General Panda Problems

[lizzy64]

I am a female oap....the worst of all worlds as far as cars go !
I have a 3 plus year old Active.
Last month I had to have a shock absorber replaced and now there is a problem with the driver door mechanism. Sometimes (often) the door won't shut properly first time. Sometimes when I unlock it I have to open the passenger door before the driver door deigns to open.Anyone know how to cure this ?
Needless to say the car is out of warranty.
In the past I have had 500s....even a500 estate ! ...an 850 a 126 and a couple of old Pandas. All basic but at least they went.
Would it be unreasonable to whinge to Fiat ? Lizzy

 

[ThisBitterPill]

Hi Lizzy,

Firstly you might want to use a smaller font!

Secondly, has a garage looked at your door?....If not, is the lock sticking at all? Try locking / unlocking with the door open and see if the mechanism is sticking anywhere....

As for the shock absorber, was it just worn or was it a malfunction?

Daz

 

[Schwenck]

Hello Lizzy, welcome to the FF; that's a nice big font you've got there! You're not one of these youngster pretending to be an OAP are you?

Are you certain you aren't in the third year of the warranty? If I remember right, FIAT do the first two years and then the dealer does the third year. After that well, good luck whinging to FIAT! I doesn't sound like anything more than a sticky lock, I'm sure it won't be hugely expensive. First though, I'd suggest getting a bit of WD40 into the locks; the weather at this time of year used to play havoc with the locks on some of my cars.

 

[doctorchris]

I don't want to lecture but dampers (shock absorbers) should always be replaced in pairs. If only one was changed the garage were being very naughty.
Don't know what's wrong with your door though, sorry.

 

[lizzy64]

Hope this is better ! It's because I'm clapped out I prefer larger print. Just you wait !
Thanks for the help. Will have a go. They suggested I had both SAs done but then said they had never had to replace one on a Panda...up to now. That made me think it was a fluke so I told them just to replace the bad one. I have only done 21000 miles and yes it is definitely out of warranty. Lizzy

 

[Schwenck]

When I bought my Stilo from my local friendly dealer at just 18 months and 18,000 miles old, that had a faulty front shock. Of course - in their own inimitable style - they only changed it (yes, just the one) after first replacing the lower wishbone in their pursuit of the grindy-clunking noise.

So I guess while they fail rarely before wearing-out with age, they do probably fail very quickly if they have a manufacturing fault. Just unlucky, but let's hope for better with your locks.

 

[ivantate]

If it has central locking it could be the motor/mechanism going a bit loopy. This has happened on our cinq and now our sei. The Cinq wouldnt stay locked and the Sei wouldnt let you in.

If it isnt this it could be adjustment on the lock itself due to wear and tear.

 

[lizzy64]

Village garage squirted something into handle/lock ....lo and behold it's cured ! So far !

 

[T14086]

I am a female oap....the worst of all worlds as far as cars go !
I have a 3 plus year old Active.
Last month I had to have a shock absorber replaced and now there is a problem with the driver door mechanism. Sometimes (often) the door won't shut properly first time. Sometimes when I unlock it I have to open the passenger door before the driver door deigns to open.Anyone know how to cure this ?
Needless to say the car is out of warranty.
In the past I have had 500s....even a500 estate ! ...an 850 a 126 and a couple of old Pandas. All basic but at least they went.
Would it be unreasonable to whinge to Fiat ? Lizzy

Cars (infact anything) goes wrong in time....how do we know you dont go 'off roading' at weekends

 

[Jai]

Village garage squirted something into handle/lock

do i hear dueling banjos? have you considered getting a dna test on the locks?