Hello - & help! May have to scrap my Panda!

[pandamama]

Hello Panda owners!

I am the proud owner (2nd!) of an 18 year old Fiat Panda - which I took from a friend's Dad who had had it all it's life. The car cost me next to nothing - BUT - I have a real problem with the front windscreen wiper which has worn on it's attachment - and Fiat have told me I can't even buy a replacement arm - just the wiper blade!! At this rate, I will have to scrap my car because of the wiper....CAN ANYONE HELP ME TO SOURCE A NEW WIPER ARM & ATTACHMENT AS A MATTER OF URGENCY???

Would be very grateful for any help anyone can give on this...otherwise my newfound freedom of owning a car won't last long.....

Pandamama

 

[the stig/130]

which ever fiat dealer you went to are talking rubbish! fone J.B.S spares in manchester on 0161 688 8391, jack or barry,:worship:
not sure what you mean by `attachment` do you mean the splined spindle to which the arm fits onto?

 

[pandamama]

That's fantastic news Stig/130!! I will ring J.B.S Spares tomorrow and give it a go - yes, when is said the 'attachment', I meant the splined spindle that the arm fits onto (you may have guessed by now that I am new to car mechanic terminology!). In answer to question, it was my local (main) Fiat dealer in Bolton who told me couldn't buy a replacement arm

 

[Palio]

Yes should be easy to get hold of - no point going to a Fiat dealer - you'll be lucky if they remember there was another Panda!

When you've got sorted, pop over to the Panda classic section of the website - you'll find all sorts of mad folk there who can give you plenty of Panda info

Gavin.

 

[pandamama]

Thanks Palio! - No go I'm afraid, so think I may have to scrap my car - even JBS Spares can't source me a wiper & arm - so think my only hope is Ebay - which I am guessing is abit of a long shot for something so specific (& old! - Panda first Registered in 1992) - but if anyone has any other ideas where I could source a new windscreen wiper arm and splined spindle (the bit it attaches onto on the bonnet!) I would be eternally grateful - such a shame to scrap a car because of a wiper!!!!

 

[Palio]

Pop in and say hello in the Panda classic section & ask for help. Bet someone's got the parts in their garage! We don't get into this section much but the Panda classic bit gets a massive amount of traffic.

Otherwise try speaking to Phil or Franco at Ricambio www.ricambio.co.uk they can get almost anything if you're willing to pay their prices.

Silly question but why can't it be bodged for the MOT?

The assembly may well be the same as for other Fiats - if someone in the Panda section knows, this may help track down the parts. I'm wondering if the Uno has the same parts as it's a similar vintage with single wiper?

Don't panic someone will come up with something!

Just realised I'm not quite sure what bit you're looking for - is it the spindle worn, or are you just looking for a new wiper arm? Any old arm with the same fixing should fit if so........

Gavin.

 

[pandamama]

Thanks again so much Palio! Yep - both the spindle on the bonnet AND the inside of the wiper arm base that slots onto the spindle are worn - think maybe they are lead/ aluminium? (just my luck!) I have though, managed to source a possible wiper motor from Shop4parts for about £69 which apparently comes with a new spindle (they can't supply a new wiper arm though, so it half solves the problem! - but I will try the Classic section before I start spending lots of money.....

Re 'bodging' - that was exactly what previous (and only!) owner had done - drilled two small holes into arm base and spindle, and used two philips-head screws to try and keep in place!

Thanks again for picking up the thread and for helpful suggestions,

Helen