![]() The synchro wears badly, even on low-mileage examples this is usually seen first on third gear, but it can also happen on fourth and second gears. You will probably find that the five-speed gearbox crunches if you’re slightly ham fisted, especially on the 999cc FIRE cars. These are generally tough, although the revised ones in late models (1992 onwards) can become obstructive. You will be looking at a five-speed manual gearbox in any Panda 4x4. The 4x4 did use a different cam, meaning that you may need to swap these over to regain your 50bhp (later 2WD Pandas also had this cam).Įngine mounts can fail with age, but it’s not a difficult job for any decent mechanic. Experts will happily convert your Panda, or put a used motor in for you. About £50 will buy you a replacement if it’s needed. This – along with the fact that you really have to drown these motors or run them without any oil for a while in order to kill one in normal use – means there are currently plenty of used engines available. Many Pandas have been scrapped or had an engine upgrade (the MkI Punto is the favourite donor), and the 999cc was also used in Unos. The 999cc FIRE is a non-interference engine, and you merely need to put on a new belt if anything should unexpectedly go boing. Cambelt swaps are due every five or six years in theory, but most Panda fans don’t bother. High-mileage cars may use some oil – and they quite normally drip it, too – but changes are easy for the home mechanic thanks to excellent access to the filter. Mileage is not an issue (my own 135,000-mile Sisley still does its claimed top speed… eventually, and rather noisily). These are well known to be almost bulletproof, and unless seriously abused can cover impressive mileages – many are known to have done over 300,000 miles, often in the ‘tender care’ of hilltop farmers.īest advice on a 999cc FIRE engine is not to worry too much, but they do like regular oil changes. It is not usually a sign of head-gasket failure, so don’t assume the worst.įar and away the most common Panda 4x4 uses the 999cc single-overhead-cam FIRE engine. Although the engine does suffer from ‘mayonnaise’ in the oil-filler cap, this is usually due to a lack of use or short journeys where condensation builds up. Timing chains may need replacing, but this is straightforward. These overhead-valve engines do get noisy with age and abuse, yet they rarely fail. The roots go back to the 1960s Fiat 850, so it is a well proven but basic design. The engine is based on the Autobianchi A112 motor, which was effectively a re-bored Fiat 127 903cc. The earliest Panda 4x4s with the 965cc engine are very rare, and again, you are unlikely to find one easily (these are identified by corrugated panels and front quarterlights). The engine shares its basic characteristics with the earlier 999cc engine, being a FIRE-based unit. There are a few left-hand-drive ones over here now, but you are unlikely to find one easily. The later, fuel-injected Panda 4x4 model was not imported to the UK. Your Motorious Fiat Panda 4x4 inspection checklist Later MkIII (and current MkIV) versions have proven excellent in the rough stuff, but for sheer driving pleasure and plucky off-road charm, nothing touches the original MkI and MkII models. They are still relied on by Alpine farmers who refuse to sell them, and you’ll always find a battered example or two at the top of any Italian mountain. The great thing about a Panda 4x4 is that they can take you anywhere. However, not many such cars are capable of tackling the extreme off-road tracks that the Panda 4x4 can traverse – and even fewer small hatchbacks at this price can offer such practicality. Of course, these days, almost everything has an ‘all-wheel-drive’ option. You may expect a howl of derision from off-road folk, but these models have serious mud-plugging abilities and are always treated with respect by those in the know. Developed by Steyr-Puch of Austria, and far from being a gimmick, the original Panda 4x4 remains a serious off-road tool. When the Fiat Panda 4x4 was launched in 1983, it was the first small, transverse-engined production car to have a four-wheel-drive system. The new Panda from 2003 onwards is not included. This guide covers the MkI/MkII Panda 4x4. Here’s what to look for when taking the plunge Chic and simple, the original Panda 4x4 is an emerging classic star.
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