The ongoing journey of Spartacus’ 1988 Fiat Panda

[wesacosa]

13 minutes ago, brownnova said:

Done 👍 

awesome, and much better title than my suggestion. Thank you

[CaptainBoom]

I’m glad to see you’ve kicked it’s running issues into touch.
If you need a wingman for the trip on the M25, give me a shout, more than happy to help.

[wesacosa]

7 minutes ago, CaptainBoom said:

I’m glad to see you’ve kicked it’s running issues into touch.
If you need a wingman for the trip on the M25, give me a shout, more than happy to help.

thanks mate, very kind offer 

[wesacosa]

Started up the Panda again since I last played with it and it seems to have gone back to running like shit again 

Not firing up as well as it should and the coughing/spluttering and cutting out on rapid stabbing of the throttle is back, its terrible when cold but seems to get a bit better when warmed up but its just not running right. Will whip the plugs out and see if they tell me anything and try and check down the carb again to check the accelerator pump but I think its starting to get beyond my mechanical "talent" now . I'm way way beyond last orders from the Mrs now to get it MOTd and off the drive but just not sure I can trust driving it at the moment. 

[High Jetter]

You've got drinking up time to get it sorted, maybe shifted too.

[wesacosa]

9 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

You've got drinking up time to get it sorted, maybe shifted too.

to be fair I think the bar staff have gone home and the cleaners are mopping around my feet

[Zelandeth]

It's one I'd love to take on.  Especially as this is the sort of challenge I quite enjoy unravelling.

It's one of those chicken and egg things, Fiats don't like sitting about in my experience, and I'd not be at all surprised if with some fresh fuel and a damn good old fashioned Italian Tune up if it didn't run a hundred times better.  However where you are that's bloody difficult to do, never mind sans MOT.

I've a huge soft spot for the Panda, having spent probably more miles behind the wheel of this one than my father did, despite it being his car.

Admittedly that's probably the one to have for a driver being the 999cc engine with the single point injection system.  It was waaaaaay more nippy than any of us expected, especially once my father had it demonstrated how to actually get usable power out of the old FIRE engine!  Read: If the valves aren't dancing on the bonnet you're not using enough revs.

Sadly there's absolutely zero room at the inn (and then some, I still have two cars parked on what should be lawn), and really can't justify spending money when we've got a substantial bill about to land for landscaping work now the guys appear to have rematerialised...

Does that stop me being tempted?  No.  Pandas are ace, and I'd bloody love one again, especially if I had somewhere under cover to store it.

L25 PAS was a great little car - even if having to retap the hole in the side of the head for the thermostat housing in sideways sleet when the stat stuck closed and the thread came out with the bolt did result in a lot of swearing at it.

[wesacosa]

I think I probably have to just try and book it in for the mot and see if it runs ok. Just dont fancy another breakdown 

[wesacosa]

Had a quick look today, plugs were pretty sooty as you'd imagine given a lot of idle running but no driving.  Gave them a clean and ran up again. Its definitely not happy cold, it starts ok and idles well on and off choke but if you blip the throttle hard it falters and occasionally does a small backfire through the carb and then cuts out. Seems better as it warms up.  I am thinking now it's most likely due to the fact I've done all the tuning without being able to drive it. I set the dwell and the ignition timing to factory settings and then had an approximate go by ear with the mixture but maybe it needed a bit of refining as I drive it.  For instance I know people often dial in a bit more advance so long as it doesn't pink but for now I'm set around the factory 2 degrees.   I might have to try giving it a little spin on private land* one evening this weekend 

[Matty]

Sounds lean to me. Decent idle but not happy under load. Only other thing I can think that would replicate them conditions is ignition and I'd expect that to happen with time/heat or to present from start and not run right at all.

[IronStar]

@wesacosa What’s the carb you have on it? I can probably source another one here and get it professionally rebuilt and shipped to you for under £100.

You can have an IPM 32 MGV (a Weber 32 clone) that was on Florida for free, I’d just recommend you get it reconditioned here first, which should be sub-50€ for a full rebuild. 

[Matty]

6 minutes ago, IronStar said:

@wesacosa What’s the carb you have on it? I can probably source another one here and get it professionally rebuilt and shipped to you for under £100.

