General Rescued Panda!

[pooroldcodger]

Well the little Panda looked so sad and neglected by the side of the road.
Youngester were pointing and laughing at his square box styling and flat windscreen.
One of his doors looks like Jaws has tried to eat his way in.

So on a miserable night this week he was dragged gently on to a tow truck and brought to what I now realise is becoming a kind of sanctuary for cars that are no longer youthful, but are still proud.
I have taken his battery out and put it on a slow charge, as the first stage in bringing him back up to his best.
I hope to bring more news, and questions a plenty as I progress.
I feel I have started on a mission!

 

[LUSSOROSSO]

Well done!!

It deserves to be rescued

 

[purple haze]

We always like a write up with photos for rescued pandas..

Well done and good luck.

 

[pooroldcodger]

We always like a write up with photos for rescued pandas..

Well done and good luck.

Thanks for the nice words of encouragement. My wife thinks I am having a long-overdue mid-life crisis!

I ama technically minded, and have only done routine servicing type jobs, plus some suspension / ball joint type stuff before, but a lot of the time in the past I have been put off by the fact that if you need a car to get to work for example, you daren't start a job that you struggle to finish. I have been putting off doing teh timing belt and water pump on the Punto (8v) for example because I daren't b**ger it up, as my son is relying on it at the moment! So, apart from really appreciating the brilliant simplicity of the Panda, I am hoping to learn and build confidence at the same time.
But I will certainly be asking advice from you guys.

One question I have already - when I removed the battery today, I noticed that the sound deadening type material on the bulkhead, drivers side, inside the engine bay was quite wet. I know that is a prime area for rust, so I need to seal it somehow. What's the best way to do that?

 

[purple haze]

The water is likely to be coming from the two little drain holes under the window screen rubber. There is usually a tube fitted in the drain holes that direct the water down the front of the bulkhead. No need to under seal the battery tray area...just paint it that lovely rosso red if it needs it. Also check the bonnet seal is fitted right and not letting water in. It will need taking off and cleaning..then push the sound deadening stuff into it making a seal....there you go..first problem solved.....next.

Ooooo....just thought, it could be the seals on the outside air vents. They just crumble away with age. Just use draft excluder from the pound shop...

 

[Pandarus]

Nice little car, congrats!

 

[pooroldcodger]

The water is likely to be coming from the two little drain holes under the window screen rubber. There is usually a tube fitted in the drain holes that direct the water down the front of the bulkhead. No need to under seal the battery tray area...just paint it that lovely rosso red if it needs it. Also check the bonnet seal is fitted right and not letting water in. It will need taking off and cleaning..then push the sound deadening stuff into it making a seal....there you go..first problem solved.....next.

Ooooo....just thought, it could be the seals on the outside air vents. They just crumble away with age. Just use draft excluder from the pound shop...

Right OK, I will investigate that in daylight.
I know that the car has had some welding done for previous MOT's, so I am sure there will be more to come at some point, but having seen the pictures of what some of you guys have managed to achieve, well it gives me hope!

 

[the stig/130]

stockport? 25 mins to junction 1 for me.

 

[pooroldcodger]

That could be handy! I'll be in touch!

 

[pooroldcodger]

stockport? 25 mins to junction 1 for me.

Day 1. Ok in between rain showers I decided to see what I've got myself in to!
Added a bit of oil to bring the level up. Coolant level OK.
The battery had finished charging, so I plumbed it back in , and after 3 or 4 cranks she burst in to life, a bit hesitantly it has to be said, and a bit lumpy, but no strange smoke and sounds OK. A good start!
Now I decided to investigate closer under the bonnet. The flexi pipes leading from the bulkhead air vents were both blocked with mud. So I cleaned them out.
I took the airvents off to clean underneath. There was a small piece of blue foam under one, but I don't know where it should go. It was useless anyway, so i will buy something to seal them.
First question - do I seal them all the way round? Any suggestions?

The bottom of the windscreen pillar on the driver's side is solid, but the paint is bubbling. (see picture).This needs attention ugently. Any suggestions?

The passenger's side is fine.(see pics.

Then I decided to hold my breath and take out the boot floor covering.
Yes Mr Welder is going to be required! In the right hand back corner, and the right hand seam. (see pics).

All the electrics work fine which is good.

Then I decided to grease the seat runners, and try the recliner. Mistake! Now the driver's side seat is reclined like one of those young lads that lie on the floor as they're driving! So I need to figure out how to get that sorted.

