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Panda (Classic) Hal, the turquoise Selecta: Once more unto the breach, dear friends!

Introduction

Named after [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_V_of_England"]King Henry V[/ame] (Prince Hal, for those, like me, who are Shakespeare addicts...) -- not the computer in Kubrick's masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey -- Hal (see the number plate...), I'm hoping, is the Panda of my dreams. For someone who said he wasn't going to buy any Pandas, this year -- but I would buy either a Selecta or a 4x4, next year... -- I'm doing pretty well.... :D

No new photos, beyond those in this how-on-earth-did-I-end-up-with-a-third-Panda thread: as there's nothing new to show, really; and I was too tired to take photos of the engine bay... -- so apologies for the disappointment. Hal does feature a full complement of tools, under/around the spare, though, I can reveal; as well as a stonking new battery; and a very slow oil leak (possibly from the rocker cover...). :eek:



As you'll have seen from the Auction Watch thread, I had to catch a couple of trains to get to Hal; followed by a gentle walk through the suburbs of Birmingham (where Hal seems to have spent all of his life...). The guy selling the car then took me to the Post Office to get a new tax disc, and to the local factors, to get the battery. (What a star...!) He even wanted to make sure that all the fluid levels, etc. were okay, before I set off...! :worship:

It comes with most of its old MOTs -- showing the following mileage progression...
  1. 08/1996: 10,970
  2. 09/1997: 14,397
  3. 09/2001: 24,965
  4. 09/2002: 27,252
  5. 01/2004: 27,584
  6. 01/2005: 34,693
  7. 01/2006: 42,205
  8. 01/2007: 48,929
  9. 01/2008: 55,391
  10. 01/2009: 60,597
  11. 01/2010: 65,560
  12. 01/2011: 70,107
  13. 01/2012: 75,179
  14. 09/2013: 78,084
...so it's been in pretty constant use; but nothing too strenuous! :)

It also comes with two copies of the Owner Handbook -- as did Pippin -- both identical: neither mentioning either the 1108 cc engine* I'm fairly convinced it has (see below); nor the injection light, on the dash (that does work... -- also see below...). :confused:



Anyhoo: never having driven a Selecta in anger, before, I have the following comments:
  1. It's more obviously CVT-based than Priscilla: making a lot more fuss (i.e. piling on the revs) before the actual speed catches up. It does this quite noisily, at the moment (but then quietens down at speed....) -- which I hope will be helped by a new bucketful of gearbox oil... -- but I wouldn't be surprised if the clutch will need replacing soon. We shall see.... :rolleyes:
  2. Frell, it's powerful... (well, as much as a classic Panda can be, without an engine transplant...) -- especially compared to Pippin... -- and it seemed to have even more pep than Pinky: so I'm assuming this is the 1108 cc engine* -- especially as all the plastic stuff under the bonnet is dark blue. I found myself cruising at a measured 75 mph (sorry, officer...) all too easily; and it is very relaxing to drive on the motorway... -- if a little less engaging (if you'll excuse the pun...). :cool:
  3. The injection light came on momentarily, just before the services on the M42, so I left the motorway, intending to stop: only for the light to then go out, as I slowed down. So I went back onto the motorway, keeping to about 65-70 mph; and it never reappeared.... I'm hoping this was just a minor glitch, caused by the fact that it's been parked up for a few months -- but any advice will be gladly taken. Hopefully, whatever the 1993 equivalent of OBD will reveal all (or, even better, nothing...) -- if there is such a thing.... I will investigate.... :idea:
  4. The brakes are also more reassuring than any other Panda's I've driven; and the suspension seems fine (if not as tight as Pippin's all-new stuff...). (y)
I'm therefore hoping that this turns out to be the bargain of the century... -- but we shall let VmanC be the judge of that! :slayer:

Overall, I'm incredibly chuffed. The bodywork, sills, etc., have obviously been fettled at some point; but it feels solid, generally. I just need -- with Vernon's help, probably -- to sort out the aftermarket washer jets; although I think I shall leave the aerial where it is, for the moment. :eek:

Immediate plans include changing the engine and gearbox oils; coolant, air filter, etc.. I shall then, hopefully, give Hal a darned good clean, inside and out; before taking him to Vernon's.... Eventually, I may source a new HU, and add in some front speakers. I'm quite tempted to leave the slight variations in colour (346: Turchese, I believe...) as they are, though: as this will be my go-to Panda (with Betty being for special occasions; and Pippin, obviously, going to the homewardette...) -- and I quite like what I think of as the 'patina of honesty'...! :rolleyes:



Watch this space...! :wave:

* Just found a piece of paper with the engine and chassis numbers -- along with the following text: "1108 cc" and "29-4-93". There you go, Most Easterly Pandas...! (y)
Anyone know what this is...? Could it be useful...? :confused:

I don't recognize it at all tbh!

EDIT: Unless its an internal gearbox part?

