Technical Panda 1.1 - Starting problem

Currently reading:
Technical Panda 1.1 - Starting problem

JD82

Established member
Joined
Feb 13, 2010
Messages
927
Points
191
Had my first real issue of concern yesterday. I didnt' drive the car last week as I didn't need to and my road was like an ice rink so I didn't risk it. There was about 5 inches of snow on the bonnet.

I then got a bug and until yesterday was in bed since Boxing Day so again didn't drive.

I used the car for the first time yesterday I tried to start it and it took a while to fire, it was turning over perfectly and the battery sounded healthy but the engine would not run. I then tried it again but with some throttle and it did start.

However the engine was shaking like mad and I quickly realised it was running on three cylinders. At this point there was a lot of steam coming out of the bonnet. I feared a cracked engine block :(

I started it again this time it started first time and ran on all four cylinders. Engine sounded like a bag of nails but ran perfectly but still lots of smoke from the bonnet and exhaust but I could feel it was running fine.

I figured the water from the thaw must have got into the engine bay and into one of the HT leads thus it not working on all four. By the time I had got to the end of my road the bonnet smoke had gone and the exhaust was normal.

I did 5 miles in it and it ran perfectly, it didn't miss a beat.

What do you think happened? I've checked the coolent and oil and it is all fine.
 
I figured the water from the thaw must have got into the engine bay and into one of the HT leads thus it not working on all four.

Sounds to me like a perfectly reasonable explanation which fits the facts as you've described them. I'd keep a close watch on oil & coolant for awhile, and in a week or so maybe just check the inside of the oil filler cap for any signs of water contamination, but otherwise I'd not spend any more time worrying about it.

The steam you saw was most likely just water on the surface of the manifold & exhaust evaporating once the hot bits warmed up.

If the car's got the prescribed formulation of antifreeze, it would have to get very seriously cold to actually crack anything, as the coolant will first turn to slush rather than just freezing outright like plain water.
 
Will be driving for a couple of hours tomorrow so hopefully I will know if there is any problems then.

Hopefully I won't be saying "come on you stupid Polish built Italian piece of **** start you stupid ******." :p
 
Back
Top