So, day one, and probably no worse so far than I thought might be the case, although of course I would have preferred not to have any holes to fix, I suppose I have seen worse!

Let me know what you think.

 

[panda1408]

Looks like you will need to remove the windscreen to sort the rust on the pillar out, probably started from where the windscreen has been changed before and the paint was scratched in the process. I wouldn't be surprised if you find a hole underneath. There shouldn't be a seal behind the outer vents, only the inner bit that you remove by turning the vertical piece of plastic in the middle of the vent hole round and removing from underneath the scuttle. That has foam which goes hard and crumbles into dust.

I have just done the same repair in the inner rear arches on my Sisley, unfortunately I never took any photos of how I did it, pretty common area though. Took me a while to do as I replaced almost the entire edge of the boot floor and inner arch panel, but it is now solid as a rock and shouldn't need any attention for a long time, plus it will be hardly noticeable when it is painted.

 

[Dragon Man]

I dont think that is right too bad myself, on pandas.. sort out rust. lol once it gets in it can turn bad very quickly so i'd suggest getting the windscreen bit sorted out.. it looks to be all behind the air vent cover so i'd chip the old paint off, rust treat it and repaint it. it is a shame that it has gone behind the windscreen rubber. you may have to take the windscreen out like panda1408 said..

i had to take the windscreen out of my sisley to fix a rust issue. i found it quite easy to do.. others seem to find it more difficult. i even managed to reuse the old rubber seal too.

i had to fix a hole in the boot floor but it was not a big one. sills, and just behind the front wheels (in front/forward of the plastic wheel arch liner) had rusted through too.
maybe worth a check.

ive done a lot of work to my sisley and kept a video log of the progress i made..

you may find something useful in my youtube videos

heres one with a little about how i took the windscreen out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N028xnkvZKs&feature=youtu.be&t=4m36s

have fun welding! (thats the part i enjoy)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N028xnkvZKs&feature=youtu.be&t=4m36s

 

[VmanC]

Hi, and well done from me too!

The Panda is a perfect choice to learn car maintainance with, every job is a pleasure not a chore.

Can I ask a few questions to help us tailor our advice?

What is the age, mileage, model Panda you have?

What are your goals for it? Full restoration, rolling restoration, just make roadworthy and use, turn into a dragster? etc etc

All good advice so far. If you do decide to remove the windscreen yourself though be very careful, we're not all blessed with Dragon Man's skills. The slightest twist on it will break it so you may want to consider cutting the rubber and refitting with a new one, or calling in the professionals.

 

[L7 KVV]

If you look at this thread of work i did on mine. You will find images of similar repairs only much worse i had to do to the inner arches/boot floor

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/237156-fix-scrap.html

 

[pooroldcodger]

Thanks for all the helpful and encouraging advice.
The car is "M" reg 1994, on 72000 miles 999cc Fire L
In fact it was advertised in the ads section on the forum. I think it's still there in fact!
It is the twin sunroof model and originally had a "colours" sticker on the back quarter panel.
My intention was / is to get it roadworthy and smarten it up. I don't want to try to make it a concourse vehicle, or a dragster (nice idea!).

 

[pooroldcodger]

If you look at this thread of work i did on mine. You will find images of similar repairs only much worse i had to do to the inner arches/boot floor

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/237156-fix-scrap.html

Thanks I will do (a bit later today - wife saying we should go for a walk now whilst it isn't raining for a change!)
I haven't taken the seats out and lifted the passenger compartment carpet yet. I think I will have a good look from the underside first.
I must also fix the recliner!

 

[VmanC]

Ah, thought it llooked like a colour.

Carpet! Are you sure you have some?

 

[pooroldcodger]

Ah, thought it llooked like a colour.

Carpet! Are you sure you have some?

Well I don't think you can describe rubber flooring as carpet! You are correct of course.

I have had a bit more of a look round today. Picture of some rot on the bottom edge of what I suppose is the front subframe (see pic).

Also I took the bubbled paint off the front screen pillar / scuttle area. I haven't taken the screen out, but had a delve under the rubber with a small screw driver, and it seems pretty solid so far. (see pics).

 

[pooroldcodger]

I've just realised that the second picture needs to be rotated through 90degrees to be correct.

 

[Antony]

Not looking to bad at all wish mine was that good around the window / scuttle