The Panda has developed its first fault, it is very minor but will get it checked out just in case. I had noticed a clicking sound in the past 200 miles or so but the last few days it has got worse and I have now realised it is everytime the clutch pedal is released it makes a springy sort of clonking sound from the pedal itself.
I have never been to a main dealer for a warranty problem but I assume there is no costs at all as it is all covered by the manufacturer?
I don't want to pay a £70 diagnostic fee for something which is probably nothing more than a spring which has worked loose. Done 100 miles in it in the past couple of days so it is probably suffering from shock.
It is booked in for next week.
Last edited by: RattleandSmoke on Thu 10 Feb 11 at 17:12
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There's the diagnostics fee, payable because no fault will be found. Although this is offset to some extent by the free basic safety check for every vehicle that comes in the workshop.
Although the low washer fluid that will be found is around £8 to top up. The 2 tyres which are low is another £5 to pump them up...
:-) Will be free Ian (sp?), if it's not i'm sure you'll set them straight. At least with a panda this type of problem should be quick and easy for the dealer to diagnose and set straight.
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Its on its last legs already, you have worn it out.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Thu 10 Feb 11 at 17:24
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Ooooo, they won't like your Brummie plates.
"Did you buy the car from us, sir?"
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I think that the plates might be an issue on their own if memory serves me right !
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Ian is the correct spelling :)
I was a Manc living in Birmingham at the time :).
I think they won't like the Arnald Clark stickers on the number plates either, this dealer is their biggest rival!
I have just released the pedal slowly and it feels like a spring, if there is such thing as a clutch position sensor I would suspect that. The pedal itself feels perfect and the car drives fine but I think noise from the pedal assembly can be a safety issue so it needs to be checked out.
I will make sure the washer is topped up (it always is anyway!).
I might just get the bus into the peak district while I wait for them, might as well make the most of the afternoon not being able to work.
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>> I have just released the pedal slowly and it feels like a spring,
Give the pivot a squirt of WD40, you may save yourself a lot of hassle.
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There's bound to be an inspection fee/excess. If you read your Ts & Cs for your warranty it will tell you how much it is; probably £200 or so for warranty work. Maybe more.
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Don't pay anything Rats !
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I think they're winding you up Ian:)
How about ringing the dealer and asking them?
Pat
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Posted this on the FIAT forum too (though that post is more technical as people on there know Pandas inside out) and they all said don't pay a penny :).
The warranty T&Cs were quite vague, a lot about trim not being covered after two years, the clutch plate itself not being covered etc.
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>> probably £200 or so for
>> warranty work. Maybe more.
>>
Leave the lad alone, He is liable to believe you and just scrap it.
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I didn't think there would be any fees, just seen a few things on Martin Lewis of people paying dealers diagnostic fees on cars which as far as I am concerned are still under warranty.
Thanks for helpful replies.
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I once spent a driving lesson listening to an irritating click every time the pupil used the clutch. I couldn't replicate it afterwards and it disappeared until his next lesson the following week. Turned out he was one of those people whose knee clicked when he straightened his leg.
So a visit to the doctor might be in order before you visit a dealer, Rattle.
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Certainly isn't my knee, I can actually hear a spring unless I have springs in my knee. I would know anyway if my knees clicked. I know the sound you mean though as I have had that in the past.
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Everest are still running a scrappage scheme. Might be time for a new car.
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I changed the clutch cable tensioner on the Escort a couple of years ago, and after I reassembled everything the clutch pedal made a faint "sproing" noise every time you released it.
I've just left it. :)
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Isn't it Fords on which you have to yank the clutch pedal upwards to release the cable?
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>> Isn't it Fords on which you have to yank the clutch pedal upwards to release the cable?
It's like that on most cable clutch cars, I would have guessed. Certainly was on Vauxhalls of yore.
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Something rings a bell about doing the same thing to make the self-adjuster work.
Cortinas used to have hydraulic clutches.
I've done breakdowns caused by the pipe melting where it passes the exhaust manifold.
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>>I've done breakdowns caused by the pipe melting where it passes the exhaust manifold.
>>
Memories!. Many years ago, in my 1600E, I was waiting at a set of traffic light for them to turn green but when I tried to move off all I got was a cloud of white smoke from the engine compartment followed by normal service resumed.
I parked around the corner and discovered the said pipe had touched the manifold, released some fluid onto the hot exhaust and to my amazement that red plastic pipe had resealed itself. Out of fear I replaced it and ensured it was then tied /lashed well away from the exhaust.
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...hat red plastic pipe had resealed itself...
That's right, they were red.
