General Query

[DizzyHancock]

Hi all !
Just purchased a 2023 Fiat Panda mild hybrid on 11000 mls , and seriously questioning my choice ! Im at a loss with gear changing and constant reminders to select gears ! And if that wasn't enough a very large N appears on dash to select neutral ! WHILST driving ! Surely that cant be correct ? Fed up ! Help !
Dizzy Hancock

 

[jackwhoo]

That's not correct.
If from dealer consider rejecting it as faulty for refund.

 

[rmjbn1]

Hi and welcome
Doesn't sound that strange to me...

Is it showing N only at low speed?
If so, this is just normal 'extended stop/start'
So it can cut the engine with you coasting in traffic

If it's showing N at other times then I might be concerned

I can't remember the speed it's supposed to happen, I don't have one only hired one

Have you tried reading the owners' manual? It should state how it's supposed to work
Unless another 'mild hybrid' owner can clarify

 

[rmjbn1]

constant reminders to select gears

Recommended gear indicators are fairly standard on lots of modern cars now.

I agree with you, I think they're complete nonsense

But not necessarily faulty

I think if I had a gear indicator I'd cover it up with a strategically positioned sticker

 

[DizzyHancock]

Hi and welcome
Doesn't sound that strange to me...

Is it showing N only at low speed?
If so, this is just normal 'extended stop/start'
So it can cut the engine with you coasting in traffic

If it's showing N at other times then I might be concerned

I can't remember the speed it's supposed to happen, I don't have one only hired one

Have you tried reading the owners' manual? It should state how it's supposed to work
Unless another 'mild hybrid' owner can clarify

Hi and welcome
Doesn't sound that strange to me...

Is it showing N only at low speed?
If so, this is just normal 'extended stop/start'
So it can cut the engine with you coasting in traffic

If it's showing N at other times then I might be concerned

I can't remember the speed it's supposed to happen, I don't have one only hired one

Have you tried reading the owners' manual? It should state how it's supposed to work
Unless another 'mild hybrid' owner can clarify

Hi
Thank you for that explanation ! Yes it happens @ low speeds so that has definitely put my mind at rest ! Its an anxious time when you pick up a new car and worrying if youve made the right decision , after px of my old faithful car i was starting to want it back ! ,but hey the Panda is now growing on me and now looking forward to many more miles with her ! Thank you so much and the kindest regards to you
Christine

 

[rmjbn1]

I imagine we were all taught not to coast out of gear
So having your car telling you to do it does seem strange
I tried it, found it a bit disconcerting to begin with, rolling towards a queue of cars with the engine off
But got used to it after a few days
Don't feel under any pressure to shift into neutral if you're not comfortable, nothing bad will happen

The recommended gear changes are supposed to encourage better fuel economy through engaging a higher gear earlier.
Maybe it'll work in theory in a flat area
But when it tells you to try and climb a steep hill in fourth gear it's best to ignore it

 

[jackwhoo]

@portland_bill

Hi,
Is coasting neutral correct advice for hybrid cars?

 

[rmjbn1]

I wonder that too. I agree it's odd and goes against everything I was taught.

Here's the page from our Spanish 500 mild hybrid hire car

Basically saying: when speed drops below 30kph the Gear Shift Indicator (GSI) will suggest selecting neutral. If conditions permit, the engine will turn off, facilitating a reduction in consumption
Engaging the clutch will restart the engine and GSI will suggest the gear appropriate to vehicle speed

 

[jackwhoo]

It's a Crazy world

 

[DizzyHancock]

Hi all
Can anyone tell me how to brighten up my 2023 mild hybrid panda dashboard screen ? Struggling to see speedo etc !

 

[portland_bill]

@portland_bill

Hi,
Is coasting neutral correct advice for hybrid cars?

Once again, it appears that car manufacturers are coming up with advice that flies in the face of established practice. Coasting is still an offence. The clutch should only be depressed just before a stop, and similarly, coasting should only be done at very low speeds, just before a stop.
I can see why a manufacturer would advise to do so, as it saves a tiny amount of fuel. That technique was probably used in testing to gain a better official figure. It seems the government tests do not have to adhere to normal traffic laws.
Most stop/start systems will restart the engine if the car is allowed to roll, usually almost immediately the car moves. To advise selecting neutral at 30kph suggests the system has been set up for this.
It is a suggestion. It is the driver's choice whether to follow it, and regard must be made to conditions. If practised, you can look forward to saving a teaspoonful of fuel every year.

 

[crispyy]

The Panda and 500 hybrid have regen braking and this will work till about 1600ish RPM but not below that. I usually shift down to third gear when I expect to have to stop (e.g. red light), wait for revs to go down to around that much, which usually means around 30ish kmh, and then the car recommends shifting to neutral (so that it can stop the engine). The energy saved while regen braking and the start/stop helps use less fuel.

The car is in general tho just suggesting the gear changes. You can pretty much ignore that if you want.

 

[rmjbn1]

Hi all
Can anyone tell me how to brighten up my 2023 mild hybrid panda dashboard screen ? Struggling to see speedo etc !

It can be found on pages 8-10 of the owners manual - I don't know if the 1.0 mild hybrid handbook is different

If you don't have an owners manual, it's available to download here:

Owner Handbook

I've left the file named as it was downloaded - hope that's OK.

www.fiatforum.com

Again, this is for the older petrol & diesel versions, I don't know if there's a supplement or different handbook for the mild hybrid

 

[puntodad19]

Engine off, no brake boost ??

 

[crispyy]

Engine off, no brake boost ??

Correct. The engine needs to be on and the gear engaged. Otherwise the hybrid battery will not be charged while engine braking.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Hi and welcome
Doesn't sound that strange to me...

Is it showing N only at low speed?
If so, this is just normal 'extended stop/start'
So it can cut the engine with you coasting in traffic

If it's showing N at other times then I might be concerned

I can't remember the speed it's supposed to happen, I don't have one only hired one

Have you tried reading the owners' manual? It should state how it's supposed to work
Unless another 'mild hybrid' owner can clarify

Yes oddly I understand they can deliberately coast usually as you slow to a stop so this may be a normal part of teh funtion. Ive also only the briefest experience of the system.

 

[rmjbn1]

That technique was probably used in testing to gain a better official figure. It seems the government tests do not have to adhere to normal traffic laws.

It's almost as if by repeating 'if conditions permit' they're pre-emptively absolving themselves of any responsibility