Technical Missing Grommets

[Vic20]

A freind warned me he had missing grommets on the underbody of his brand new Panda behind the front wheels. He went to his dealer who checked lots of their cars and found the same. They found some grommets (presumably off another car) and fitted them. It's a hole used by garages' four point lift. The rear holes have their grommets in place. I have just checked mine and found exactly the same...



It appears that the grommets are being removed at some time during delivery to facilitate transportation of the vehicles. A very old thread on here suggested these are drain holes and should not be blocked by grommets. I say no way, this is a large hole right behind the front wheels. It's going to fill up with everything thrown up by the wheels, mud, salt, sand and water which will easily collect in the large box sections chamber creating a permanent damp spot and the perfect environment for corrosion especially at any points where the garages lifts have damaged the underseal and galvanising.

I suggest you check your pandas and speak to your dealers..

Vic

 

[PNL]

I know for a fact they were missing on my previous panda..but thats gone now..will have to check on our latest one to see if they are in place :chin:

Well done vic for the info..

 

[306maxi]

A freind warned me he had missing grommets on the underbody of his brand new Panda behind the front wheels. He went to his dealer who checked lots of their cars and found the same. They found some grommets (presumably off another car) and fitted them. It's a hole used by garages' four point lift. The rear holes have their grommets in place. I have just checked mine and found exactly the same...



It appears that the grommets are being removed at some time during delivery to facilitate transportation of the vehicles. A very old thread on here suggested these are drain holes and should not be blocked by grommets. I say no way, this is a large hole right behind the front wheels. It's going to fill up with everything thrown up by the wheels, mud, salt, sand and water which will easily collect in the large box sections chamber creating a permanent damp spot and the perfect environment for corrosion especially at any points where the garages lifts have damaged the underseal and galvanising.

I suggest you check your pandas and speak to your dealers..

Vic

And what if this is a drain hole for something and you end up actually accumulating water in there? There was a thready in the 500 forum (same floorpan) where someone actually mentioned that they had water sloshing around in their 500 till they took some plugs out. Makes you think doesn't it?

My 500 doesn't have a plug in there either and I'm not going to be putting one in. It's got plugs everywhere else so I don't see why they'd screw up with this plug on every car.

 

[DavePanda100]

IIRC Nigel mentioned something about these holes when he was stripping his 100hp down and water came out of his when he removed the grommet

I've not checked mine, will have a peek tomorrow, if I remember.

 

[sportincinq]

Mine came off when i jacked the car up to paint the calipers, i think i put them back on, im not sure.

 

[306maxi]

IIRC Nigel mentioned something about these holes when he was stripping his 100hp down and water came out of his when he removed the grommet

I've not checked mine, will have a peek tomorrow, if I remember.

Tis true......

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/174154-anti-corrosion-advice-100hp-owners.html

 

[Andy Monty]

this might be a worthy investment if you plan on keeping your panda


http://www.bilthamber.com/dynaxs50.html

 

[306maxi]

this might be a worthy investment if you plan on keeping your panda


http://www.bilthamber.com/dynaxs50.html

Nah I think I'll stick to sealing bits up which weren't meant to be sealed so they can fill with water

Seriously though I might get some of that suff

 

[Andy Monty]

Nah I think I'll stick to sealing bits up which weren't meant to be sealed so they can fill with water

Seriously though I might get some of that suff

went a little OTT on my GP and it has 3 cans of it in nearly every place i could get at

it comes with a long 1 1/2 - 2ft rubber pipe with a brass defuser (spl) on the end so you can stuff it deep into the box section spray it in then slowly withdraw it whilst slowly rolling the pipe back and forth between your fingers to ensure even coverage

 

[PNL]

Well I can now officially report after her in doors got down and got her knee's dirty that both the grommits are missing..:bang:

 

[306maxi]

Well I can now officially report after her in doors got down and got her knee's dirty that both the grommits are missing..:bang:

But if you look at some of the other posts it might be that you don't actually want that grommet in there.

 

[SurreyAlan]

went a little OTT on my GP and it has 3 cans of it in nearly every place i could get at

it comes with a long 1 1/2 - 2ft rubber pipe with a brass defuser (spl) on the end so you can stuff it deep into the box section spray it in then slowly withdraw it whilst slowly rolling the pipe back and forth between your fingers to ensure even coverage

In my day it used to be Waxoyl and I vaguely recall something called Dinitrol? I will always remember liberally spraying the underside and cavities of the rusting hulks I purchased as a young man and getting a really think layer of wax over the rust, it did seem to work though as I had some really quite rusty tubs which didn't get any worse in my care. Having looked at the other links I think a can of something squirted in the sills might not be a bad idea when (if) my 100hp arrives - have emailed dealer this evening to see if they have any news.
Will check for rubber bungs on the dynamic at the weekend, I know all the little holes are full of bungs but can't help thinking it might be an idea to take a couple out, thoughts of squirting waxoyl and all of a sudden I feel young again, I remember all the rust coming off and getting in my hair at least that won't happen with the Panda.