You can have a IPM 32 MGV (a Weber 32 clone) that was on Florida for free, I’d just recommend you get it reconditioned here first, which should be sub-50€ for a full rebuild. 

That's an offer and a half that

[wesacosa]

48 minutes ago, Matty said:

Sounds lean to me. Decent idle but not happy under load. Only other thing I can think that would replicate them conditions is ignition and I'd expect that to happen with time/heat or to present from start and not run right at all.

i have looked for air leakage and not seen anything which is the only thing I can think of for running lean so possibly more likely ignition, or potentially the accelerator pump in the carb which I think maybe the issue last time although it looks like a decent flow by looking 

[wesacosa]

39 minutes ago, IronStar said:

@wesacosa What’s the carb you have on it? I can probably source another one here and get it professionally rebuilt and shipped to you for under £100.

You can have a IPM 32 MGV (a Weber 32 clone) that was on Florida for free, I’d just recommend you get it reconditioned here first, which should be sub-50€ for a full rebuild. 

thanks that is indeed a very kind offer. thank you

.that said it all worked ok before I started fucking around with it and the carb looked in decent shape when it was apart for the refresh so still hoping it's just the carb/ignition set up

[IronStar]

10 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

thanks that is indeed a very kind offer. thank you

.that said it all worked ok before I started fucking around with it and the carb looked in decent shape when it was apart for the refresh so still hoping it's just the carb/ignition set up

No problem man!

If you decide to go in the direction of new carb just drop me a note.

Can you get something like colortune to try setting that setup properly?  

[wesacosa]

1 minute ago, IronStar said:

No problem man!

If you decide to go in the direction of new carb just drop me a note.

Can you get something like colortune to try setting that setup properly?  

I did borrow a colour tune from @rob88h but its an older one which is too wide to fit into the plug recess and they don't make them any more so the second hand slimmer ones are a fortune on eBay.  He did lend me a gas analyser instead but ideally the exhaust needs to be fully hot to use it properly and as per the previous post it's not road legal at the moment 

[IronStar]

2 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

I did borrow a colour tune from @rob88h but its an older one which is too wide to fit into the plug recess and they don't make them any more so the second hand slimmer ones are a fortune on eBay.  He did lend me a gas analyser instead but ideally the exhaust needs to be fully hot to use it properly and as per the previous post it's not road legal at the moment 

Surely there’s a stretch of private road to test it on? Just drive down that stretch in a road-legal car first to ensure privateness 😄

[wesacosa]

2 minutes ago, IronStar said:

Surely there’s a stretch of private road to test it on? Just drive down that stretch in a road-legal car first to ensure privateness 😄

you can't go to far in London without getting spied on but might be able to find a small section of private land*

[Mr Pastry]

Would it not be possible to drive this. slowly if necessary, to a pre-arranged MOT, and get the MOT garage to give it a tune-up?   There must be an old school place somewhere who would be able to do that, it's not so complicated, and then it's off your driveway for week or so while you get on with other things? Money well spent, imo.

 

[wesacosa]

10 minutes ago, Mr Pastry said:

Would it not be possible to drive this. slowly if necessary, to a pre-arranged MOT, and get the MOT garage to give it a tune-up?   There must be an old school place somewhere who would be able to do that, it's not so complicated, and then it's off your driveway for week or so while you get on with other things? Money well spent, imo.

 

I have a trusted garage/MOt place it's just I've lost my nerve with it a bit since I havent driven it for 14 months and I have done a fair bit of work and not had chance to test it and the roads around here are pretty unforgiving. I just need to take a brave pill and take it

[IronStar]

2 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

I have a trusted garage/MOt place it's just I've lost my nerve with it a bit since I have done a fair bit of work and not had chance to test it and the roads around here are pretty unforgiving. I just need to take a brave pill and take it

I dragged much more broken cars than Panda home or to a shop. Some of them multiple times. It’ll be fine. 😄

[wesacosa]

I'd booked the MOT for 8.00 this morning at my usual place. I'd took the day off yesterday to do some final fettling which upon reflection wasn't a great idea.  I'd decided I thought the water pump was maybe starting to seize up as it sounded a bit noisy so I thought I'd change it.  Luckily @rob88htold me it was a silly idea on Thursday so I thought better of it.

