I know this thread has been running for a while but I thought I'd add my own experience.
My Panda (56 Multijet, 80k mile) had been parked on the driveway for a few weeks back in March/April - remember all that rain!
On trying to start it, the egine then turn briefly and then the starter appeared to be jammed or, as was subsequently diagnosed, the engine had seized.
The breakdown/recovery team tried to tow-start the car but the wheels just locked up. The vehicle ot a local garage - formerly a Fiat dealer and well acquainted with the Panda, and this one in particular. They drained the oil which contained 'lots of water', refilled with oil and then concluded that the engine was indeed seized. Cost to replace with an non-OEM recon engine approxmately £4k. The 'generously offered me £150 for the car. I had it trailered back home and did some research.
To cut a long story short, removed the ari-filter housing (all dry), removed the glowplugs and on turning over the engine, jets of water came out of the engine, mainly cylinders 2 and 3. I left the car to 'air' with the plugs out. I also disconnected the hose from the intercooler and a couple of litres of water poured out.
On reasssemlby, with new oil, filter and battery (original killed by attempts at starting) the car started and after some initial exhaust smoke/steam ran beautifully.
A few days later, we went to lOndon and back in torrential (Jubillee Flotilla weekend). The car rain perfectly. Next day - the same symptons.
I repeated the plugs out, drain intercooler process etc (not the battery this time) and hey presto, all okay again.
I made some minor mods to hopefully prevent his recurring. I drilled a drain hole in the bottom of the air-valve (?) housing to hopefully prevent water being drawn into the intercooler. I placed duct tape along the top edge of the grille to prevent water dripping into the air-inlet when the car is parked with the front pointing uphill and also placed a strip of duct tape over the grille directly in front of the air-inlet. to discourage water ingress when driving.
My son has owned the car since that time (added another 6-8k miles) and has driven in some pretty dire (flood) conditions with no recurrence of the problems. On later Panda's I believe the position of the air inlet was 'modified' by Fiat although they don't want to own up to this defect.
How many Panda's have been scrapped or sold for scrap as a result of this is open to conjecture.
It's still a great car though!
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