 

[306maxi]

In my day it used to be Waxoyl and I vaguely recall something called Dinitrol? I will always remember liberally spraying the underside and cavities of the rusting hulks I purchased as a young man and getting a really think layer of wax over the rust, it did seem to work though as I had some really quite rusty tubs which didn't get any worse in my care. Having looked at the other links I think a can of something squirted in the sills might not be a bad idea when (if) my 100hp arrives - have emailed dealer this evening to see if they have any news.
Will check for rubber bungs on the dynamic at the weekend, I know all the little holes are full of bungs but can't help thinking it might be an idea to take a couple out, thoughts of squirting waxoyl and all of a sudden I feel young again, I remember all the rust coming off and getting in my hair at least that won't happen with the Panda.

You're making me nostalgic for my childhood!

I remember when my dad got our 504 back in 1989 and he went mental with this stuff

Car smelled like dead fish for months and months and my mum wasn't happy.....

Car hasn't rusted though

 

[Geddes]

I used to have a 1979 Lada 1500 (the one that still looked like a Fiat) it was about 12 years old at the time and had been professionally rustproofed when new. It didn't have a speck or rust on it apart from in the wings behind the headlamp bowls where they musta have missed a bit, 'cos the metal there was like a paper doilly.

You shouldn't need to squirt any more wax into a Panda as Fiat will kindly have done all that for you.

 

[PNL]

But if you look at some of the other posts it might be that you don't actually want that grommet in there.

I get the idea.. and as an ex stilo owner I actually found this but havnt as yet found one for the panda..

http://www.tectyl.fi/uploads/zllaax4utlvlj.pdf

 

[Andy Monty]

In my day it used to be Waxoyl and I vaguely recall something called Dinitrol? I will always remember liberally spraying the underside and cavities of the rusting hulks I purchased as a young man and getting a really think layer of wax over the rust, it did seem to work though as I had some really quite rusty tubs which didn't get any worse in my care. Having looked at the other links I think a can of something squirted in the sills might not be a bad idea when (if) my 100hp arrives - have emailed dealer this evening to see if they have any news.
Will check for rubber bungs on the dynamic at the weekend, I know all the little holes are full of bungs but can't help thinking it might be an idea to take a couple out, thoughts of squirting waxoyl and all of a sudden I feel young again, I remember all the rust coming off and getting in my hair at least that won't happen with the Panda.

Just check the comparisons between

1. Acclaimed Swedish Cavity Wax
2. UK’s leading anti corrosion wax
3. Dynax S50


http://www.bilthamber.com/dynaxs50comparison.html

 

[4x4]

I noticed mine were missing after a visit to the Alfa/Fiat dealer in Limassol for a spot of warranty work. I wasn't sure whether they fell off or what so didn't bother bringing it up with the garage. 4 weeks later when it went in for a recall they mysteriously re-appeared. Clearly the culprit was the dealership!
By the way, I don't think they take them out more a case of they stick to the jacking arms as mine have hash marks on them.

Pete Monty in Cyprus

 

[The Panda Nut]

A freind warned me he had missing grommets on the underbody of his brand new Panda behind the front wheels. He went to his dealer who checked lots of their cars and found the same. They found some grommets (presumably off another car) and fitted them. It's a hole used by garages' four point lift. The rear holes have their grommets in place. I have just checked mine and found exactly the same...



It appears that the grommets are being removed at some time during delivery to facilitate transportation of the vehicles. A very old thread on here suggested these are drain holes and should not be blocked by grommets. I say no way, this is a large hole right behind the front wheels. It's going to fill up with everything thrown up by the wheels, mud, salt, sand and water which will easily collect in the large box sections chamber creating a permanent damp spot and the perfect environment for corrosion especially at any points where the garages lifts have damaged the underseal and galvanising.

I suggest you check your pandas and speak to your dealers..

Vic

None of mine have grommets in the front holes. They do look as if these holes were originally covered and sealed. I have been meaning to seal over and apply stone chip. None however have any debris build up in the hole and no visible corrosion. My new Panda was delivered with the sills damaged on both sides by their PDI work. Words were said and the offer of a repair spurned. I think I said I would rather they didnt get anywhere near it ever again. PDI was done at a multi dealer multi make centre where they clearly couldnt care less. As it was new, reapinting and sealing was a simple job. It shouldnt have been necessary of course

 

[Yolanda]

Mmm, food for thought, maybe they weren't there to start off with. I do (when underneath servicing etc spray my trusty paraffin and engine oil mix spray )
liberally in there so I might be worrying over nothing.