Comfortmatic gearbox issue - fact or fallacy?

maz

maz

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Bizeljsko, Slovenia
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Since March 2011
Happened to be in a motorhome dealer's this morning looking into upholstery cleaners. We mentioned that the motorhome would be up for sale later on and he mentioned their brokerage. The dealer was asking a few questions about our motorhome and when I said it was an automatic, he told us that there was an issue with them sticking in gear - something about the computer's logic getting 'confused'.

Now admittedly I haven't had much time to read the forums lately but I don't remember seeing anything about this mentioned on Fun. So is this a known issue? Or an attempt to make my van seem less desirable than a manual version and hence talk down the price?
 
New one on me!
 
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Despicable dealer tactics, but very common I'm afraid. Even supposedly upmarket car dealers do the same. I had a Lexus dealer once try to tell me my Rx had warped brake discs which would knock a grand off the trade in price until I mentioned it had been serviced by them a few weeks earlier and was still under warranty so either way the cost (if there really was a problem) would be their responsibility. His response when I asked him to show me the "warping" was to say it was only a few millimetres and I wouldn't see anything. Crooks the lot of them!

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There are reports online of Comfortmatic boxes sticking in gear, but not many and it does sound like a shady price reducing tactic.

Anyone interested, there is a comprehensive account of one such experience by a Motorhome user in Northumberland, in 2011, but it would mean a virtual trip across to 'Facts' which is where a Google search led me.
 
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Thank you for your replies everybody. The way the dealer was talking, this was happening in a number of cases and putting people off the auto gearboxes. :rolleyes:
 
Never heard of a problem and mine seems fine.
 
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maz said:
I don't remember seeing anything about this mentioned
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Hmmmmm , now first off , let me just state , this is not motorhome's , okay , this is heavy truck's .

However they also use this type of gearbox , and yes not only have i heard of it , but had it happen regularly , mainly with merk's and daf's . The computer doesn't seem to be keeping track of what's happening and take's an age to select a gear . Normally at roundabout's , where your on a stop start , braking to fit a gap , then accelerating in to that gap . Merk's seem to be particularly bad often deselecting all gear's completely , and shifting to neutral . You have to confirm a pull away gear has been selected else risk going to neutral in the middle of a roundabout , any delay in changing gear on approach , you abort . Though it does happen at junction's and traffic light's , it's not so much of a problem , as traffic is generally slower moving . Approach speed does not seem to overcome this , manual over ride really confuses it , and lead's to automatic deselection . The only way to eliminate it completely is to drive and select the gears on approach in manual mode , sorta why do i have an automatic in the first place .
Again i state this is heavy truck's , but many make's are affected , from 7.5 to 44 tonner's , and these have often covered a higher mileage .
 
maz said:
Thank you for your replies everybody. The way the dealer was talking, this was happening in a number of cases and putting people off the auto gearboxes. :rolleyes:
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Hmmm I think the opposite maybe true, autos rarer = more sought after ???
Some people only have an auto licence and/or medical conditions which necessitate an auto.
 
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campa cola said:
Hmmm I think the opposite maybe true, autos rarer = more sought after ???
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I agree with campa cola - the comfortmatic is highly desirable, and frequently like 'hens teeth', although becoming a little more widely available lately.

Drove ours over the Glossglockner high Alpine pass in Austria the day before yesterday - 2,500 metres altitude - much automatic gear changing under heavy load without any problem. Reckon dealer is trying it on.

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airwave said:
Hmmmmm , now first off , let me just state , this is not motorhome's , okay , this is heavy truck's .

