Time to give the Panda a major service and check it for signs of any major issues.

Ordered new spark plugs (last done in 2016), new air filter, new oil and filter, new wipers and a rear wiper and rear wiper arm. Also ordered two new front and side indicator bulbs and one side indicator housing that’s not sitting in right.

Am I missing anything?


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Just got a pay rise at work and will be going back to full time come summer when I graduate. Money is looking like it’ll be there to replace the car. I’ve been advised by my uncle (e.g. Chief Engineer of the Panda) to have the money nearly ready to go, should something major happen the Panda unexpected, but not to get rid of it any time soon because it could easily go another year or two.

So the Panda lives on. What else should I get for it for the next year?

Check the brakes and brake pipes, suspension and steering and of course the dreaded back axle rust issue.

Also check age and condition of cam belt and auxiliary belt. If the latter is cracking across the ribs you would be wise to assume the cam belt is no better as they are usually both changed at the same time.

Get a set of replacement screws for bumpers and plastic covers. They rust and seize so a set of new ones with anti seize paste can make life a whole lot easier.

Now that I think of it there is a squeal under load when you first start and a real rattle that can only be heard but goes away when you put the windows down.

SB1500 said:

Now that I think of it there is a squeal under load when you first start and a real rattle that can only be heard but goes away when you put the windows down.

Click to expand...

Could be the auxilary belt tensioner but rattles could be anything.

DaveMcT said:

Could be the auxilary belt tensioner but rattles could be anything.

Click to expand...

We’ve a theory it’s that or the exhaust not being mounted securely and squeaking

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/451836/Fiat-Panda.html?page=159#manual

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/451836/Fiat-Panda.html?page=158#manual


should point you in the right direction.


haven't checked which year or version Panda its for as the last time checked the service intervals were identical

Exhaust can knock or clatter but squeals are more likely to be bearings. But who knows. It's hard to hear it from here.

PS Mrs Dave's 1.2 exhaust fell apart recently. It had been rattling for a while then the weld sheared off at front of silencer case. New exhaust system problems solved.

SB1500 said:

Now that I think of it there is a squeal under load when you first start and a real rattle that can only be heard but goes away when you put the windows down.

Click to expand...

A shrill squeal just after starting as engine revs increase is often due to a worn/slack fan belt slipping against the pulley. Just after the starter motor has been used the alternator will be operating at max output to replace the energy drawn from the battery during starting so the fan belt will be under great strain for the first few minutes of running. The older simple V belts were really quite bad at doing it but the modern multi V's can do it too. Many people don't appreciate that these belts transmit drive on the side faces of the V. If the belt wears to the point where it can bottom out in the V of the pulley then it will not be able to transmit any great driving force and will slip under load. Although less obvious, multi V belts transmit their drive in the same way, through the wedging effect of the sides of each individual V and the same wear issues apply.

If you have a squeaky/squealy belt you can often diagnose it by taking a piece of blackboard chalk (a nice long piece is advisable) and allowing it to rub off against the V section of the belt whilst the engine is ticking over. It should immediately quieten the squeak/squeal. This is a highly dodgy thing to do if you are not used to working around engines when they are running. The risk if loosing fingers, or worse, is really quite great. In fact a good friend of mine, who builds "specials" from the ground up and is reputed to put gear oil on his corn flakes, managed to remove the last joint on his right middle finger doing just this! So my recommendation is not to do it unless you really know what you're doing.

We had anti slip spray for vee belts at the power station. Air compressors were noted for belt slip.

Funnily enough nobody had a car with a noisy fan belt.

We looked and panicked thinking it was the bottom end of the engine making the rattle ... would have been the end for the Panda!

But thankfully it was just that damn exhaust manifold cover loose at the bottom end. All sorted now with some washers. Quiet again.

The squeal we think is just the car under load when it’s working hard. And that at this point it wouldn’t be worth throwing money at that particular issue as it’s not that loud. Unless it were to develop into a serious problem.

The aux belt is tight to feel and we did replace it back in 2016 / 106,000 miles with the timing belt kit so it’s not original either