General Panda Idle Speed?

[Steven]

My Panda suddenly started to idle very fast today. On my way home from work whilst sitting in a traffic jam the revs just took off. There's no rev counter so obviously I don't know what it's idling at exactly, but it is very fast. I left it to cool and took it out again and it was still idling fast. Any ideas?

I seem to be posting here a lot looking for help recently...

 

[The Negotiator]

Steve, no idea if this helps at all but my uno did it for a day once, no idea why (it was hot weather in the summer on the way to work) made it annoying to drive as I had to change my actions slightly. It helped to lift up the pedal on mine with my toes, I assumed it was the cable that needed oiling/stepper motor on the throttle body.

I was going to sort it the following evening at my grandpa's (family was on holiday) but it miracously fixed itself overnight and never happened again.

 

[Steven]

Fiats have a habit of doing that Paul. Cheers for the post, I think it may be something more than that though. I estimate that it's revving at about 1000 rpm or a bit above that.

 

[The Negotiator]

I estimated mine, if say idle is normally 750/800 (I don't actually know) about 1300, really noticable.

Are you able to pull back the accelerator a little? If so it could be the stepper motor setting a higher idle due to the cold weather maybe?

I will put a 1p bet on that by friday it will be fine for no reason. If not I guess you can use the adjuster (IIRC) on the accelerator cable attachment to throttle body or check the working of the stepper motor.

 

[kevin_ross100]

my panda has an extra return spring added on to it. I tryed to remove it put every now and again the tickover would go up becuase it would not close fully. it seems to do the job and gives the pedal a nice crisp action. also helps to lube the cable. I have one of those oiler things i use on my motorbike, you clamp the top of the cable and spray your lube into it. works for me

 

[John H]

I think the Panda in question has engine management, and the tickover speed problem may not be the throttle return spring (on account of the stepper motor mentioned previously).

A starting point, assuming a quick visual check of the throttle cable action doesn't show any problem, might be to disconnect and reconnect the electrical plugs on the throttle body:
there is a springy wire holding each one in position, you need to squeeze it in while pulling the connector off.

We had a Tipo many years ago which did the 2000 rpm tickover once - connectors remade, OK again.

Italian electrics....

 

[Bigjawa]

My Uno does that from time to time, but if the engine gets hot enough to trigger the fan, it doesn't do it for the rest of the day, even if the car is left to cool for several hours.

 

[Steven]

Thanks for the replies.

Paul, I don't think it's the cable, the operation of the cable seems fine. I'll try the electrical connections when I get home.