Technical Nine year service items...

[SB1500]

It's that time of year again for my grandmothers Panda... well, two months overdue to be frank. But last I checked it was April, now we're approaching mid July.. where is the time going?!

Every year I've done an oil and filter change on this 2015 Panda Pop that's been in the family since new, along with the engine air filter. Of course, there is no cabin filter or fuel filter or the likes in such a simple machine. I've changed the wipers a couple of times over the years.

As I order the parts this time around, it got me thinking about this car as if it were my own... 31,000 miles is nothing, but 9 years is quite something. This car is so seldom driven that the final original tyre was just replaced with plenty of tread left but cracking issues. I think it's time for the following:

- Usual oil, filter, engine filter..
- Coolant change
- Brake fluid change
- Aux belt
- Spark plugs

...is a timing belt change (based on age) a sensible thing to do? I think I recall reading here that the 2015 1.2 has a few more top end features in the name of emissions versus the 2005 1.2 I once upon a time helped to do the timing belt kit on.

Is there anything else that I've missed which would be a good idea?

Unfortunately, in the next couple of years this car will probably be up for sale as she eventually won't be able to drive for medical reasons. I'm dabbling with the idea of buying it from her when said day comes. I really miss these little things. It's nearly at the age my 05 Panda was when I took ownership of it... this passing time thing is serious business.

 

[jackwhoo]

Gosh yes timing belt kit and water pump definitely

 

[KPat]

Definately timing belt kit. And check the brake pads and discs for wear.

 

[SB1500]

Okay, so it's all going to be done. Big question is over the timing belt / water pump job. Reading some of my old 2016 threads from doing it on my Mk3 / 2005 1.2 8v... same engine, but I believe that was non-interference, so the stakes were much lower if I were to mess anything up.

What are the main additional complications with the 2015 1.2 8v? I believe they added VVT or something similar to the top end to meet emissions regulations by this point.. Is this a major complication inducing change?

I'm seeing kits online for around £50 including the water pump, for £140-£150 all in, this Panda could be brought up to speed for it's next 9 years of minimal driving and beyond.

I asked and found out, the car is being driven 2 miles down the road to pick up kids from school and back... and then 2 miles down the road in the opposite direction just to a local supermarket and back, around 3 days a week. Not very demanding use by any measure

FYI, it's also officially more reliable than a Lexus... my car has a TPMS fault that seems to not want to disappear and in the 9 years since brand new, this little Panda has had absolutely no error codes whatsoever. And it has a TPMS system fitted... Italy showing the rest of the world how it's done, go FIAT.

 

[Marcus Daly]

The Panda's TPMS system is the low tech variety, I suspect the Lexus has the more complex setup I had in my last Prius.

 

[SB1500]

Oh wow, Shop4Parts (pre forum discount) is coming out at also £150... that's including oil, spark plugs, and everything .. Magnetti Marelli parts and genuine recommended oil. Delighted with that pricing. Just two issues..

- How much coolant is recommended to have on hand for a replacement? Litres wise..
- S4P doesn't have an aux belt, the one they have is for AC models only.. no non-AC product listed. Will source locally unless anyone knows if both fit, but I can't imagine S4P making any errors as a specialist

 

[KPat]

Okay, so it's all going to be done. Big question is over the timing belt / water pump job. Reading some of my old 2016 threads from doing it on my Mk3 / 2005 1.2 8v... same engine, but I believe that was non-interference, so the stakes were much lower if I were to mess anything up.

What are the main additional complications with the 2015 1.2 8v? I believe they added VVT or something similar to the top end to meet emissions regulations by this point.. Is this a major complication inducing change?

I'm seeing kits online for around £50 including the water pump, for £140-£150 all in, this Panda could be brought up to speed for it's next 9 years of minimal driving and beyond.

I asked and found out, the car is being driven 2 miles down the road to pick up kids from school and back... and then 2 miles down the road in the opposite direction just to a local supermarket and back, around 3 days a week. Not very demanding use by any measure

FYI, it's also officially more reliable than a Lexus... my car has a TPMS fault that seems to not want to disappear and in the 9 years since brand new, this little Panda has had absolutely no error codes whatsoever. And it has a TPMS system fitted... Italy showing the rest of the world how it's done, go FIAT.