I think the engine moved on its mountings more than an engine would in a modern car, so what looked like adequate clearance at idle, was not adequate under acceleration.
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It will be free Rattle, they are playing with your insecurities.
Im having a lovely saga with my new car, but thankfully, its all under warranty so the hassle to me is very minimal and free. Theres nothing like plonking your keys on a desk and say 'fix it my dear fellow' and walking away with a loan car. Beats old cars I must admit.
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If this was an old car though I wouldn't bother to fix it unless it was something very simple.
I think given me previous history of always being in garages and being slightly paranoid I have done very well to keep it out of a dealer for 9 months.
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i would like to see the plug in tool that can ascertain a clicking noise on its screen
maybe next year eh?
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I wondered about that as well, but didn't like to say anything.
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Well they won't need to plug any machine in. I think they only do a scan if the ECU light has gome on.
There won't be any faults stored as it is has never come on. The dealer will have to go back to old fashioned spaneering (yes I know the word dosn't exist) and listen to the noise.
Last edited by: RattleandSmoke on Thu 10 Feb 11 at 21:39
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>> Well they won't need to plug any machine in. I think they only do a
>> scan if the ECU light has gome on.
>>
>> There won't be any faults stored as it is has never come on. The dealer
>> will have to go back to old fashioned spaneering (yes I know the word dosn't
>> exist) and listen to the noise.
>>
On many cars the light only comes on if the fault is 'current' ie happens all the time.
if it is a 'stored' fault the light often wont come on. a 'stored' fault is one that happens maybe only once, or maybe just a few times.
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Is it a clunk or a click and does it happen every trip? Could be the JS valve.
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I am affraid this car was made long after Jimmy Saville valves become old fashioned :).
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Is it that bad Rattle? I would be tempted not to go rushing off to Mr Fiat just yet. Have a good ferret about in the footwell in daylight and a good dollop of WD40 first of all. Then just follow the linkage/cable through and make sure it's not fouling on anything. It's a dead simple car, and as long as it's engaging gear and releasing/taking up ok, don't worry too much. If it persists then by all means take it in but check the simple things first.
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WD 40 or even a hundred won't be much use locating 3rd in the master gearbox cos I can't find the ruddy thing tonight. More expense looming.
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Just do what other van drivers do Martin. Drive everywhere flat out in top. Sorted...
Last edited by: Humph D'Bout on Thu 10 Feb 11 at 21:57
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It is that bad now, it is as loud as the indicator relay. Dosn't seem to have any effect on the drivibility it is still as smooth as ever but would rather the dealer dealt with it because if I start messing and I make it worse I void the warranty.
The clutch is hydraulic rather than cable operated.
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Have you actually looked under there Rats? Sounds like a bit of loose carpet or trim catching somewhere to me. Or your shoes, try driving it with different shoes on. Not joking there.
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I was wondering that as well - double check the mats rats.
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I would suggest that there is nothing wrong with it. I had one car that made a kind of clutch pedal twang noise for 4 years and 50k miles.
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I have had a look and can't see anything. I do have new shoes but this issue has existed for past few 100 miles, it is just got worse.
Will put my camera down there tomorrow as that often pics up things I won't be able to see with my own eyes. Checked mats and other simple things and it is all fine.
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>> The dealer will have to go back to old fashioned spaneering (yes I know the word dosn't
>> exist) and listen to the noise.
The word spaneering does not exist and neither would spannering. But dosn't is wrong too. Sorry.
In these circumstances you need to demonstrate the noise (it has to be re-produceable) and make sure they have a plan. I had problems with wind noise on a car that took months to resolve. The engineer with a plan/idea didn't get to try fixing it until later and he sorted it too.
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That is the problem with these dealers. I am used to garages where I speak to the person doing the work on my car. At this big dealers I will just speak to a pretty blonde girl who is probably no better at using a spanner than I am.
The noise is every obvious though, a loud click/clonk every time the clutch is released.
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>> At this big dealers I will just speak to a pretty blonde girl who is probably no better at using a spanner than I am.
Well, you'll just have to talk to her about something else. ;-)
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Well I will probably find the pretty girl is actually a bloke called Tony with Lada tatoos on his arm and 30 years in the car industry*. Hasn't been my experience of service desks so far though!.
*I have actually met such a person at a post punk night.
I just hate the lack of access to the shop floor is that makes sense.
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>> Well I will probably find the pretty girl is actually a bloke called Tony with
>> Lada tatoos on his arm and 30 years in the car industry*.