I did however look to check the transmission oil level to make sure it was ok after changing the CV boots, which on these cars seal the gearbox oil in) and as I opened the filller plug I was greeted with this

Hmm doesn't look good 

I dropped the whole lot out and it was a mix of normal looking oil for the most part with some more spurts of this.  I couldn't decide if it was emulsified or just aerated but I binned it off anyway.  Spent 3 hours yesterday driving around looking for some suitable gearbox oil but seems classic box friendly stuff isn't something anyone carries in stock anymore . General consensus on the forums is that EP GL4 will probably blow your gearbox in to a million peices and GL5 definitely will.  Some even swear by just sticking 20/50 engine oil in but that seemed a step to far for me. I'd discussed this previously with @Grumblespeed and he suggested engine oil wasn't his favoured option so for now I've just stuck GL4 in but might just use as a flush and put some GL3 or classic friendly GL4 non EP in at some point 

Next worry was the weather. My MOT garage is on the north side of the Thames and I'm on the south. Its only 7 miles if Woolwich ferry is working but a bit more through Blackwall and a few more again via Dartford . I'd heard a storm was coming but hadn't realised how bad until last night. Woolwich ferry and Dartford bridge closed. Shit 

Had the worst night sleep last night and was a nervous wreck this morning.A mix of my chronic loss of confidence in my car  work and worry I'd be stuck unable to get home. I was close to cancelling but decided to take car for a spin around the block and see how I felt. It felt ok so fuck it, I just carried on driving to the MOT garage . The wind and rain had eased a bit which helped, although it was much worse once north of the river. Car ran pretty well although last 2 miles it felt a bit hesitant (although by now the wind was howling so could just have been a strong head wind) and there was a nasty smell which I think might have been a rear brake sticking on which was fixed* with a couple of blows from a hammer 

Upshot is the car passed.  I think the rear sills are going to need attention before the next one (even if its just wire brush and Vactan rather than sparkly stick) but passed muster this time

My only sensible route home through Blackwall tunnel was thankfully clear but the wind and rain were getting worse so no time for a celebratory picture I just pointed it south and stuck my foot down

The Italian tune up seemed to have sorted some of the running issues but I think the timing and mixture might need a final tweak to get optimum performance 

But its legal again and I'm thrilled. Its also off Mrs Ws place on the drive where it went for a couple of weeks top,  in June 😬, so she's now talking to me again 🤣

Its celebrating by joining the working* fleet and annoying my neighbours 

 

 

Hopefully this has helped get a bit of my confidence back. I drove a £150 Favorit to Monaco and back in 2019 and now im a nervous wreck going for an MOT 🤣. But thats for another day........

 

 

[Cookiesouwest]

13 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

I'd booked the MOT for 8.00 this morning at my usual place. I'd took the day off yesterday to do some final fettling which upon reflection wasn't a great idea.  I'd decided I thought the water pump was maybe starting to seize up as it sounded a bit noisy so I thought I'd change it.  Luckily @rob88htold me it was a silly idea on Thursday so I thought better of it.

I did however look to check the transmission oil level to make sure it was ok after changing the CV boots, which on these cars seal the gearbox oil in) and as I opened the filller plug I was greeted with this

Hmm doesn't look good 

I dropped the whole lot out and it was a mix of normal looking oil for the most part with some more spurts of this.  I couldn't decide if it was emulsified or just aerated but I binned it off anyway.  Spent 3 hours yesterday driving around looking for some suitable gearbox oil but seems classic box friendly stuff isn't something anyone carries in stock anymore . General consensus on the forums is that EP GL4 will probably blow your gearbox in to a million peices and GL5 definitely will.  Some even swear by just sticking 20/50 engine oil in but that seemed a step to far for me. I'd discussed this previously with @Grumblespeed and he suggested engine oil wasn't his favoured option so for now I've just stuck GL4 in but might just use as a flush and put some GL3 or classic friendly GL4 non EP in at some point 