It's generally considered to be interference engine. So take no chances. The crankshaft locking tool is vital. The camshaft VVT sprocket position can be marked with Tippex or paint before removing the old belt and make sure it doesn't move till the new belt is on and tensioned.

 

[SB1500]

It's generally considered to be interference engine. So take no chances. The crankshaft locking tool is vital. The camshaft VVT sprocket position can be marked with Tippex or paint before removing the old belt and make sure it doesn't move till the new belt is on and tensioned.

Would a generic tool online do the job, or is it suitable to stick a screwdriver through a notch / hole in the block designed to hold the timing?

Just waiting for some questions sent over to Shop4Parts over the coolant capacity... then permission to buy from the owner and next week hopefully will be like the good old days, getting hands dirty under a Fiat.

I'm genuinely shocked at how low the prices are for the genuine parts and the Fiat recommended fluid makers... About a tenner a litre on S4P, same product £20 a litre on AutoDoc.. at 2.8L capacity that's the same or cheaper than I can get a 4L Castrol bottle. I wouldn't usually opt for genuine parts or fluids on my relatives cars as they generally want it done as cheap as possible and don't buy into all the marketing lies that I do, or the front page supplements in the owners manual telling you that it'll explode if you don't use the correct brand.. but at comparable prices, why not!

 

[KPat]

The crankshaft locking tool is specifically designed to fit the Fiat FIRE engine. They are widely available online. When fitted you can be sure the crank is locked in the correct position and not have to worry about it moving while doing the job.

 

[SB1500]

The crankshaft locking tool is specifically designed to fit the Fiat FIRE engine. They are widely available online. When fitted you can be sure the crank is locked in the correct position and not have to worry about it moving while doing the job.

Thanks! Just had a quick watch through of the below video...


The job isn't as scary with the tool you recommend, and it's not so complicated as I remember it in 2016.

I'm confident I can do that, with the tool, and a second opinion on supporting the engine from underneath and sealing the rocker cover again. Am I correct in thinking it's just a tube sealant applied manually... or a rubber gasket part itself? It's been a while

 

[KPat]

It's a rubber gasket. You still need to mark the position of the camshaft VVT sprocket because it can move independently of the actual camshaft. Make sure it doesn't move when the cambelt is removed. If you remove the rocker cover there are O ring oil seals underneath for the oil gallery contained within the cover. Make sure they go back in position.

 

[Big gerry]

It's that time of year again for my grandmothers Panda... well, two months overdue to be frank. But last I checked it was April, now we're approaching mid July.. where is the time going?!

Every year I've done an oil and filter change on this 2015 Panda Pop that's been in the family since new, along with the engine air filter. Of course, there is no cabin filter or fuel filter or the likes in such a simple machine. I've changed the wipers a couple of times over the years.

As I order the parts this time around, it got me thinking about this car as if it were my own... 31,000 miles is nothing, but 9 years is quite something. This car is so seldom driven that the final original tyre was just replaced with plenty of tread left but cracking issues. I think it's time for the following:

- Usual oil, filter, engine filter..
- Coolant change
- Brake fluid change
- Aux belt
- Spark plugs

...is a timing belt change (based on age) a sensible thing to do? I think I recall reading here that the 2015 1.2 has a few more top end features in the name of emissions versus the 2005 1.2 I once upon a time helped to do the timing belt kit on.

Is there anything else that I've missed which would be a good idea?

Unfortunately, in the next couple of years this car will probably be up for sale as she eventually won't be able to drive for medical reasons. I'm dabbling with the idea of buying it from her when said day comes. I really miss these little things. It's nearly at the age my 05 Panda was when I took ownership of it... this passing time thing is serious business.

Any service items I need I’ve used eBay a lot of genuine items on there I got the chain changed on my panda and I bought the locking tool on eBay £30 the mechanic who done it told me you couldn’t do without it

 

[SB1500]

That's everything ordered, but from Autodoc... Although I consider £204 a very, very good price for genuine or close to genuine (Magnetti Marelli) parts and fluids, my relatives decided to just go for the cheapest which is a shame, but they're still EU produced quality parts even at a budget and for the low mileage this Panda does, should be fine.