Remarkably open minded dealership there, CD's in full gear on the service desk (ooer)...what's his name en femme.:-)
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I just hate the lack of access to the shop floor is that makes sense.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>theres nothing worse than you have your arm up a gunge pin and some customer creeps up behind you and shouts
-----------------have you found it?-------------
trust me at times like this the man that can shouldnt have a nice easy throwing spanner in his free hand
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Never creep up on a machanic, I usualy just wait outside until he is emerges from under the chasis or bonnet. Just as his head is still under I shout Boo!!
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>> At this big dealers I will
>> just speak to a pretty blonde girl who is probably no better at using a
>> spanner than I am.
We always said that was a deliberate plan by our local Peugeot dealer who we were forced to use for servicing our company cars. Despite the fact your car would be returned to you with whatever fault you'd booked it in for still present (and sometimes several new ones), that it would never be ready when they said it would, and that their response to everything was "it needs a new ECU", the service receptionist was just so lovely you couldn't shout at her. In this case, a brunette rather than a blonde, achingly pretty, and with the extra attractive qualities of a wicked sense of humour, and a loathing of our company's then fleet manager that was easily a match for any inside the company itself :-).
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>>Done 100 miles in it in the past couple of days so it is probably suffering from shock.>>
Actually we all are, Rattle..:-)
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At the moment I am going for work short distances. So about 50 miles per day. Which is nearly as good as working from home.
As for the problem and booking the car in... insist on going out with someone to demonstrate the problem. It might need you to book it in a little later than first thing. Otherwise it might be pointless.
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Just a thought, but sit in it with the engine off and your foot on the clutch. Slide your foot sideways so the clutch springs up nicely a couple of times. It feels a bit unpleasant from a mechanical sympathy point of view but you won't damage anything, and it was a quick and easy way to get the self-adjuster for the clutch to actually self-adjust in my old car.
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It is hydraudlic so I assume there would be no self adjuster on it because there is no cable which needs the correct tension? Will have a play about though.
I am not sure if I mentioned it does the same noise if the engine is turned off or not, which is why I think it is the pedal itself.
Last edited by: RattleandSmoke on Fri 11 Feb 11 at 09:57
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Return spring on the pedal - maybe catching in its retainer? As others have said, WD40 might fix it.
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Hydraulic clutch on a Punto? What's next - replacing carburettors with electronic ignition? New fangled things, I don't know.
Last edited by: VxFan on Sun 13 Feb 11 at 03:02
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Is a Panda but does share a few Punto parts.
All RHD FIATs from around 2001 onwards use hydraulic clutches, the LHD use cables. No idea why.
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Probably too difficult to re-route the cable in a RHD car?
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That seems to the logical conclusion.
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Just got it back now, the dealer is exactly a 22 mile round trip - a long way the middle of the city!.
Anyway it turns out a bush in the clutch pedal was stone dry, it should have had a lot of grease on it. They removed the pedal, regreased it all including a spring and the noise is gone. The pedal is silent now. The machanic actually came out with me so he could check it over with my presence which I thought was a nice touch. He then explained what he would need to do.
I am impressed, the car was at the dealers for three hours, they have also valeted it and washed it. The car looks as good as brand new and it hasn't cost me a penny!.
Also did the usual safety check etc and as I already knew everything was fine.
Of course the dealer itself is the usual glass palace with free coffee etc and I will pay for that when I get it serviced in May.
Last edited by: RattleandSmoke on Tue 15 Feb 11 at 17:20
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Glad they sorted it for you - also nice to see Fiat getting their dealer network up together. Sounds a far cry from my dealings with Fiat back in 2001 when they couldn't give a toss that they had my Mrs car in for 6 weeks awaiting parts
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I told you a squirt of WD40 would fix it. :-)
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No, no, ON. Only the finest olio d'oglio will do. Extra virgin :)
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Old saying "It's being so cheerful that keeps me going".
John
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>> Old saying "It's being so cheerful that keeps me going".
>> John
Nah, it's always having something to moan about that keeps me going :)
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>>Anyway it turns out a bush in the clutch pedal was stone dry, it should have had a lot of
>>grease on it. They [did the work]. I am impressed.
You are impressed because a bush that should have been greased when it left the factory wasn't.
You are impressed because it took you an afternoon and 22 miles' driving to rectify this.
I bet you apologised to them for taking it back, too.
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It has solved another problem too, there was always a slight judder after changing gear but I had put that down to me. That has completely gone now and gearchanges feel so much smoother. I can only assume the pedal was releasing the clutch a bit too quickly before.
I am a bit annoyed that the grease wasn't there. I am impressed because the dealer did their job, it is quite rare these days for big firms like that to do actually fix anything.
The dealer had done nothing wrong as they didn't build the car so there was no point on being frustrated with them.
