Technical 61 reg Panda stuck in reverse

[DIZI]

Hi, daughters Panda passed MOT last week no probs, apart from some new springs. She came home from work yesterday, as we were finishing off house porch she parked on the front parallel to the house - reversed in, asked her to move forward a bit - Panda won't get out of reverse?

The gear stick moves forward and backwards (sort of between fifth and reverse on that side) when clutch pedal depressed ( and it's not the only depressed thing in the house after she paid for the springs to be replaced) ;-( ) just on that side, won't move across into any other gear.

Any ideas anyone? Could it just be a cable bust somewhere, or are we thinking more expensive thoughts? :-(

 

[The Panda Nut]

The gearbox is cable operated and it sounds as if (with luck), that a cable has become detached The ends of the cables snap onto ball joints. Or if unlucky a cable has possibly broken. I hope this is all as either of thee are fairly easily repaired. Look under / by the side of the battery first then at the base of the gear lever from under the car, Good luck. If in teh AA tow the car away from home and ring them up LOL If you need parts dont froget to consult with shop4parts.co.uk whos onlione catalogue will give a useful guide price if nothing more.

 

[bugsymike]

Sometimes with cars the linkage jams and by holding the clutch down (engine off) someone can wriggle the gear linkage levers on the outside of the gearbox if lucky, assuming nothing broken as suggested.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Take a look in my guide for stuff gear change. That’s not your problem, but the photos in it show the two cables where they fit the gearbox. Check they’re both still attached - they push into place on the ball ended rods.

Cure for a stiff gearlever, Multijet 4x4

One or two folks have reported issues with the gear-lever becoming stiff to move, and not freely springing back to the centre position. I investigated the issue, and managed to cure mine by removing a rod on the outside of the gearbox and...

www.fiatforum.com

 

[Mike1alike]

It does sound like broken cable to me.
(Maybe because I had one that broke )
Let us know what you find!

 

[varesecrazy]

The eyes on the cable wear..
It may have "just dropped off"..

Happened a friend's Twinair,

He had the cables replaced, Labour made it over £300

But EASY to tell what the basic problem isd

Look at back of battery,

Fairly accessible

 

[Mike1alike]

And pull the cables there...

 

[DIZI]

thanks all we'll have an investigate tomorrow - I'll get back to you with what we find

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

I don’t know if a TwinAir has more access? On my MultiJet I couldn’t even see the cable ends until I removed the battery and its support tray (see photos in the link in my first post above)

 

[varesecrazy]

I don’t know if a TwinAir has more access? On my MultiJet I couldn’t even see the cable ends until I removed the battery and its support tray (see photos in the link in my first post above)

I popped round to see my mate Andy
(R. I. P. Werdna)
He had just come back with his 500TA from a caravan trip, and lost reverse on his drive,

I spotted the dangling cable very quickly, and popped it back on,

And we drove together to his preferred repair place

All "tool free" and in around 20 mins

It cost a fair bit at the garage (labour rates..)

But was all good,

I believe the car is now with his Granddaughter (around Bicester)

 

[DIZI]

Thanks all for your comments and help. We knew the Forumites would sort it

Went out to look at Po the Panda this morning, bonnet up, OH looked in appropriate places as mentioned in other comments. With gentle assistance from the flat end of his 3 foot crowbar (very gently I might add! ) having carefully wiggled it down in behind the battery, he was able to squash whatever he saw, back to its rightful place, and voila, all gears are accessible! Whoop whoop!

No idea how long this will last, but at least it's driveable to whichever garage we can get it in to, to get it checked over (with any luck, to Dave and Sam at Intaservices Leicester) although they are mad busy due to Leicester dealership closing, and they're now getting all the fixing and servicing business

Thanks again - I will complete the saga when it's finally sorted.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I don’t know if a TwinAir has more access? On my MultiJet I couldn’t even see the cable ends until I removed the battery and its support tray (see photos in the link in my first post above)

Not much different. you can at least see the end under the bonnet

 

[DIZI]

Saga completed all sorted.

Had to leave the Panda a few days sat on the front, as life got in the way (and daughter could use my 500 anyway) As you can't get screw-in replacement ends for these cables, Dave at Intaservices said we could purchase clamp-type things that were for a Vivaro that would keep the ball-and-socket-type ends together (he'd used them before) (photo attached) We duly bought some off Amazon with the intention of fitting them ourselves, but when it came to it they were hard to get to without taking battery and tray off (at the least) and the recommended clamps wouldn't fit on very easily.

So, as I said, we left it for a bit (building a porch in the dry days we were gifted with, was more essential ) Then armed with long crowbar in case the joint parted company again, and careful gear changing, we took the Panda over to Dave, who with the aid of the lift - "easier" to get at from underneath rather than removing anything - and the application of a bit of heat to the bracket to aid with a bit of gentle re-shaping, it was all done. So for £30 and a pair of clamps (one for future use) at around £7, I reckon we got off lightly.

Hope this idea helps others, there's loads of these clamps for sale, and at lots of different prices. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

 

[Mike1alike]

Saga completed all sorted.

Had to leave the Panda a few days sat on the front, as life got in the way (and daughter could use my 500 anyway) As you can't get screw-in replacement ends for these cables, Dave at Intaservices said we could purchase clamp-type things that were for a Vivaro that would keep the ball-and-socket-type ends together (he'd used them before) (photo attached) We duly bought some off Amazon with the intention of fitting them ourselves, but when it came to it they were hard to get to without taking battery and tray off (at the least) and the recommended clamps wouldn't fit on very easily.

So, as I said, we left it for a bit (building a porch in the dry days we were gifted with, was more essential ) Then armed with long crowbar in case the joint parted company again, and careful gear changing, we took the Panda over to Dave, who with the aid of the lift - "easier" to get at from underneath rather than removing anything - and the application of a bit of heat to the bracket to aid with a bit of gentle re-shaping, it was all done. So for £30 and a pair of clamps (one for future use) at around £7, I reckon we got off lightly.

Hope this idea helps others, there's loads of these clamps for sale, and at lots of different prices. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

Well... you find something new everyday.
Thanks for sharing!