Hi Guys,

I’ve been reading up but can’t find exactly what I’m looking for so here goes.

I have a Dualogic 2008 Panda. It normally Beeps when I don’t put my foot on the brake pedal to put it in to Drive/Reverse/Neutral etc, an it shows a warning/fault message on the dash aswell as a warning light I’m used to this now.
But coming down the motorway at 70mph yesterday it randomly started beeping. No warning lights or messages (I think it had put itself into Neutral but can’t be sure as I was panicking so much trying to get on to the hard shoulder!) Once I was safely on the side of the road I tried for 10 minutes to stop the beeping. Turning it on an off, putting it in to N then auto 1. It randomly stopped and has been okay since.

But I’m petrified to drive it far now. Anyone know what could have caused this? Would it be an electrical fault or gearbox fault? I’ve only just starting driving and am useless with cars, but really love my Panda.

Also when it beeps when doing high speeds can I put it in to Neutral then back in to Auto without my foot down on the break? Or will it just flash the ‘depress break’ message on the dash?

Hi and welcome
Nice cars. We kept our panda for 15 years


Best bet for you now.. to save you cash..and worry

Uncouple the black negative battery cable

This will power down the cars electrics.. giving it an opportunity to 'reboot'

Leave it uncoupled for an hour if possible..
Then reconnect and see how it goes

If it flashes messages again.. try and find somewhere that can read the codes associated with the message

Look at MES register .. top of FF homepage..

Somebody near you may well have the correct kit.. to plug in and read any error codes

Charlie . Near the M4

Hi Catt

There was a recent thread here that might be helpful, including a suggestion by @irc that low oil in the actuator can cause it to drop out of gear - check for leaks

Hi Catt

Very hard to diagnose this kind of problem from a distance, but here's some pointers.

Dropping out of gear because of low fluid normally only happens when the unit is trying to change gear - that is when the unit needs pressure to move the clutch or gear selectors, and low fluid means there is not enough pressure to complete the operation.
Low fluid means there is a leak, which needs to be sorted out properly, or it will keep getting worse.
So... do you have a leak? If so, you will need to find a suitable place to get it fixed.

However, it's much more likely that it isn't low fluid...

Dropping out of gear when driving at a fairly constant speed is more likely to be electrical.
Possibly as simple as a some corrosion to a brake light at the connector, or a bad engine/gearbox earth lead. Or even spilt soft drink in one the gear lever switches. All cheap (or even free) fixes.
Faulty brake light switch is another easy fix.

It could also be a tired pump motor, which will cost a few quid, and involves spanners, but isn't complicated to do.

Don't try to select gear while moving.

It does sound as if you've had to work out how to drive your Panda without help.
Read the Dualogic Supplement manual if you have it. If you don't have it, download it from the forum's Panda Download pages.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply.

I will try and disconnect the battery for an hour and see if that rights it. It does sound like an electrical fault as no warning message is flashing.

When it dropped out of gear I was going steady 60-70mph and it was in the highest auto gear so I’m hoping that means it isn’t a leak. But I’ll definitely keep that possibility in mind.

I’ve made a list of all the other things it could be and will ring around the garages tomorrow to see if anyone specialises in these gearboxes. I have got the dialogic manual so will read it.

I don’t know whether this is worth mentioning. But it passed its MOT last month. Up until then the car ran perfectly, but ever since I drove it away from the garage I noticed it juddered when pulling off and slowing down. I never noticed this before that time. It’s probably a coincidence, but I was wondering whether they’d forgotten to put something back?

Hi

Mots are basically

Visual Inspections..

Nothing removed.. so just coincidence in all probability

Do keep us informed tomorrow

Charlie

Hi,
If fluid does need to be added make absolutely sure the correct fluid is added in the correct place.

If gearbox oil is put in the dualogic reservoir it can ruin the dualogic unit.

Best wishes
Jack

Don't stress about the Duologic servo fluid. The level does not drop unless there is a leak. If there is a leak (unlikely) you need to find a "selsepeed" specialist to repair it. The fluid MUST be the correct type. Adding too much or using the wrong type is very bad. Just leave it alone.

It's common for corrosion in the rear lights (dirty contacts, earth faults, etc) to cause the Duologic to act strangely. The gearbox uses the reversing light switch to know when reverse is selected. Check the rear lights earths ans especially reverse light and it's switch on the gearbox.

Thanks everyone. The beeping and power loss hasn’t happened again. I’m wondering whether it was the heavy rain that caused the electrical fault?

When the normal beeping happens there isn’t a message displayed on the dash like usual so I know something’s up!

Trying to find a garage with the correct software to read the fault. Is it a case of just ringing around? Or is there a list pinned somewhere? x

Catt said:

Thanks everyone.

Trying to find a garage with the correct software to read the fault. Is it a case of just ringing around? Or is there a list pinned somewhere? x

Click to expand...

Locations make the difference..

Fiat places have fallen by the wayside..
But Alfa Romeo independent specialist use the same kit

Look on the forums MES register too

MultiECUScan software will read all the same info from the car..

Charlie : near the M4

The fact it's worse in wet weather pints to the reverse light or switch. They are easy to check and clean so do it anyways as faulty lights are no good to anyone.

Catt said:

Thanks everyone. The beeping and power loss hasn’t happened again.

Click to expand...

Still behaving?

varesecrazy said:

Still behaving?

Click to expand...

Hey,

I disconnected the battery for an hour.

The beeping didn’t happen again, so even though it’s been a bit jittery when pulling off I’ve left it.

But noticed today it doesn’t drive in manual anymore-just auto, the message says ‘operation not admissible’ ?

So something is definitely up. I’ll need to find a garage ? x

Catt said:

Hey,

I disconnected the battery for an hour.

The beeping didn’t happen again, so even though it’s been a bit jittery when pulling off I’ve left it.

But noticed today it doesn’t drive in manual anymore-just auto, the message says ‘operation not admissible’ ?

So something is definitely up. I’ll need to find a garage ? x

Click to expand...

Get the fault codes read..
Then record them and see what clears

Where are you based.. you want access to the correct software.. but not £60an hour labour rates

Charlie : near the M4

This issue is still ongoing, it’s not got worse and only does it a few times a year- always when it’s raining!

The car slips in to Neutral when I’m driving, and gets stuck. Beeps for 10 minutes then after 10 minutes of me trying everything I can think of to get it going again it suddenly resets itself and is fine! ��

I’ve checked fluid levels, disconnected battery (didn’t check brake wires as I don’t know how!) but it’s so random. Got it booked in for diagnostic so will update this thread incase anyone else experiences the same issue.

See your post from yesterday

Not worked on a dualogic hopefully much better people will chime in.

Fails when wet and will not shift out of neutral. I would be looking for something electrical. Possibly around the hydraulic pump or its relay.


I take it the duckbills aren't blocked ?

Battery is always first call on anything electrical.

Bad earths on the rear lights can cause the brake lights to flash strangely which would upset the Duologic as it uses the brake light switch to know when your foot is on the pedal. It also uses the reverse light switch to know when it's in reverse (or not). Check these are all clean and working correctly at the switch and lights ends of the circuit.

This was the fault code;-
Gearbox actuator
P1818 gear change control

Does anyone know what this might be?

SEARCH p1818 on here