Technical Me being dumb.

[RhysB]

Hey guys. And MERRY CHRISTMAS!

First of all I would like to apologise for not being active for the past couple of months, I've been really, really busy and just haven't had the time to be social over t'internet.

NOW! I need help on two things;

Last weekend I was happily going down the B4077 at night when my lights decided to completely cut out. Of course, this scared me but I managed to get it temporarily sorted.

Turns out the switch is completely knackered, so me and my extensive skills had to chew through the wires, using my teeth to cut and strip them, then wrap the 4 cables together to keep the lights permanently on. So the question I ask is, does anyone have a spare light switch they would like to offer?

Secondly, I have a radio and speakers to fit into my Panda today. But, when I went to it with the trusty Haynes manual by my side, turns out the diagrams are completely different in the book to my Panda. (Stupid manuals). And now it's bewildered me. Help!

So I ask, does anyone know a thread I should head over to or would someone be happy to give me a step-by-step guide?

Cheers,

Rhys

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Hiya Rhys, good news or bad news first?

Good - its fixable

Bad - You'll need to overhall your earthing system and possibly install relays on the headlamps

It's a common Panda problem and if you just install another headlamp switch the same will happen again, be it next week or next month

Now I'd be imagining at the mo that those wires all connected together willbe getting extreamly hot. This is due to a build up or resistance in the earthing circuit. Resistance = heat, lots of it, and in this case its melted your headlamp switch internals.

They probably look a tad like this

So you'll need to remove both wing mounted earthing points (hopfully they're hedgehogs like in the pic as they're easier to do).

Remove all the female connectors from the end of the wires and replace them with new ones (best place to gain replacements is maplins electronics).

Then get something they will scour the muck off of the hedgehogs and leave you with nice clean looking ones.

Here is the state of what mine looked like on my Sisley when that started giving problems
N/S wing

O/S wing

And when cleaned up

Now, before fitting a new headlamp switch, leave it a few days and check when running the car if the headlamp wiring that you've all connected together is still heating up and getting hot.

If it is, then unfortunatly its off to stage 2. Fitting relays.

In this case you'll need to fit 4 relays, 2 to head headlamp unit. One for dipped beam, and one for main beam.

Might be worth scrap yard hunting for some nice minature relays from Punto's, Stilo's etc

Jon.

 

[CLXCraig]

Hi Rhys

Seems Jon has answered your light switch problem. a common fault on most pandas at some time in their life.

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/176625-beginner-stereo-aproval-desired.html

This is a good thread to read about stereo fitting. If your still stuck send me a PM and i'll give you some help.

Craig

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/176625-beginner-stereo-aproval-desired.html

 

[RhysB]

Cheers Jon. It actually worked now I don't have to worry about making 4 hour journeys with the fear of my lights cutting out again!

And Craig, need to get an adaptor or something, where would I be able to get one?

Cheers,

Rhys

 

[CLXCraig]

halfords do them for 14.99 when i got mine about a year ago. Its a block that fits onto the "plug" from the headunit and then you wire the loose cables into the car, this way the adaptor is always there for the future.

Alternatively, if you have a scrap yard local, you can cut one out of a wrecked car and stick it in your pocket and leave.

 

[panda1408]

I got an adaptor from ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIAT-Croma-Panda-Wiring-Loom-Harness-Adaptor-PC2-07-4_W0QQitemZ250438423256QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Terminals_Cabling_ET?hash=item3a4f4b12d8

You should already have a power connector in the car which that adaptor will plug into and then you connect your speaker cables to it aswell. Thern you've got the ISO plug on the other end that the head unit plugs into.

If the wiring has already been butchered before then you will be best doing it like Craig says, but using the adaptor I've linked to means you'll need to do less butchering yourself.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I got an adaptor from ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIAT-Croma-Panda-Wiring-Loom-Harness-Adaptor-PC2-07-4_W0QQitemZ250438423256QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Terminals_Cabling_ET?hash=item3a4f4b12d8

You should already have a power connector in the car which that adaptor will plug into and then you connect your speaker cables to it aswell. Thern you've got the ISO plug on the other end that the head unit plugs into.

If the wiring has already been butchered before then you will be best doing it like Craig says, but using the adaptor I've linked to means you'll need to do less butchering yourself.

Bloody hell! Ta for the link. A propper classic Panda one!

Won't need to do any butchering with that what so ever!

 

[panda1408]

Bloody hell! Ta for the link. A propper classic Panda one!

Won't need to do any butchering with that what so ever!

Nope Why I got it really, I didn't want to cut into the loom and start making a mess of it, and I like the fact that I'll be able to put it back to how it was originally if I ever want to.

 

[CLXCraig]

wish i knew about this when i did the CLX. save a load of time.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

wish i knew about this when i did the CLX. save a load of time.

Well you can imagine my responce having done 4 panda Craig :doh: lol

 

[CLXCraig]

hahaha. i'm happy witht he CLX as it's neatly soldered and taped up. Fizz on the other hand is shocking. will need some work once its warm again