I have a 2 1/2 year old Panda 100hp.

There is now a hole in the gear shift gaiter ( which is vinyl ).

Spoke to the dealer who says its not covered by the 3rd year warranty as it is interior trim and wear and tear?

I've had 15 year old cars who's gaiter is in top nick so I'm off down tomorrow to complain

whatever you do, don't picket.....or pick it!

Mine is looking a tad ropey after 19months. It's just poor quality materials I reckon.

Mine is ripped as well, ah well.

Spoke to fiat customer care who have authorised the repair even though its outside warranty.
Result!

dickyd said:

Spoke to fiat customer care who have authorised the repair even though its outside warranty.
Result!

Click to expand...

What did you say to them? Mine's gone today with a tear to the left and above the stick - not even along a seam, do these cars have moths?. 07 plate, less than 19,000 miles.......cheap vinyl crap

Mines about to crack - I think I'd rather buy a posh leather one off of Tbay thats not going to look tatty after a year (there on there for~£11). Has anyone ever fitted a new gaiter to a Panda? If so would you mind just jotting down how to remove gear knob etc?

mine's perfect :slayer:


(famous last words )

andyellenator said:

........would you mind just jotting down how to remove gear knob etc?

Click to expand...

It's, apparantly, a splined fit and is pressed on. A right b.....er to get off, I suspect it requires a special tool

I had a 25mm 'split' on a seam, so I reversed the gaiter, and glued a piece of fabric over the seam (as a patch). I used silicone to stick the item...........nearly perfect!!


ian

farnboroflyer said:

I had a 25mm 'split' on a seam, so I reversed the gaiter, and glued a piece of fabric over the seam (as a patch). I used silicone to stick the item...........nearly perfect!!


ian

Click to expand...

How'd you get it to shift? Mine seems welded in place - hole has grown btw

Mines ripped on the RHS too (07 plate with 24k on the clock), must be a common thing.

mine has done the self same thing, if they wont replace it, guess i could get a leather one from demon tweeks or something??

TBH I was thinking of replacing mine anyway - it must be the single crappest thing about the whole car (which I love by the way - but that central gaiter looks like some sort of NHS post-surgical stocking or something)

Any tips from you pros on how to remove it and what to replace it with - would be appreciated

Base of it where it goes into the dash just unclips but the biggest problem is you need to remove the gear knob to get it completely off. I replaced the gear knob on ours as I felt this was one of the cheapest, tackiest parts of the car (replaced it with a nice aluminium alloy richbrook item).

Removing the old gear knob was a right PITA - need to prise off the cap and then hacksaw across the centre until you meet the steel of the rod then use a large flat bladed screwdriver to 'open-up' the gear knob while rotating to twist it off. The replacement alloy item is held on by grub screws so easy to remove to allow a replacement gaiter to be fitted.

greyridertoo said:

How'd you get it to shift? Mine seems welded in place - hole has grown btw

Click to expand...

Unclip the base of the gaiter, pull it up as if you were going to pull it off(and you could if the knob was off!!!), then you have the gaiter looking at you inside out as it were.

Oh, and while its off, spray some white grease around the nylon ball, ...........keeps the change nice and 'lubed'.


Ian

Thought I'd update you all.

Mine was replaced by Fiat out of its warranty. It's obviously a known problem as the replacement gaiter had a piece of hard cardboard / fake leather sewn on the underside of the right hand side.

This makes it look very s h 1 t as most of it is 'droopy' in a leathery type of way then there is one part which is rigid.

Oh and now when you put it in reverse some times the clips pop out and the quick fix looks like it will rip through the 'leather' after a while as it strains and causes tension.

Got to love the italians though ' EH MARIO, THISA GAITER ISA CRAPPY ' ' OK LUIGI LETSA FIX IT , JUSTA SEW SOMMA CHEAP **** TO A DA BACK, THEY NEVER KNOW'

(fictional characters)

Oh well, quite fancy a 1.4 t-jet sport bravo. Pre reg £11,799 for the 150bhp. Mmm cheap italian car. ( I'll never learn )

I have just fitted this gearshiftgaiter without removing the gearknop
There is a small opening with velcro so it can slide over the knop and is made in soft leather amd I think its looks just fine with the red sewing and black leather.

Hmm, that doesn't look bad at all. Any links to where you got it?

If mine does fall apart might consider it.