Technical Panda 2012+ Air Con Help.

[Herts Hillhopper]

graham_GB I would suggest checking the scuttle drains (that let water out from the area below the windscreen) first. If these are blocked, and/or that area is full of water, then this needs to be addressed first (and is 'A Good Thing' to do regularly anyway). Several previous posts about his, but here is a good start and has photos to help: https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii/475219-scuttle-drains-no-duckbills.html?p=4491914. If there was water here it will likely have got into the heater and soaked the filter. But draining the water and using the car with the blower going (without the air con on) may dry the filter enough to sure the issue. However, I would suggest changing it anyway if its been wetted... read on:

As to the filter, this post will help. It omits mentioning how to start though. You need to remove the side panel of the centre console on the drivers side (that includes the left foot rest). This is done by unscrewing two large Allen screws from two deep-set holes by the footrest, and one smaller Torx screw a little further back. Once these are removed, the end of the panel nearest the front of the car can be pulled towards you and the rear part (nearer the handbrake) unclips an it all lifts away: https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii...n-filter-my-easy-way.html?481366=#post4543190

By the way, for information and amusement, have a read of this fairly old post form the 2005-2012 Panda forum, as that will explain why we keep referring to these drain points as duckbills https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/272828-loose-plastic-thing-full-water-3.html

 

[Graham GB]

graham_GB I would suggest checking the scuttle drains (that let water out from the area below the windscreen) first. If these are blocked, and/or that area is full of water, then this needs to be addressed first (and is 'A Good Thing' to do regularly anyway). Several previous posts about his, but here is a good start and has photos to help: https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii/475219-scuttle-drains-no-duckbills.html?p=4491914. If there was water here it will likely have got into the heater and soaked the filter. But draining the water and using the car with the blower going (without the air con on) may dry the filter enough to sure the issue. However, I would suggest changing it anyway if its been wetted... read on:

As to the filter, this post will help. It omits mentioning how to start though. You need to remove the side panel of the centre console on the drivers side (that includes the left foot rest). This is done by unscrewing two large Allen screws from two deep-set holes by the footrest, and one smaller Torx screw a little further back. Once these are removed, the end of the panel nearest the front of the car can be pulled towards you and the rear part (nearer the handbrake) unclips an it all lifts away: https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii...n-filter-my-easy-way.html?481366=#post4543190

By the way, for information and amusement, have a read of this fairly old post form the 2005-2012 Panda forum, as that will explain why we keep referring to these drain points as duckbills https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/272828-loose-plastic-thing-full-water-3.html

Thanks for this Herts Hillhopper, this is great info, if I can't manage this myself(the filter bit), I think that with this info my local(non Fiat) garage will look at this for me, their mechanics may be used to standing on their heads while they work.

Also i didn't know that Fiat & Ford where associated.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Thanks for this Herts Hillhopper...Also i didn't know that Fiat & Ford where associated.

The link between Fiat and Ford happened when the second generation Ford KA was released, as this was basically a Fiat 500 with bodywork tweaks, built in the Fiat 500 factory in Poland by Fiat for Ford between 2008 and 2014 or thereabouts. This also meant there was a close link to the Fiat Panda, pre-2012 model as that was built in the same factory too. Ford engineers came up with improvements to Fiat part designs, notably in the rear suspension system, which were later incorporated into the 500. Although the later (post-2012) Panda is built in Italy, it still shares many parts with the 500. The thing you can see in my photo with a Ford label on it is (I think!) the support bracket for the pressure sensor for the diesel particulate trap. The KA was available with a diesel, using the Fiat MultiJet 1.3, so maybe Ford had a batch of brackets made which were stamped 'Ford' but later used by Fiat? Don't know... (By the way, there's another link too, in that Fiat and Ford are connected with Iveco, the commercial vehicle company, so maybe there are some parts shared via that route as well?)

Pete

 

[Graham GB]

The link between Fiat and Ford happened when the second generation Ford KA was released, as this was basically a Fiat 500 with bodywork tweaks, built in the Fiat 500 factory in Poland by Fiat for Ford between 2008 and 2014 or thereabouts. This also meant there was a close link to the Fiat Panda, pre-2012 model as that was built in the same factory too. Ford engineers came up with improvements to Fiat part designs, notably in the rear suspension system, which were later incorporated into the 500. Although the later (post-2012) Panda is built in Italy, it still shares many parts with the 500. The thing you can see in my photo with a Ford label on it is (I think!) the support bracket for the pressure sensor for the diesel particulate trap. The KA was available with a diesel, using the Fiat MultiJet 1.3, so maybe Ford had a batch of brackets made which were stamped 'Ford' but later used by Fiat? Don't know... (By the way, there's another link too, in that Fiat and Ford are connected with Iveco, the commercial vehicle company, so maybe there are some parts shared via that route as well?)

Pete

Thanks,yes of course, I do remember the link with the KA now .
Cheers, Graham, & thanks once more for your help.