Technical What should be in the boot?

[benmac]

Bit of an odd question, I'll explain.

My 2014 TA 4x4 came with no jack etc but did have a spacesaver and a towing eye. The spacesaver I realised was the wrong size being a 14" while the 4x4s if fitted with a space saver should have a 15".

I've rectified that with a new jack, wheel brace and space saver. As I expected the jack suitable for the 4x4 won't fit in the well of the space saver so has to live in a bag in the boot. Fine

However, on pulling things apart to get it all fitted I noticed that under the carpet in my car there was a piece of plywood cut to fit neatly that gives the boot a solid floor. With the 15" wheel in place this doesn't fit as the wheel is a tiny, tiny bit proud of the floor. The underside of the boot carpet has some padding so accommodates a slight discrepancy but you can feel the wheel under there if you press down.

Is that right? I can't see anything on the parts diagram that suggests I am missing a cover or similar.

 

[lunchbeers]

If I recall the spacesaver is also a 14" wheel on the 4x4, just a deeper section tyre. I suspect that either someone had bought a wheel, or your toolkit went (mostly) AWOL.

The boot carpet is just that, a sturdy bit of carpet, likely someone has added the ply - unless this was used for cars with a fix&go option.

 

[IanWalrus]

Mine came with a fix&go (aka rubber band) repair kit; I replaced it with a 15" spacesaver and a bit of ply to lift the boot floor, as the 15" spare sits just high of the hole for the wheel. Making the boot floor level with the folded-down seats also means I get a bit of extra space to put the jack in, as well as some spares.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

If I recall the spacesaver is also a 14" wheel on the 4x4, just a deeper section tyre. I suspect that either someone had bought a wheel, or your toolkit went (mostly) AWOL.

The boot carpet is just that, a sturdy bit of carpet, likely someone has added the ply - unless this was used for cars with a fix&go option.

No, 4x4 spacesaver should be 15inch.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Mine came with a fix&go (aka rubber band) repair kit; I replaced it with a 15" spacesaver and a bit of ply to lift the boot floor, as the 15" spare sits just high of the hole for the wheel. Making the boot floor level with the folded-down seats also means I get a bit of extra space to put the jack in, as well as some spares.

Beware though hte 4x4 needs a bigger jack than the onne that fits in the wheel to ;ift the car. If you have a small jack get a decent block of hardwood to ensuer you can lift the car.

 

[WitleyPanda]

Beware though hte 4x4 needs a bigger jack than the onne that fits in the wheel to ;ift the car. If you have a small jack get a decent block of hardwood to ensuer you can lift the car.

Block of hardwood comes in useful on soft ground and when needing the height to change rear discs etc, even with the right jack. Or as a chock.

 

[lunchbeers]

No, 4x4 spacesaver should be 15inch.

You're quite right, just checked the pic I have of my spare

 

[The Panda Nut]

Just dont try and fit a proper 4x4 wheel in, it wont fit the hole. Im contemplating a 45 or 50 series tyre if that will fit the spare wheel well as I do not like space savers.

 

[JayAre]

Just dont try and fit a proper 4x4 wheel in, it wont fit the hole. Im contemplating a 45 or 50 series tyre if that will fit the spare wheel well as I do not like space savers.

did you find a solution?

 

[The Panda Nut]

did you find a solution?

Well in the 4x4 a space saver..., In the 1.2'w I have put full size wheel with 165/65x14 wheels which fit. The 165 sits a bit high for the boot mat but its OK. In the Panda 100 I had a 195/45x15. This raised the boot mat by abou 6cm so I had things under the sides to raise it up. Warnijng triangle and some polystyrene slabs. It was OK. I have 5mm plywood circles with a finger hole cut out and this supports the floor over the wheel. In one 1.2 I have a proper Panda wheel change kit which does the job. The other I have not sorted yet. I still have to find out if the 165/65x14 will work with teh 4x4. I suspect it will foul the brakes. When I am done I will post setaisl of what fits what and if it fits into the boot in a table.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

I think (but don’t know) the 4x4 system ‘understands’ when the ‘correct’ spare is being used and adjusts accordingly. Whether this applies when a different sized wheel is used isn’t clear. Given the rarity of needing to use a spare, I’m happy to stick with the Fiat-supplied space-saver, which sits pretty well in thr boot of my 4x4.

 

[JayAre]

Bit of an odd question, I'll explain.

My 2014 TA 4x4 came with no jack etc but did have a spacesaver and a towing eye. The spacesaver I realised was the wrong size being a 14" while the 4x4s if fitted with a space saver should have a 15".

I've rectified that with a new jack, wheel brace and space saver. As I expected the jack suitable for the 4x4 won't fit in the well of the space saver so has to live in a bag in the boot. Fine

However, on pulling things apart to get it all fitted I noticed that under the carpet in my car there was a piece of plywood cut to fit neatly that gives the boot a solid floor. With the 15" wheel in place this doesn't fit as the wheel is a tiny, tiny bit proud of the floor. The underside of the boot carpet has some padding so accommodates a slight discrepancy but you can feel the wheel under there if you press down.

Is that right? I can't see anything on the parts diagram that suggests I am missing a cover or similar.

just a suggestion re the OP and that lovely “piece of plywood cut to fit neatly that gives the boot a solid floor” carefully crafted by a previous owner…

It should be fairly simple to measure the height difference between the spare in the middle and the boot floor on either side and then find something of the right thickness to place on both sides such that the plywood will then sit level - possibly just placed, or even glued to the plywood? If you’re like me there’ll be something knocking around somewhere in the garage or in the loft just waiting for a new life If not I’m sure there’d be others on the forum who’d love to have it!

 

[The Panda Nut]

just a suggestion re the OP and that lovely “piece of plywood cut to fit neatly that gives the boot a solid floor” carefully crafted by a previous owner…

It should be fairly simple to measure the height difference between the spare in the middle and the boot floor on either side and then find something of the right thickness to place on both sides such that the plywood will then sit level - possibly just placed, or even glued to the plywood? If you’re like me there’ll be something knocking around somewhere in the garage or in the loft just waiting for a new life If not I’m sure there’d be others on the forum who’d love to have it!

Good suggestion.
I have a plywood wheel centre which I made. Ive never seen one provided by Fiat. I use a circle of polystyrene cut from the original boot tray to enable a wheel retaining bolt to do its job. You wouldnt want the wheel flying about in an incident! With 4x4 its marginally more important to have your spare size matched to the main wheels as there is no centre diff it could impact the transmission. As the official spare is not exactly the same rolling diameter as the cars main tyres, and, as the 15" shod Panda 1.2s have a 14" spare that is way different I have decided Im not bothered. I will make sure I use ethe space save for the minimum time, but then you would anyway. The 4x4 does have a brace of acceptable space saver sizes so I guess its not totally critical. Who ever thought space savers were a good idea, Ive always used the spare tyre to enable spreading tyre costs where one was the right size. These things prohibit this as well as being pretty useless other than for emergency use.