My Panda diesel 4x4 Cross started to rattle when going through the gears between 1,300 and 1,600 rpm with just 5k on the clock. The metallic rattle reverberated from underneath roughly from the middle at the back of the engine. You could say it was volume 3 inside with all the windows up, volume 5 windows down and at least volume 7 with windows down through a village. It's bloody loud!

My Fiat agent out here in Cyprus said Fiat had a service fix, simply shim out the play in the transfer gearbox. They ordered the bits and carried out the task.

Sure enough, the rattle reduced by at least 50% but was still present. I asked if it could be shimmed out more and was told they couldn't go further or they would damage the transfer box.

I'm not at all pleased with this so requested they change the transfer box. The reply from the agent is that Fiat say the rattle is normal.....What!

Can anybody out there confirm this is 'normal'?

Panda 4x4 MJ Cross 12.5K, mint except for bashed front n/s bumper, dent in roof and this bloody annoying rattle!

not heard of this problem, my petrol 4x4 doesn't have this noise

This rattle is not normal on my Cross that has covered 17,000 miles.
If the rattle only occurs at 1300-1600 rpm in different gears then it won't be coming from the transfer box.
It must only be coming from the engine, clutch or the input side of the gearbox.

My Panda Cross has now covered 40,000 miles and I can also confirm that the rattle is not normal. My transmission is very quiet.

i am sure there was a thread a few months ago for a transmission rattle on multijets. it linked to another rhread but basically said that it was a problem with the clutch the dealers (over here atleast) were aware of.

The cross must be a great car for cyprus.

Possibly the Clutch Damper my MJ made a noise (a bubbly knock) from new, on changing up the box bet. 1200 and 1500 rpm, I reported it and the dealer investigated, and replaced the curly wurly damper between the master and slave cylinder, with another type without hestation. The noise appears to be vibration ien the hydraulic line caused by the increase of pressure when depressing the pedal.
The issue is to be known to Fiat, and from what I can glean it is only Panda Diesels and 500 Diesels that are affected, but they seem to await complaints before fixing them, as not every MJ /500 suffers. My old post has the part number, I will attach here when I find it.

Search 'MJ Clutch Noise on Gearchange', Best Wishes,