General Tranny oil change - SELECTA

[Domen]

I bought Fiat Panda - Selecta, year 1992. I'm planing to change tranny oil. I have a few questions.

1. Which oil should I put in?
2. Is it difficult to change tranny filter (do I need any special tools)
3. Do I have to drop the pan to change the filter?

Thanks and sorry for poor english.

 

[petel]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Fiat insist that the ATF required is their own ( Tutela ) but this is Dextron 3.

You will have to remove the auto box sump to change/clean the filter. A new gasket should be to hand in case the original is damaged. The filter is a metal mesh strainer which should be changed or ultra sonic cleaned.

No special tools will be required.

Refilling has to be done slowly, via the dipstick hole. Fluid level should be checked with engine running, normal temperature and lever in "Park"

Nothing wrong with your English.

Please let us know how you get on.
Rgds.

 

[Domen]

Great.
Very quick reply. Thanks Petel!

If I understand correctly. Filter is from metal and can be cleand. I belive that the best thing to do is to buy a new one.

And about the oil. Can I use Dextron III syntetic. Or should I stick whith mineral.

And an interesting thinking of my Fiat dealer. They belive that the tranny oil should not be changed ever. How stupid! Even though they know the car and oil is 15 years old. :bang:

And of course. I shall post my progress.

Domen

p.s. And thanks for reminding me about gasket. I shall order it instantly.

 

[petel]

Hello again.
By all means fit a new filter but have the old one cleaned ( ultra sonic if possible ) and keep it for the next time you change the fluid.

Use the Tutela if it can be obtained easily ( in UK it is very expensive and not easy find ) otherwise a good quality off-the-shelf Dextron 3, synthetic or otherwise.

Your Fiat dealer is wrong, very wrong. ATF should be changed and as a dealer, they should be well aware of this.

Where are you by the way?
Rgds.

 

[Domen]

I'm from Slovenia (former Yugoslavia republic).

The car was imported from Austria in 1997. I think she is the first and the last selecta in my country. :slayer:

That's why the diler doesn't have a clue about panda EVCT tranny. Most of the guys in the work shop was in the elementary school when my Panda hit the streets (me too:chin: ).

 

[Alan.D]

And thanks for reminding me about gasket. I shall order it instantly.

Don't use instantly gasket best buy the propper one good luck with it.

Just as an add on dextron III is made under licence in the UK, so the Quality should be the same no matter what label you use, not sure about where & how it's made in Slovenia?

 

[petel]

Hello again.
Tutela CVT Universal 75W-80 and Selenia ATF appear to be the ones recommended by Fiat. Understand these are produced in Poland.

As for that gasket, I have just priced it from Fiat in UK, £12.40 inclusive of VAT. When I bought one two years ago it was £7.18 inclusive and I thought that was damned expensive! I am not even going to ask for the price of the filter unit.

Hells bells !!

 

[Alan.D]

Jeeze the 7 series BM auto sump gasket is cheeper from the BMW dealers and the filter is £19

 

[Domen]

I ordered the gasket, filter and oil. Prices are:
gasket: 10 EU (£6,7)
filter: 80 EU (£54,3)
tutela oil (2 liter): 16 EU (£10,8)

The filter is too damm expensive.
But still. What needs to be done needs to be done immediately. In my case first tranny oil change at 64.000 km (40.000 miles).

The manual recomends first change at 45.000km. Sooner the better.

One more question.
When tranny in D Selecta is not moving if I let go the brake padel. I have to press gas pedal to move it. Is this normal?

My Ford Explorer is moving ahead when in D and off the brake pedal.
And yes. Panda is my girlfriend car. She loves her.
And I'm the filthy strong mechanic who takes good care for both of them. He he .... :slayer:

 

[allen fletcher]

Re: D drive panda Auto

Hello Linda has a auto and car does not move when in D position or L unless gas is given this is normal

 

[Domen]

Thank Allen for reply.
I relized that behind the gas pedal is a switch. If pressed (thru gas pedal or hand) Drive or Reverse engages.

 

[Alan.D]

The difference between the Selecta and usual Automatics is that it's electrical and an electrical connection that drives the gearbox rather than the torque converter.

 

[petel]

Hello Alan.
Thanks for the price comparison between BMW and Fiat for the gasket and filter. Fiat certainly know how to add insult to injury.
Rgds.

 

[petel]

Hello Domen.
Thanks for the price comparisons. The gasket is double that price from Fiat in UK. The oil is £12 per litre in UK, if you can get them to order it for you.

Toward the end of last year, I rang my nearest " Fiat Main Dealer " to enquire about the oil. They claimed never to have heard of Selenia or Tutela, Fiats own recommended brands and with each car having Selenia stickers under the bonnet !!!

One wonders what they are putting into their customers cars?

As for the price of the filter in UK, I don't like to think.

Thanks and regards.