I just spotted on the owners manual that 18,000 miles seems to be the service interval.. that's bizarre! I don't feel so bad about forgetting to do it in April now (one year on since the last oil change). But still, 18,000 is an insane figure. I read a lot of hate Toyota / Lexus get for quoting 10,000 miles as being too much!

Just ordered this from eBay too ... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28476142...zi9JgLWTI2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

That's the following parts sorted:

• Oil & Filter
• Air Filter
• Auxiliary Belt
• Timing Belt Kit (incl water pump and tensioner)
• Engine Coolant
• Brake Fluid
• Spark Plugs
• Rocker Cover Gasket

It should be well sorted out after all of this! Shame none of these result in a noticeable drive difference, but nonetheless, will keep it going for the next 9 years of its life. Quite excited to be getting to work on another Fiat like the early days of fixing my own.

Future Reference: The coolant capacity is 4.85L, 1L of brake fluid will be plenty for flushing out. And of course, oil capacity is 2.8L

 

[Big gerry]

That's everything ordered, but from Autodoc... Although I consider £204 a very, very good price for genuine or close to genuine (Magnetti Marelli) parts and fluids, my relatives decided to just go for the cheapest which is a shame, but they're still EU produced quality parts even at a budget and for the low mileage this Panda does, should be fine.

I just spotted on the owners manual that 18,000 miles seems to be the service interval.. that's bizarre! I don't feel so bad about forgetting to do it in April now (one year on since the last oil change). But still, 18,000 is an insane figure. I read a lot of hate Toyota / Lexus get for quoting 10,000 miles as being too much!

Just ordered this from eBay too ... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28476142...zi9JgLWTI2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

That's the following parts sorted:

• Oil & Filter
• Air Filter
• Auxiliary Belt
• Timing Belt Kit (incl water pump and tensioner)
• Engine Coolant
• Brake Fluid
• Spark Plugs
• Rocker Cover Gasket

It should be well sorted out after all of this! Shame none of these result in a noticeable drive difference, but nonetheless, will keep it going for the next 9 years of its life. Quite excited to be getting to work on another Fiat like the early days of fixing my own.

Future Reference: The coolant capacity is 4.85L, 1L of brake fluid will be plenty for flushing out. And of course, oil capacity is 2.8L

Did fiat not change the service interval from 18.000 down to 9.000 I’ve used AUTODOC before especially when buying springs I like the info they give you on parts

 

[SB1500]

Did fiat not change the service interval from 18.000 down to 9.000 I’ve used AUTODOC before especially when buying springs I like the info they give you on parts

I'm not sure, if they did I never knew! I know they changed the TwinAir oil specs in the early days, but new engine and all that.

I always wonder if they try to space it out as a selling point of needing to service it less, being better for the environment by needing serviced less or something to that effect

 

[Big gerry]

I'm not sure, if they did I never knew! I know they changed the TwinAir oil specs in the early days, but new engine and all that.

I always wonder if they try to space it out as a selling point of needing to service it less, being better for the environment by needing serviced less or something to that effect

Sorry you are correct it’s the twinair

 

[SB1500]

Sorry you are correct it’s the twinair

I suspected that if a 30 year old FIRE engine recently had an oil spec or service change, there would be something more going on! lol Someone at Fiat maybe deciding "They're just lasting too damn long!" haha

 

[KPat]

As far as oil changes are concerned, I wouldn't let ANY make of car I own do 18,000 miles between oil changes. My Panda never goes more than 6000 miles or once a year. Old black sludgey oil can't be good for your engine.

 

[SB1500]

As far as oil changes are concerned, I wouldn't let ANY make of car I own do 18,000 miles between oil changes. My Panda never goes more than 6000 miles or once a year. Old black sludgey oil can't be good for your engine.

This car barely pushes 1,000 miles per year, but gets an oil change every year at least. I'd say breaking down from inactivity is more of a risk here! lol

 

[Big gerry]

This car barely pushes 1,000 miles per year, but gets an oil change every year at least. I'd say breaking down from inactivity is more of a risk here! lol

What a car to buy as long as it’s getting some use