PS: Have emailed the vendor for an explanation...! :)



Haven't heard back, yet... -- but it looks a bit like the 'throttle cam' for non-injected Selectas. [Part no.3, in Fig 13.34, on supplementary page 13•47, in Haynes #0793 -- the green one: "1981 to 1995 (up to M registration)".] If it is, is the wiring for the "Throttle potentiometer wiring connector"...? :confused:
 
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Haven't heard back, yet... -- but it looks a bit like the 'throttle cam' for non-injected Selectas. [Part no.3, in Fig 13.34, on supplementary page 13•47, in Haynes #0793 -- the green one: "1981 to 1995 (up to M registration)".] If it is, is the wiring for the "Throttle potentiometer wiring connector"...? :confused:

Makes sense now. Very Limited market now with only about 20 of them left in the UK :p
 


"1981 to 1995 (up to M registration)".] If it is, is the wiring for the "Throttle potentiometer wiring connector"...? :confused:

if that IS the lifespan of the part used, then you've got a half-decent chance of finding SOMETHING,

the 80's ford was termed the fiesta CTX ,
the gearbox being developed by "Van Doorne" ( according to wiki..)
NOT the name I recall from France..??,
maybe development and Manufacture were quite separate..,

my memeory tells me there were around 6 small hatch's with the later ( 1992..??) box, a FUJI..?? Product.
but the only references I saw on wiki were Micra, Uno + Fiesta,

strange as i KNOW that the 1.6 tipo and Escort also used the system - However the 1.6 was just too much for it, and the 1.1's were recognised as MUCH more reliable,

Charlie
 
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strange as i KNOW that the 1.6 tipo and Escort also used the system - However the 1.6 was just too much for it, and the 1.1's were recognised as MUCH more reliable,

Really?

I know its only in the last decade or so development of larger powered CVT units has developed, as like you say in the 80's & 90's about 1.2/1.3 was the largest you could safely put through a CVT without it destroying itself.
 
Glad to be of service...! :)

What I've learned is that, although I've wanted a Selecta for a long time, they may not be the best species of Panda to care for.... :eek:

It's all fun and games :p

Having never had issues with ours (other than a cracked HG bolt, so not Selecta specific) I personally still think they're smashingly fun cars :)
 
I can't work out why supply has dried up, there are still loads of the CVT Micra's about.

So far, the majority of dealers have come back with a big "no". However, I got this typically nice email back from Franco, at Ricambio (so a big thank you to Palio for gently nudging me in his direction...!):

Thanks for the enquiry. We dont actually carry these clutches anymore but i will look into it for you and let you know. We used to have a good contact for anything CVT but i have not spoken to them in years as there seems to be no call for these Clutches nowadays.
I have also let him know that -- depending on price -- I'd be more than happy to take five or six off him, if he can track them down! Hopefully, that will encourage him a little bit.... :D

PS: The guy at Automatic Choice (who supplied the price/stock list, above) has also put me in touch with someone in Glasgow. Watch this space.... :wave:
 
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homeward
This part you posted looks almost identical to the one from the top of the micra
box from the brush repair blog you posted before! The control arm is plastic on the fiat part but metal on the nissan one, apart from that not much difference.
Ignore the red box on the photo highlighting the brushes and look near the top middle of the box
 

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homeward
This part you posted looks almost identical to the one from the top of the micra
box from the brush repair blog you posted before! The control arm is plastic on the fiat part but metal on the nissan one, apart from that not much difference.
Ignore the red box on the photo highlighting the brushes and look near the top middle of the box

The thing you're looking at on the box is a mechanical linkage to control the gearbox inners, not electrical.
 
The thing you're looking at on the box is a mechanical linkage to control the gearbox inners, not electrical.

It is indeed, but it still has wiring to it that sends information of its positioning back to the electronic control unit.

if you look carefully at the micra box you'll see the wires coming out of it and running up to a connector at the top of the box
 
PS: The guy at Automatic Choice (who supplied the price/stock list, above) has also put me in touch with someone in Glasgow. Watch this space....

This, just in: :eek:
The powder clutch you are looking for I would need to order but should have it here in a few days.

it is £894.00 plus vat….The brush set you require would be £142.99 again I would need to order but should take no longer than a few days to have here
Let's hope it's the brushes (at most), eh...? :eek:
 
It is indeed, but it still has wiring to it that sends information of its positioning back to the electronic control unit.

if you look carefully at the micra box you'll see the wires coming out of it and running up to a connector at the top of the box

Thats different to Panda then as it doesn't have those additional wires from memory.
homeward those prices are sickening. How the clack can they justify that?!?
 
Leave university now and become Vernons apprentice :D
You may not become rich but you'll have a happy life (y)
I think he'd kill me within a week for sitting atop Panda's :rolleyes:

This, just in: :eek:
The powder clutch you are looking for I would need to order but should have it here in a few days.

it is £894.00 plus vat….The brush set you require would be £142.99 again I would need to order but should take no longer than a few days to have here
Let's hope it's the brushes (at most), eh...? :eek:

Well at least you've found a source.... :eek:
 
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