Lot 77 - 06 Fiat Panda 1.1 (another pile of crap? stop it!)

[Toaster Pilot]

Bought mine on eBay brand new and boxed for £100, bargain of the century

[Toaster Pilot]

Throttle body hasn't cured the idling problem, looks like it was just coincidence that it started up better after I cleaned it

Can't see any breaks in any of the vacuum hoses

The throttle body came with a complete inlet manifold with the associated sensors so I guess I can work through those but I'm running out of ideas!

[Toaster Pilot]

Compression test was fairly strong and consistent

[Toaster Pilot]

helix402 said:

Do you need to reset the throttle body adaptions?

Tried resetting all of the self learn functions but that wasn't particularly successful and now I've got the EML flashing for the phonic wheel learning process.

Needs to be up to temperature for that and that's a bit dangerous with the rather porous radiator

Revs a bit less at idle but is still erratic

Edited by Toaster Pilot on Sunday 14th February 19:09

[Toaster Pilot]

Seats have been drying out with the help of a dehumidifier and aren't perfect but they're certainly usable now

Need to tackle the carpet and the passenger seat and then bolt the seats back in for a final drying session

[Toaster Pilot]

_Nathan_ said:

Found two threads with similar problem : ECU required replacement

http://www.fiatforum.com/panda/237484-tech-help-ne...

http://www.fiatforum.com/panda/249361-panda-thrott...

Thanks for that, I've been googling like a madman but hadn't seen those.

Really hope it's not that, even though they're not the kind of money those people paid any more they're still far too expensive (£125)

[Toaster Pilot]

eltax91 said:

Refurb an option?

Not sure I'd be able to find anywhere to refurbish/repair the existing ECU for less than £125 which is the price for a "ready to go" one

[Toaster Pilot]

_Nathan_ said:

Bear in mind a new one will need coding (and possibly key set?)



http://www.bba-reman.com/uk/index.aspx

The £125 ones on eBay claim to be "self coding" and I've seen reports on forums that they work as described

[Toaster Pilot]

_Nathan_ said:

Oh, I never knew any ECU's did that

Me neither, sounds a bit too good to be true but like I say I can find reports of them working fine

The diagnostics I have might well be able to do coding anyway

[Toaster Pilot]

Starting to think it needs an engine rather than just an ECU.

Might be time to pull the plug while I'm only in it for £20 in parts on top of the purchase price unless an engine comes up woefully cheap

[Toaster Pilot]

Justin S said:

ebay 281912899548

No idea if the right one

Looks very similar but it says it's the 1.2 rather than 1.1 that is in this. Also a bit more than ridiculously cheap but it's a good price given its properly complete

[Toaster Pilot]

Justin S said:

Proper reader car, now with added cc and powaaar

Wouldn't be opposed to it providing it'd still work with the ECU I have

[Toaster Pilot]

Ran another compression test after the engine had been running for a bit with the water topped up and the results are much different. 90psi on 1 and 2, 130 on 3 and 4.

engine required

[Toaster Pilot]

Justin S said:

Could still be a head off, lap valves, new head gasket and off you go.

I don't think it's worth the money or time doing that to find that the engine is actually terminal - if it wasn't so high mileage or I knew more about its past I would agree

(I know it's not worth the money or time putting a lump in it either! )

[Toaster Pilot]

eltax91 said:

Toastie. Please drop something insane in it, keep this car alive!.

Don't suppose you have any other fiat/ alpha engines hanging about the workshop?

Afraid not

[Toaster Pilot]

I may have found a 1.1 bare engine.....

Donations welcome

[Toaster Pilot]

Tinkshusband said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ABARTH-500-ESSEESSE-1-4-...

make it so

Saw an engine from a 100HP earlier too but that was about £900!

[Toaster Pilot]

If those Abarth engines fall in price or I come into some more money I can piss away on stupid car stuff I'll seriously consider it!

For now, it's possibly getting another 1.1

[Toaster Pilot]

I don't think any online video sharing platforms permit the level of swearing that will be involved

[Toaster Pilot]

eltax91 said:

Yeh but it's Toaster Pilot, he couldn't make cash out of a free Audi, he's a no hoper.

Really not breaking it regardless of that being the least stupid option!