(T) New Panda rough idle and occasional misfire

Help. My 2005 panda 1.2 eleganza auto is rough at idle. It's almost like it doesnt fire on one cylinder randomly every 1/2 to one second. It also has a stutter/slight misfire when under load (say going up a hill in 3rd gear at about 3000rpm). However, it's ok on the flat at light throttle openings (unless you just dont notice it as easily)

I have had 2 engine failure warning messages in the last 1000 miles which re-sets the next time the car is used. It's going into the garage on Friday but I dont want to get ripped off, Any idea's or similar experiences? It doesnt seem to be a common fault.

when were plugs last changed? should of had a set at 2 then 4 years (2007 & 2009)

And what make plugs went in it?

Maybe this will help

It will benefit your car if you treat it to a new set properly rated, while you are at it you should be able to identify the mis firing plug as it will be wet and black your others should be light brown and dry.

Could be plugs, one breaking down underload, however I would work backwards...

check your distributor cap, clean? unclip, look at contacts, wiper arm, center contact... leads, plug caps... are they clean? secure? no carbon tracking up the sides?

if all else fails try this.... I had a classic panda with similar symptoms once (cracked distributor cap... hairline hard to spot)

with engine misfiring spray wd40 or other water reppellent on to coil and distributor and let it idle.... give it a test drive....does this improve things? if so, there is possibly your problem, try a new cap. or replace leads to distributor.

Its an injection engine... try some cleaning agent in your petrol to clean out any muck in your injectors too, my old mercedes would often benefit from this on bad starts and misfires.

but if you are taking it to a garage.... give them the headache!

good luck

Dizzy cap? This is a current model panda which will have coil packs

coil packs?, gosh they are turning into motorcycles! I am glad to hear it as I am awaiting delivery on a new one, my classic panda had a distributor and was no end of trouble in the damp.

My have been a <93 Classic Panda also, as late classic Panda's also had coil packs

Oh yes! it must have been before 1987, I can remember it was the first ones with the new radiator grilles, plastic with the silver \\\\ on it. It was under £1500 almost brand new if I remember corrrectly.

The reason for buying one was from a holiday in southern italy where I hired one and drove it like a maniac up to the summit of mount vesuvius or was it etna, (anyway, the one that covered pompeii) on a really bad stony road.

Lovely car...

Early mk2 by the sounds of it

If it is not the plugs then I would check the coil packs next. Just had this exact problem on the Z4, had it on my TVR too (it was HT leads in that case - lots of heat in engine bay of a TVR).