Technical Calling all Classic Panda Selecta Gurus

[pandamotion]

Can anybody help, my selecta transmission has started making a funny noise. Laugh all you like, but it sounds like there is somebody inside it blowing on a party squeaker

Now here's the thing, it doesn't do it all the time, but it does do it in park and neutral, so to my mind it has to be something to do with either the pump or the valve block as everything else is stationary in park. I did try to take a video of it as hearing the noise is easier than trying to describe it, but no, because I want it to make the noise it won't

If you have ever heard the noise a brake servo makes when the diaphragm fails (kind of a sucking reed sort of noise) then that's what it sounds like, so much so that my first test was to disconnect the vac line to the servo. so far I've changed the fluid so I know it's the right stuff, adjusted both cables, cleaned up the switch and confirmed the clutch is Ok. What ever it is, it does not affect the drive at all (yet), she still goes like stink, so if anybody has come across this before or has any ideas then they would be gratefully received.

 

[pandamotion]

Ok, for anybody who fancies a game of "Guess what that funny noise is", I've now managed to capture the offending noise on video. http://youtu.be/eFRV09wKYng The image is as jumpy as all hell, but that's because I was trying to find the spot where it is loudest. at 23 seconds, the camera is right next to the casing for the hydraulic pump so I get a nasty feeling this is not going to be good news. I'm just hoping one of you good people has heard this noise before and has a good idea as to what it is, as I really don't want to end up loosing the selecta box. All help, hints or advice that anybody can offer would be very gratefully accepted.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I'm at work atm, will watch the video when I get home, when was the CVT fluid and filter last changed? What mileage has the car done?

 

[pandamotion]

Hi Most Easterly, Thanks for your response, the cars done 71K miles, The CVT fluid was last changed 4 weeks ago but I am still trying to source a filter (local Fiat dealer's hopeless) so I didn't crack the sump off at the time. I have every intention of changing the fluid again in the next couple of days once I have the filter. Paranoid? Yes! but when I got the car it had a leak on the feed hose to the oil cooler and was being topped up regularly, but what with? The order of action so far has been: Replace oil cooler lines, drain + refill with recommended CVT fluid, flushing lines and oil cooler with new fluid to get rid of as much old stuff as possible, top up to correct level. Still to come is drop sump and replace filter, refill and flush again. The old fluid was clean, pink, un burned and had no nasties in it but I'm not taking any chances for the sake of a few quids worth of CVT fluid. What I don't get is that the car drives really well, the noise isn't constant but comes and goes and for the most part the only noise the box makes whilst driving is a very faint whine like every CVT car I've ever driven. I'm just about to hit up Dr google and see if I can find a source for a new gasket and O ring for the pump, cos I have a feeling I may be about to say hello to it's inner workings so any other hints would be a big help.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

From a little experience with hydraulic systems it sounds like a pressure release value activating, so might be a blocked filter possibly

Sounds like your plans of action are about right, for reference, CVT fluid, 5L bottle is about £35 from UniPart, was when I last got some, better that £10-12 for a 1L bottle from Fiat

 

[pandamotion]

Two minds and very similar thoughts, that makes me feel a little more confident
If my thinking is right, the fluid is drawn from the sump by the pump, routed to the oil cooler, then back via the valve block to the internals of the box, before dropping back to the sump, so it might be worth back flushing the oil cooler this time. Time to google a schematic of the box or an exploded diagram (maybe the wholly grail to lol) There must be a relief valve in the pump somewhere which as you say would fit with the noise.
And yes, Unipart are still way more reasonable for CVT fluid than Fiat are lol, I think I paid a little over £40 for 5L.
Thanks you for your input

 

[pandamotion]

Yay! a happy selecta again!!! Firstly a very BIG Thank You to Most Easterly Pandas, I don't know how you got hold of the selecta tech manual, but I'm very grateful to you for sharing
As luck would have it, she didn't need major surgery after all. Seems all she wanted was a new filter and some fresh fluid. I guess sometimes it's better to start with the basics I will be changing the fluid again in a week or so though just to make sure, as I'm now convinced that the last owner did not know that ATF is as deadly to a CVT panda as a poacher is to a wild one.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Yay! a happy selecta again!!! Firstly a very BIG Thank You to Most Easterly Pandas, I don't know how you got hold of the selecta tech manual, but I'm very grateful to you for sharing
As luck would have it, she didn't need major surgery after all. Seems all she wanted was a new filter and some fresh fluid. I guess sometimes it's better to start with the basics I will be changing the fluid again in a week or so though just to make sure, as I'm now convinced that the last owner did not know that ATF is as deadly to a CVT panda as a poacher is to a wild one.

Yay

How did you find the filter was to change (never done one myself). And where did you source one from and at what cost if you don't mind me asking.

 

[JamieK]

Yay! a happy selecta again!!! Firstly a very BIG Thank You to Most Easterly Pandas, I don't know how you got hold of the selecta tech manual, but I'm very grateful to you for sharing
As luck would have it, she didn't need major surgery after all. Seems all she wanted was a new filter and some fresh fluid. I guess sometimes it's better to start with the basics I will be changing the fluid again in a week or so though just to make sure, as I'm now convinced that the last owner did not know that ATF is as deadly to a CVT panda as a poacher is to a wild one.

You found a new filter
I understood they were no longer available and you had to take the old one off and have it ultrasonically cleaned

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

You found a new filter
I understood they were no longer available and you had to take the old one off and have it ultrasonically cleaned

I suspect they are readily available as the same one was used in several other CVT boxes I believe, but they're not cheap as far as I'm aware, hence interested in its cost.

 

[JamieK]

I suspect they are readily available as the same one was used in several other CVT boxes I believe, but they're not cheap as far as I'm aware, hence interested in its cost.

Ahh, so maybe try Nissan then for one, I tried a fiat specialist when I first got the Selecta and they told me no chance of getting one! Not sure i actually need one as the fluid is clear but would like to change it anyway

 

[pandamotion]

The filter is a really easy change, 13 bolts (10mm socket + large cross head screw driver needed) a rubber hammer (to free the sump), 2 more bolts (10mm socket again) that hold the filter to the valve block, a gentle wiggle to free the O ring and a tube of gasket maker on reassembly to re-seal the sump pan. Hey Presto job done.
As for finding a new filter, or pan gasket for that matter, unless your name is Indiana Jones, that's impossible, I'm still looking

What I should have said was "a freshly cleaned filter" You can go the ultrasonic route, but I used 1/2 a gallon of brake cleaner and some compressed air, so long as the brake cleaner evaporates completely before putting it back in the trannie its all good.
The transmission was allegedly used in the k10 / k11 Micra and Subaru used them in something but I have no clue what. I think it was made (or designed at least) by Jatco so I'm gonna give them a try next as I would like to get hold of a new one. If I get any luck I'll grab a few and let you guys know, but don't hold your breath.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Looks like I'll remove the filter from the blown selecta box I've got then I strip it down, and replace them on a rolling basis with one always cleaned.

 

[pandamotion]

At last, what looks like it might be a promising lead, If any of you are trying to find parts for the 89 - 95 selecta transmission, hopefully you might find this useful.
https://www.automaticchoice.com/

https://www.automaticchoice.com/Catalogue/re0f05a.pdf#page=1&zoom=auto,0,849