KNOWN FAULTS · Fiat

Fiat Panda (II) 1.3 Multijet common problems.

2003–2012 · Diesel

Sources are not verified in real time and no entry confirms that your car is affected.

2 known faults with sources

1.3 Multijet chain, DPF and EGRTiming / DPF / EGR

Engine / equipment: 1.3 Multijet / 1.3 JTD / 1.3 CDTI (Fiat Panda, 500, Punto, Doblò; Opel Corsa, Astra, Meriva, Combo; Lancia Ypsilon and Musa; Alfa MiTo; Peugeot Bipper and Citroën Nemo)
Period mentioned: 2003–2020
Symptoms: Chain rattle on cold starts; oil level rising and smelling of diesel; particulate filter warning; power loss from a dirty EGR or the turbo.
Possible cause described: Single-row timing chain that is very sensitive to oil quality and long intervals: it stretches and the tensioner loses pressure, with a risk of breaking. In town use the DPF cannot finish regenerating and diesel dilutes the oil, which speeds up chain and turbo wear.
Check for the garage: Listen to a cold start, check whether the oil is above maximum or smells of diesel, read the DPF status and check the oil change history.
Cost cited in the source: Chain kit: €150–300 in parts plus €600–1,200 labour; DPF cleaning: €200–400A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Mileage cited in the database: 80,000–120,000 km. This is not a maintenance interval and does not predict a failure.

Applies if: Only with the Dualogic robotised gearbox (not a conventional automatic or a manual).

Dualogic robotised gearbox actuator and pumpGearbox

Engine / equipment: Dualogic robotised manual gearbox in the Fiat 500, Panda, Grande Punto / Punto Evo, Idea and Qubo, and Lancia Ypsilon and Musa
Period mentioned: 2003–2020
Symptoms: The car drops into neutral when braking or driving with a beep and “Check gearbox”, will not engage gears or is slow to engage reverse, slow and hesitant shifts, oil under the actuator and sometimes no start because it cannot select neutral. The pump's whirr is no longer heard when opening the door.
Possible cause described: An electric pump and an electro-hydraulic actuator operate the clutch and gears. The pump motor, the actuator piston seals (hydraulic fluid leaks) and the solenoid valves fail, and clutch wear also leads to the car sticking in neutral. A specialist warns that the same symptoms can come from pressure loss, the pump, the actuator or the wiring.
Check for the garage: Check the battery (with a low charge the pump may not run) and the hydraulic fluid reservoir level, look for leaks under the actuator and, at a garage, read codes and measure pressure and clutch wear before replacing the whole actuator. After any repair the system must be relearned.
Cost cited in the source: According to forum owners: a complete hydraulic actuator costs over £1,000 in parts, and about €3,500 if the dealer replaces the whole “robot”. Many faults are fixed with a clutch, pump or actuator repair.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.