General Rescued Panda!

[purple haze]

You can get a genuine exhaust tube from fiat or cheaper still get one of the shelf in halfords.. Slide it on as you say exhaust to air filter..inside the air filter is a flap which is temp controlled. It will help with cold starting and driving with the tube helps when cold outside.

To flush the cooling system take the hoses off all over and reverse flush with a water hose. Turn your heating lever to hot and flush the matrix. Take the thermostat out as well...this way you know you have done a good job.

To get the air leaks out there is a plastic screw where the hoses go into the heater matrix and you may have a tap on top of the rad to the left.

 

[panda panda]

:yeahthat:

On flushing the cooling system:

Have a couple of jublilee clips on hand, the top rad hose clip snapped when I tried to remove mine

And those radiator fins are damned sharp, scars nicely healing though

If you have a owners manual it does go through the steps as outlined above by the learned member

 

[pooroldcodger]

Thank you. I will look for the pipe first. Then work through, plugs, filters, oil etc.

 

[VmanC]

If you're going for a universal fit warm air pipe you'll need a 40mm diameter one, that's internal diameter.

 

[pooroldcodger]

If you're going for a universal fit warm air pipe you'll need a 40mm diameter one, that's internal diameter.

I can't find a picture of an engine with this pipe on. What is the pipe made of? Something like aluminium?

 

[VmanC]

Yes, very flimsy aluminium. You can cut it to length with a stanley knife or a pair of scissors, it's stretchy too.

If you ask in any motor factors for 40mm warm air hose they'll know what you mean.

 

[pooroldcodger]

Yes, very flimsy aluminium. You can cut it to length with a stanley knife or a pair of scissors, it's stretchy too.

If you ask in any motor factors for 40mm warm air hose they'll know what you mean.

Perfect thanks. I know exactly what you mean now.

 

[pooroldcodger]

Quick update. I haven't had time to do anything on Belladonna yet, other than clean no1 plug and see how filthy the air filter might be. The answer to that was not bad, but there was a bit of ould round the rubber seal of it. Make note to replace filter.
So I decided to fire her up and see how she ran, having not been started up for a week or so. Well bless her she fired up first time, in the snow, and now without the mis-firing and hesitating of last time, so I am starting to think that all she needs is a good spanking, so to speak.
So I left her ticking over (on my drive) - very smoothly I have to say whilst I went indoors and made a cup of tea. By now it decided to start snowing like hell!. So I came outside and sat inside, cranked up the heater and tried out all (all!) the electronic stuff. Everything works fine apart from main beam driver's side bulb!.The heater is brilliant. The clutch feels a bit heavy for a little car, but this time there was no steam from the front end of the car, so either it was just snow last time that was melting, or something has started working properly again.
So I sat there, mug of tea in hand, snow building up outside toasty warm in my little car. It's as if she was saying: " I know that you've got a nice old BM with leather seats and electric everything, and I'm not as pretty as my Punto big sister, but please get me fixed up and I'll show you what I can do".
Like the runt of the litter, but in a nice way.
I maybe going made, but I think I am going to enjoy Belladonna.

 

[pooroldcodger]

Typo alert: I meant to say oil not "ould"
And mad not made.
Hands thawing out now.

 

[JamieK]

So you went indoors and mad a cup of tea

Glad to hear its all looking good! You should bring it to panda camp so everyone can see what you've done with it

 

[pooroldcodger]

Thanks, but there's a bit to go before that stage. Like the unwelcome hole I found in the boot floor, and the boot floor / side wall seam that need re-connecting with each other!
It's been so cold recently, plus work to do on the house, and 2 daily cars to be mot'd I haven't so much as ventured underneath yet, other than a quick glance front and back, so I don't know if I have more surprises to come before I can put her in for an MOT test. I hope not, but who knows?

 

[pooroldcodger]

some more rot found:
I decided to investigate the driver's side sill today as the door rubber seal didn't look good. After a bit of delving and wire brushing this is how it looks.
Picture to follow.

 

[pooroldcodger]

some more rot found:
I decided to investigate the driver's side sill today as the door rubber seal didn't look good. After a bit of delving and wire brushing this is how it looks.
Picture to follow.

I decided I might as well look at both sides.
Well let's just say that I have found some serious rot!
I am beginning to think I may have bitten off more than I can chew as the saying goes.

I am trying to get the driver's seat out as it seems to me that the sound deadening material just inboard of the sill seems wet, which obviously can't be helping. I have remobed the 3 13mm bolts and slid the seat forward on the runner, but it won't come off the end. Is there an extra technique?

 

[pooroldcodger]

I decided I might as well look at both sides.
Well let's just say that I have found some serious rot!
I am beginning to think I may have bitten off more than I can chew as the saying goes.

I am trying to get the driver's seat out as it seems to me that the sound deadening material just inboard of the sill seems wet, which obviously can't be helping. I have remobed the 3 13mm bolts and slid the seat forward on the runner, but it won't come off the end. Is there an extra technique?

Well here are the pictures. It seems to me that the door sealing rubber on both sides has a join immediately where this rot seems to be at its worst on both sides. That can't be coincidence can it?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

****ing hell!

That is bad, although not in an awkward position, so should be fairly easy to repair I'd have thought.

 

[pooroldcodger]

It didn't look as bad as that when I started, but I soon found out with my screwdriver that the sill was rotten. I need to get the seats and flooring out to see if there is any more. I have a feeling there will be. Does the seat just slide off the runners forwards?

 

[panda1408]

They slide off backwards, there is a tab that sticks out into the runner to stop them accidently coming out, you will need to tap this back with a hammer and punch before you can get the seat out.

Very common spot for them to go, as you say water sits in the ends of the door seal. Easy to repair though.

 

[firstcar-Y10]

seat slides out the back of the runners, if they haven't been out before think there's a little metal tab on the rail you have to flatten down to get them out (been a long time! just look where it's catching) & make sure the seat back is fully upright to maximise wriggle room.

edit: ..like he said..

 

[pooroldcodger]

seat slides out the back of the runners, if they haven't been out before think there's a little metal tab on the rail you have to flatten down to get them out (been a long time! just look where it's catching) & make sure the seat back is fully upright to maximise wriggle room.

edit: ..like he said..

OK thanks guys. Will do that in the light tomorrow.

Now son's just turned up in the Punto. I have just checked and topped up the oil, now the bonnet won't latch shut!

 

[panda panda]

Exactly the same place as mine have rotten, just next to the seal joint. Previous owner repair is holding