Appreciate your thoughts on the gearbox. Being used to slick VW and Ford gearboxes we are all finding the Panda's a tad 'notchy'. Is this normal for Fiat? We love the 4x4 but wonder if the gearbox is just part of the cars endearing character!
General 4x4 gearbox!!
- Thread starter La Lepre
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General 4x4 gearbox!!
I find if you put the Panda mk4 in reverse to quick you might grate the gears ,also with mine from 5th to 6th it stops mid way ,my mk3 panda also grated gears when going into reverse
It has taken me a few hundred miles to 'get' the gearbox and whilst some of the lower ratio swaps are a bit clunky when the engines cold, i'm finding that not rushing the changes, being 'mechanically sensitive' and using a light touch seems to do the trick. I no longer crunch the reverse which is great 
Has anyone noticed that rather than nearing a stall, the engine tries to compensate and 'presses on' if you hold too high a gear when slowing up?
Has anyone noticed that rather than nearing a stall, the engine tries to compensate and 'presses on' if you hold too high a gear when slowing up?
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It has taken me a few hundred miles to 'get' the gearbox and whilst some of the lower ratio swaps are a bit clunky when the engines cold, i'm finding that not rushing the changes, being 'mechanically sensitive' and using a light touch seems to do the trick. I no longer crunch the reverse which is great
Has anyone noticed that rather than nearing a stall, the engine tries to compensate and 'presses on' if you hold too high a gear when slowing up?
On that last point - yes! This little engine really is the DB's....
Boodajuda
New member
Can't say I've ever experienced a slick VW box. About as notchy and agricultural as it gets.
I have an '05 Panda MJ and have always found the 'change to be quite acceptable, although not perfect. I wonder if it's possible that your "notchy-ness" is as a result of the rest of the drivetrain, which is obviously absent on mine, rather than any inherrent problem with the 'box.
Cars have synchromesh on all forward gears to enable the driver to change from one gear to the other while on the move without having to double de-clutch. There isn't usually synchromesh on reverse because you don't select it while moving....hence the slight crunch if you try and select reverse too quickly. I've experienced the grate on a hell of a lot of cars including Fiestas, Focus, Pandas, Puntos, Golfs and so on.
Electronic engine control. An engine that stalls will tend to spray unburnt petrol down the exhaust and into the catalyst which then pools in the lowest part of the system. After a while this can soak into the ceramics and after a while detonate. DON'T PANIC!!!!! This will not cause the car to burst into flames with the resultant immolation of the occupants. It does however tend to break up the ceramics, although even if it doesn't break it up it does mean it doesn't work very well, so the ECU will try and prevent that from happening.It has taken me a few hundred miles to 'get' the gearbox and whilst some of the lower ratio swaps are a bit clunky when the engines cold, i'm finding that not rushing the changes, being 'mechanically sensitive' and using a light touch seems to do the trick. I no longer crunch the reverse which is great
Has anyone noticed that rather than nearing a stall, the engine tries to compensate and 'presses on' if you hold too high a gear when slowing up?
Ford 'boxes are smoother than VW ones in my experience.
babbo_umbro
Established member
Early days - had the car a week - but the change seems fine to me, just the same as my Panda 100HP was; you do need to feel what's going on to some extent, but, apart from a fairly wide gap between second and third gear ratios and the need to avoid pushing the lever to the right as you engage third from second (which can occur as you slide across the gate), I'd say it's a good gearbox.
My gearbox is fine. No issues. As the Beard says no synchro on reverse so you must be stopped completely to avoid crunching.
As for VW, my Caravelle can sometimes be a pain to get into 1st. It stops with about 20mm left to go in the gear lever travel. You have to push harder or engage the clutch a little, or select another gear and go back to 1st.
However, it does have a synchro on reverse so smooth shifting regardless of moving.
Other than the occasional 1st gear thing (and I think they all do that), its a good gearbox.
As for VW, my Caravelle can sometimes be a pain to get into 1st. It stops with about 20mm left to go in the gear lever travel. You have to push harder or engage the clutch a little, or select another gear and go back to 1st.
However, it does have a synchro on reverse so smooth shifting regardless of moving.
Other than the occasional 1st gear thing (and I think they all do that), its a good gearbox.