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it is quite rare these days for big firms like that to do actually fix anything.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>you must deal with some right bum companies then over in lankyshire
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>> The dealer had done nothing wrong as they didn't build the car so there was
>> no point on being frustrated with them.
Presumably owned by the manufacturer? And they'd supplied you with a non-working car.
Edited: no, you bought the car in Newcastle or somewhere, didn't you. How much did it save you, and was it worth it for not being able to shout at the supplying dealer?
Last edited by: Mapmaker on Wed 16 Feb 11 at 13:50
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Got it from Birmingham. I paid £6500, the local dealer wanted £8200 as there was no special offers on. I should have just ask them to match the Birmingham price.
To be fair there was a couple of issues with the delivery, like sticker marks showing on the paint work and I had to give the car a good polish to get the finish perfect, the supplying dealer should have sorted that out.
Stockport dealer is actually Lookers so nothing to with FIAT, they are just a dealer for FIAT.
I would still buy from a long distance dealer again but I will barter with local dealers first it is much easier to sort things out then.
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"It's is much easier to sort things out then. "
In my experience it doesn't make any difference. Have bought the last two cars (Ford and Skoda) via internet broker and have had no problem whatsoever with warranty claims at local dealers.
It's not the dealer who is paying the cost of the repair it's the manufacturer so why should they care where you bought the vehicle? The sales department might like to imply that they would give you some sort of preferential treatment but in practice its the service department who deal with the problem and they are just happy to have the work. Buy your car from whoever can supply it cheapest.
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>> The sales department might like
>> to imply that they would give you some sort of preferential treatment but in practice
>> its the service department who deal with the problem and they are just happy to
>> have the work. Buy your car from whoever can supply it cheapest.
>>
>>
>>
From what I have gleaned by talking to salesmen and mechanics over the years the sales dept and workshop generally detest each other.
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I would say that that situation is not confined to the world of selling cars. "You've promised we'll do WHAT?! By WHEN!? For HOW MUCH?!"
John
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I have a soft spot for salesmen. It's a bog on the N. Yorkshire Moors.
:-)
John
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...salesmen and mechanics over the years the sales dept and workshop generally detest each other...
We got on OK with the workshop when I worked in sales for a Renault dealer.
Customers who bought their cars from us would occasionally receive preferential treatment.
A routine example would be if a part was not in stock, we would let workshop cannibalise one of the new cars, if it was for one of our customers.
The customer who had bought his car elsewhere would just be told: "The part's on order, mate."
Our customer would not be told he was getting special treatment, he would leave the premises thinking Renault parts availability was much better than it was.
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>> Just got it back now, the dealer is exactly a 22 mile round trip -
>> a long way the middle of the city!.
I had all the warranty work on my Focus done at a different dealer from the one at which I bought the car. Doesn't Fiat operate similarly?
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I can use any FIAT dealer but for some reason there is no FIAT dealers in Manchester. The nearest one to me is just past Stockport town centre. The supplying dealer is 80 miles away.
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Are there any dealers (of cars) in Manc? I'd imagine they want to be well, well out of the centre if only because of the traffic and the congealed M60. About 80 miles is right:)
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>> Are there any dealers (of cars) in Manc
Define what you mean by in Manchester. If you mean within a mile or so of the city centre then yes there are quite a number. Even within a mile you'll find a few. And why not.
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Several close to the city centre mainly on the ring road (Trinity Way). I recently read that Greater Manchester has the country's slowest rush hour roads but I don't find it too bad, I know all the cut throughs though! I would rather drive two miles further and cut out all the traffic - it is quicker and cheaper.
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Ferrari, Masseratti, Jaguar (all Stratstones), BMW and Citroen are on Upper Brook Street. There's a BMW (motorbikes), Mini, and Audi dealers on Chester Road. Land Rover are on Birchall Way in Hulme. Mercedes are on Rowsley Street.
I think Bauer Millet (specialising in American cars) is still on/near Deansgate.
Last edited by: rtj70 on Wed 16 Feb 11 at 22:14
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That is an Abarth dealer now as well as the American stuff they sell.
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Good result, Rattle.
Might be a sign of FIAT trying to get their dealerships out of the doldrums.
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Near the theatre of dreams ( laughs uncontrollably ) on Chester Road.
Ford, Vauxhall and a yank...Chrysler ?
MB on Ashton New Road
Ted
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The irony about the Chester Road dealers is some of them are Arnold Clark but the Lookers HQ is right next door in the old LEX building.
The Chrylser dealer used to be a Bentley dealer I seem to be remember, before it move to Cheshire.
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I knew it couldn't last - First trip the dealers - Skoda
