General Buying a used Panda

[Peter034]

I am looking at buying a used Panda (1.1 active eco) somewhere around 2009 to 2012, just wondered if the engine has any problems regarding head gasket failing.

Not sure if the engine has moved forward in design over the years.

Anyway more concerned about head gasket failure as expensive repair bill just wondered if this problem occurs on the Panda 1.1

Seen the list of faults here so fore warned as to some of the possible problems

 

[daveofkent]

I am looking at buying a used Panda (1.1 active eco) somewhere around 2009 to 2012, just wondered if the engine has any problems regarding head gasket failing.

Not sure if the engine has moved forward in design over the years.

Anyway more concerned about head gasket failure as expensive repair bill just wondered if this problem occurs on the Panda 1.1

Seen the list of faults here so fore warned as to some of the possible problems

Hi there and welocome.

It can happen (like any car). My 1.1 hg failed at 80k miles. There's no magic bullet for head gaskets on any car. I can honestly say the panda is no worse than anything else. Keep on top of thermostats water pumps and coolant age and you'll be as good as you can be.

I've had other cars before like an Astra that just went.

The difference with the panda though is it was cheap and easy to fix in comparison . there's probably no easier cheaper modern car I can think of to fix a hg failure. Unless of course you drive around with it like that for a month after.

 

[Goudrons]

Not sure if the engine has moved forward in design over the years.

Not really, it's basically the same as it was in 1985!
Sure it now runs injection and has a few more electronics, but it's as hardy as it ever was.

Panda's aren't too well know for head gaskets, I know the same engine in Puntos suffered, but for some reason, in the Panda it's not really a fault that turns up that often.

Some 1.1's suffer from a wiring fault that causes a misfire, often over heavy bumps, that's worth bearing in mind on test drives.
It isn't too hard to fix if you can find the wire.

It's worth having a poke around under the back end, the rear axle and lower spring seats can get rather scabby with rust as can the rear exhaust box, but the rest of the car, rust isn't usually a problem.

Make sure it drives straight and steers ok.
Power steering issues are usually battery related as it's EPAS (E for electric).

Clonks and knocks from the rear are usually caused by the top shock eye bushes wearing out.

Check around the lower heater vents for damp.
Scuttle drains block very easily and the scuttle panel quickly fills with water (doesn't everything in the UK?) that drips into the heater.
There are two black plastic drian "nipples" under the bonnet, behind the engine, on the rear bulk head under the scuttle that need pulling out and cleaning every now and then.

 

[Peter034]

Daveofkent & Goudrons
Thank you both for your time and the info's, really good to know from owners first hand about there faults/findings/happenings with the Panda.

Been driving since the horse and cart days but never had a HG go until recently so must have been lucky by the sounds of it.

All the points made here I have written down to keep for when I find the Panda I am looking for as its so easy to forget when your standing in front of a car you like the look of, need to keep a clear mind when giving it the once over.

Thanks for all.

 

[muz379]

Just like to second everything Goudrons has just said

and just like to add that if you are looking at a panda and the backbox looks a little shabby assuming it has not done a ton of miles or been really abused what you are seeing is probably just the heat skin rusting and peeling off , there is still a layer of good metal under it . I looked at a few pandas before I did a google search to see if backbox rust was a common fault and found out about the heat skin .

Apart from that relatively cheap and easy cars to fix . When i was looking I found them to be quite popular among old people so there are some really low mileage well looked after examples out there

 

[Wee Smurf]

:yeahthat: I still have the original back box on my Panda at almost 11 years and 112K miles. The outside case has been happily rusting away for quite a few years (I'm sure it's lost a layer or two) but the exhaust itself is functioning as it should.

 

[Peter034]

muz379 & Wee Smurf
Thanks for the info's good to know about the gearbox and the ever lasting exhaust

Thanks again.

 

[rick500]

i bought myself a 2010 FIAT PANDA 1.1 ECO last November it only had 24,000 miles on it and i have loved every drive i have in it it is a lot better than the 2004 Suzuki Alto 1.1 i had before both only £30 a year to tax both getting more than 50 mpg i have cleaned the drain holes in the scuttle which were solid with gunk and had a pool of water in i have also fitted roof rails and side buffers as i think it looks better with them and i like the features it comes with as standard all in if you can get a clean low mileage one i think you will be very happy with it