetooth I was prepared to ditch that functionality and go down the OEM multimedia adaptor route FIAT part 50926305, I got one of these for £20 from a main dealer via eBay. It was cheap as the velcro pads were missing from the box...

Installation was straightforward and I swapped the B&M USB/aux sockets (they have a funky multipin connector straight into the cars wiring loom) for extension plugs intended for in-car use.

I haven't completely given up on the B&M replacement module but refuse to pay the maindealer spare part price.
Click to expand...



Update on the Blue & Me from an independent Fiat/ Alfa dealer. He reckons the flashing odometer is a sign that something on the car is wrong not just B&M. He says the reason they stop working is because people are using the USB to charge phones ?! Taking it in Friday for diagnosis ?[emoji51]
 
Seg10538 said:
Update on the Blue & Me from an independent Fiat/ Alfa dealer. He reckons the flashing odometer is a sign that something on the car is wrong not just B&M. He says the reason they stop working is because people are using the USB to charge phones ?! Taking it in Friday for diagnosis ?[emoji51]
Click to expand...

If your USB is capable of charging you are lucky. My dealer was very shy when I demanded a USB socket that did as described and advised me to use a 2.1A USB adapter in the 12v socket... I think Fiat may know its a weakness.

I note Wheeler Dealers on TV seem to find electronics repairers and wonder if the B&M is repairable by an auto electronics specialist.
 
The Panda Nut said:
If your USB is capable of charging you are lucky. My dealer was very shy when I demanded a USB socket that did as described and advised me to use a 2.1A USB adapter in the 12v socket... I think Fiat may know its a weakness.

I note Wheeler Dealers on TV seem to find electronics repairers and wonder if the B&M is repairable by an auto electronics specialist.
Click to expand...

I think my original B&M socket would charge but its been ages since it worked! USB cables only have 4 pins (or contacts) the outer ones are +ve and -ve supply (i.e. charging) the middle two the digital signal lines. If the outer two are wired in the car socket then surely they are there to charge?! Obviously as phone and other devices increase in battery capacity then the demand (amps) presumably goes up and (unregulated) I suppose this is when things start getting "hot"?

On specialist repairers I had another scout around and as I mentioned there are some Italian ones such as this https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/AUTOFFICINA-CASILLO-ONLINE?_bkw=blue+&+me

Significantly cheaper than FIAT.

I'm sure there will be UK based options but I'll expect not so FIAT/ALFA orientated; for example I've just used these guys ACTronics for a speedo head repair (not Fiat/Alfa), a great service though turned around inside a week.
 
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My Punto always kept my phone in charge..
Ive not used B+M For ages.. but got no errors either

Im sure most things are repairable at component level..
but as in the commonly reported ECU's
Places like to have experience..and therefore the proven test gear.. rather than just 'having a go..'
 
Panda IIs said:
I think my original B&M socket would charge but its been ages since it worked! USB cables only have 4 pins (or contacts) the outer ones are +ve and -ve supply (i.e. charging) the middle two the digital signal lines. If the outer two are wired in the car socket then surely they are there to charge?! Obviously as phone and other devices increase in battery capacity then the demand (amps) presumably goes up and (unregulated) I suppose this is when things start getting "hot"?



On specialist repairers I had another scout around and as I mentioned there are some Italian ones such as this https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/AUTOFFICINA-CASILLO-ONLINE?_bkw=blue+&+me



Significantly cheaper than FIAT.



I'm sure there will be UK based options but I'll expect not so FIAT/ALFA orientated; for example I've just used these guys ACTronics for a speedo head repair (not Fiat/Alfa), a great service though turned around inside a week.
Click to expand...



Does anyone know if the B&M is disconnected can the flashing odometer flashing be reset, can’t see the point of the USB if it can’t charge phone
 
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On my 2017 Panda there were 2 USB sockets. The one on the dash top was for charging only and could not keep up with a smart phone using sat nav. I could just arrive in Manchester before the phone went dead, just where it was REALLY needed. The socket in the glovebox was the data socket and was set up so a memory stick would not go in allowing the glove box lid to close without wrecking it!

The new car has just one socket so I use the 12v socket with an adapter to charge the phone and this actually works. As the phone all works with blue tooth the cars USB is not used. Saves me wanting to kill the person who thinks fitting a socket that doesn't work is a good idea when its dark, your lost and late!
 
Google says: 91 Bolingey Way, Hucknall, Nottingham NG15 6TQ (which appears to be a private residence).
 
Last edited:
The Panda Nut said:
If your USB is capable of charging you are lucky. My dealer was very shy when I demanded a USB socket that did as described and advised me to use a 2.1A USB adapter in the 12v socket... I think Fiat may know its a weakness.
Click to expand...

To be fair, that is the case in many (most?) cars, even my last Lexus. The USB sockets in that were useless. But you can get good quality 12V USB adaptors for not much dosh.
 
Seamaster said:
To be fair, that is the case in many (most?) cars, even my last Lexus. The USB sockets in that were useless. But you can get good quality 12V USB adaptors for not much dosh.
Click to expand...

Remember that when the 312/319 Panda was released in 2012, iPhones were not as power-hungry as they are now and were perfectly happy with 5v@1A, but now require minimum 2A and 10W to keep themselves fed. New iPhone12 Pro Max will pull up to 20W given the chance, so a lot of inbuilt USB slots are going to be woefully underpowered. But the 12v cigarette adapters happy push out up to 4 or 5 amps if required, so these will be the go-to solution for many I suspect.
 
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