Hi, i have a uk 57 plate fiat panda registered in 2007/2008.
Ive owned this car for 1 year with no problems with the auto gear box until today.
It is the 1.2 panda elgananza model with the automatic gear box. Until today the auto would change up gear at around 3,000 rpm depending on whether or not the economy "E" mode was selected then it would change up gear at about 2,500 rpm.
I noticed today the car just stays in one gear and refuses to change up automatically even when reved hard to say 4,500 rpm. There are no nasty noises from the engine or the gear box, there is no indication in the cabin of gear box problem, there are no warning lights flashing on the dash. The dash says "AUTO" idicating the box is correctly in auto mode.
So before you ask I've not inadvertantly changed the car to it's manual setting. It seems to change down gear okay, but it will not change up from any gear? When I start off in 1st it wont change to 2nd, I then change mannually to 2nd with the "AUTO" idicator lit on the dash, but it wont change to 3rd etc etc.
The car has a full service history and has just 20,000 miles on the clock. It's a well looked after car.

Please could you let me know are there any checks I should perform on the car? What could the problem be? and is it expensive to fix? Given the car is 4 years old and i'm the 2nd owner could it still be under warrenty.

Thanks

If its dualogic box anything you do on these are expensive (ive got one and the guy i bought it off spent £1,300 on having it repaired at fiat).

Bri said:

If its dualogic box anything you do on these are expensive

Click to expand...

Only if you get Fiat to touch it.

I assume it changes up ok using the manual shifter OP

Hi. Thanks for your response.
I hope it is not a mechanical fault and hope it is a software fault. Surely I can't be the only driver of a automatic panda (latest model, 2007 shape) which has experienced problems with the gear box?

I was hoping for some more replies on what i'd expect to be a fairly common problem, and more specifically an indication of what would cause the problem and how expensive it would be to fix?

Should I post this query elsewhere on this forum to attrtact the best target audience or is there a different forum I should be using for Fiat panda? Thanks for your help.

It's not a common issue, these boxes are very reliable.

Checked the fluid level?

As 'T' has said they're fairly reliable Gear boxes. The only commonly reported issue from some is Juddering when moving off at slow speeds as the clutch is biting.

One thing I can remember from someone on the Dutch Fiat Panda forum is that the brake light switch was not adjusted well, so the brake lights were constantly on. If that is the case the software of the Dualogic does not allow the gearbox to shift up. You can check it by looking if the brake lights are on all the time or if you put a little bit of pressure on the brake pedal.

Furthermore I read a story from someone having problems with the Dualogic that disappeared with some software updates or checks.

Genius



Hi Timon,

You're a genius!
Thank you so much for your excellent advice.

You have taken the time to offer specific advice that answered my question exactly. I checked the brake lights and just as you suggested they are constantly on. Thanks man, really appreciate your top advice.

I was really worried this could be an expensive fix, but it seems that if its just the brake light staying on it should be a relatively simple fix?
Do you know how I can sort this? Is it definately a software update or could it be an electrical wiring job. If as you suggest its a software issue where's the best / cheapest place to do this update? Is it a Fiat dealership job or small job which any back street garage can sort?

Thanks again for you help Timon you're a star , and thanks everyone else for taking the time to respond.

Cheers Issi.

Re: Genius

If the brake light is on, then it is a switch just under the brake pedal, if anything to go by on the Stilo (a common fault on the selespeed).

I cured mine by using tape and some cardboard lol, but a new switch should be easy to replace....

This is the Stilo guide: https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-guides/100058-brake-light-problems-changing-switch.html

Without looking, not sure how much the Panda varies, but should give you an inkling of guidance

@issi noho: You are welcome. I am not a very technical person, but when I read something that may be applicable the only thing I can do is share it and maybe it is the solution.

I do not know if you can adjust the brake light switch. Maybe you can bend it a little bit in the right direction, otherwise you go to a garage. It will be simple job, so not very expensive I hope. Normally it should be adjusted in a way that if you place you foot on the brake pedal (without any pressure) the lights should switch on.

And about the software: that was a second possible solution if the brake light switch was not the problem.

Is there any limits such as 100 T MILES such as Semi Automatic transmissions.
I ve never heard from anybody has the limits such as 50,60 thousands miles with this 1.2 pandas'.In the dash flashing NO GEARS .I whipped the power leads off the battery for a while .morning in the first place will check and to hop the magic is come up.
I am also facing this nasty problem from Turkey/Istanbul.Usually car dealers such as importer of Fiat Group they dont let the people know this kind of problems are active always.When the Toyota faced this kind nasty problems immediately called back every car all around the world.But Fiat just puts his head in his .ss and doesnt care what the people are facing all around the Europe.
The service asked me to pay 2.000 EURO to change dualogic (or robot whatever its name).So what should I do keep the car in the garage and hop on puplic transportations as sheep hangs in the butcher window.
Pls advise guys

Well its not a mojor issue, just wear and tear on a few units, so naturally Fiat won't be recalling them all

Thanx Easterly,You made me happy in this crazy form.So I can go on to cry for a long while,more

Thank you very much for your help!!!!
Saved my pocket and my mood