Next worry was the weather. My MOT garage is on the north side of the Thames and I'm on the south. Its only 7 miles if Woolwich ferry is working but a bit more through Blackwall and a few more again via Dartford . I'd heard a storm was coming but hadn't realised how bad until last night. Woolwich ferry and Dartford bridge closed. Shit 

Had the worst night sleep last night and was a nervous wreck this morning.A mix of my chronic loss of confidence in my car  work and worry I'd be stuck unable to get home. I was close to cancelling but decided to take car for a spin around the block and see how I felt. It felt ok so fuck it, I just carried on driving to the MOT garage . The wind and rain had eased a bit which helped, although it was much worse once north of the river. Car ran pretty well although last 2 miles it felt a bit hesitant (although by now the wind was howling so could just have been a strong head wind) and there was a nasty smell which I think might have been a rear brake sticking on which was fixed* with a couple of blows from a hammer 

Upshot is the car passed.  I think the rear sills are going to need attention before the next one (even if its just wire brush and Vactan rather than sparkly stick) but passed muster this time

My only sensible route home through Blackwall tunnel was thankfully clear but the wind and rain were getting worse so no time for a celebratory picture I just pointed it south and stuck my foot down

The Italian tune up seemed to have sorted some of the running issues but I think the timing and mixture might need a final tweak to get optimum performance 

But its legal again and I'm thrilled. Its also off Mrs Ws place on the drive where it went for a couple of weeks top,  in June 😬, so she's now talking to me again 🤣

Its celebrating by joining the working* fleet and annoying my neighbours 

 

 

Hopefully this has helped get a bit of my confidence back. I drove a £150 Favorit to Monaco and back in 2019 and now im a nervous wreck going for an MOT 🤣. But thats for another day........

 

 

Well done. Great work.

So glad it passed. Hope that gives some confidence, that you know what you are doing.

The drive, while causing anxiety, hopefully helps too.

[wesacosa]

3 minutes ago, Cookiesouwest said:

Well done. Great work.

So glad it passed. Hope that gives some confidence, that you know what you are doing.

The drive, while causing anxiety, hopefully helps too.

thanks mate. Once I'm on the road its ok, its the thought of it in the lead up that stresses me.. It was the same with the XM in Feb too.  I think the problem is with the ulez I can't just drive them around when I like so tend to sit a while and then my first journey is a crucial one to the MOT station. My XM was my daily until last August and I never felt any nerves going anywhere in it but once I'm not driving it regularly post ulez the nerves start 

Id also done a load of work on the Panda the last few months and all of it untested other than a quick 100 meter run on private land*

[grogee]

13 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

drove a £150 Favorit to Monaco and back in 2019 and now im a nervous wreck going for an MOT

Mate, I feel your pain. It sounds like you might be suffering with anxiety, and I recognise your symptoms. Have you discussed the worrying/lack of confidence/anxiety with a doctor? 

I was the same, now I take fluoxetine (and have done for decades) and it's made me much more able to cope with Everyday Life. 

[IronStar]

Congratulations man! What a result! I was 100% confirmed it would pass, but don’t want to jinx it. 

[wesacosa]

Just now, grogee said:

Mate, I feel your pain. It sounds like you might be suffering with anxiety, and I recognise your symptoms. Have you discussed the worrying/lack of confidence/anxiety with a doctor? 

I was the same, now I take fluoxetine (and have done for decades) and it's made me much more able to cope with Everyday Life. 

thanks mate. I suspect there might be something in that. If it continues I will look into it..Thanks for the advice and glad its worked for you. 

[wesacosa]

Just now, IronStar said:

Congratulations man! What a result! I was 100% confirmed it would pass, but don’t want to jinx it. 

thanks mate. I had been reasonably confident it would pass.Its had lots of new parts in last 3 years and I'd had a good look at the crispy bits and thought they would be ok. My MOT man doesn't take the piss either. My main worry was if it got there or not.. Last two MOTs it broke down 100 meters from the Mot station and the next year 100 meters from my house 🤣

[wesacosa]

a couple of small wins too hopefully. The erratic instrument illumination seems to have responded to the last attempt to fix it and the horn which used to randomly sound when tuning steering wheel seems ok now after my fix 

[wesacosa]

I should have said in the first message, but thanks to everyone for the encouragement, offers of help etc.  It really was appreciated