However they also use this type of gearbox , and yes not only have i heard of it , but had it happen regularly , mainly with merk's and daf's . The computer doesn't seem to be keeping track of what's happening and take's an age to select a gear . Normally at roundabout's , where your on a stop start , braking to fit a gap , then accelerating in to that gap . Merk's seem to be particularly bad often deselecting all gear's completely , and shifting to neutral . You have to confirm a pull away gear has been selected else risk going to neutral in the middle of a roundabout , any delay in changing gear on approach , you abort . Though it does happen at junction's and traffic light's , it's not so much of a problem , as traffic is generally slower moving . Approach speed does not seem to overcome this , manual over ride really confuses it , and lead's to automatic deselection . The only way to eliminate it completely is to drive and select the gears on approach in manual mode , sorta why do i have an automatic in the first place .
Again i state this is heavy truck's , but many make's are affected , from 7.5 to 44 tonner's , and these have often covered a higher mileage .
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Interesting, thank you. Sounds a bit different to the Comfortmatic allegedly getting stuck in a gear but useful to know.
 
campa cola said:
Hmmm I think the opposite maybe true, autos rarer = more sought after ???
Some people only have an auto licence and/or medical conditions which necessitate an auto.
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Yes, I still think the fact that my van is an auto is a good thing and should hopefully enhance its value when I sell.
 
maz said:
Yes, I still think the fact that my van is an auto is a good thing and should hopefully enhance its value when I sell.
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I am pretty sure if someone needs an auto they will compromise on layout/size etc, as there is often not a great choice secondhand.
 
Hi.
CON. Went looking at a Ford Capri in '75,saleman asked what was i trading in,i showed him our'73 1.8 Marina. Midnight Blue,black seats S.Pack.He said." If only it had...RED seats..." i replied." If it have had...RED seats,i would not have bought it Byeee"
I did change it later,for a Mk3.............. Land rover.(I did not drink for nearly a year after that:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:)
Tea Bag.
PS Fitted a radio in it.................... "Is it on?" became a sort of catchphrase (y)(y) While travelling
 
I've done nearly 52k miles now and a year ago I was encountering some clutch slip at higher speeds. I'm getting along fine with it since and my pointers for longevity are.

Never accelerate in 6th especially if the 3.0 litre version as it has the torque but the clutch isn't man enough. Always knock the lever forwards to 5th or 4th depending on how much boot you intend to deliver.

The UP/heavy load function button.
I now leave this engaged permanently! a converted motorhome is not the same as an empty panel van and is for all intents and purposes fully laden all its life.
The up function delays reaching 6th by holding progressive gears for longer between changes.

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mikebeaches said:
I agree with campa cola - the comfortmatic is highly desirable, and frequently like 'hens teeth', although becoming a little more widely available lately.
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Just look on German dealers sites nearly every stock van from mid range and up is an auto.
 
Lenny HB said:
Just look on German dealers sites nearly every stock van from mid range and up is an auto.
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Yep they will have worn them out red lining on the autobahns....and every other open road o_O
 
Lenny HB said:
Just look on German dealers sites nearly every stock van from mid range and up is an auto.
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Not surprised in Germany. Different to the UK. ☺️

I chatted to a very nice German at the top of the Grossglackner pass on Thursday, who had a rather appealing 4x4 Hymer/Mercedes coach-built with autobox. He was shipping it to Australia for 6 months in the autumn so he and his wife could do some serious touring there.
 
maz said:
Happened to be in a motorhome dealer's this morning looking into upholstery cleaners. We mentioned that the motorhome would be up for sale later on and he mentioned their brokerage. The dealer was asking a few questions about our motorhome and when I said it was an automatic, he told us that there was an issue with them sticking in gear - something about the computer's logic getting 'confused'.

Now admittedly I haven't had much time to read the forums lately but I don't remember seeing anything about this mentioned on Fun. So is this a known issue? Or an attempt to make my van seem less desirable than a manual version and hence talk down the price?
Click to expand...

When we bought our nearly new MH two years ago we tried the comfort box. I hated it but we wanted the van so I googled it to see if the rumours I had heard had any grounds. Google threw up loads and loads of issues associated to that gearbox so we bought a manual. Not for me I'm afraid and the only ones with them have anything good to say.

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I think a lot more problems will start occuring on Comfortmatic gearboxes as they get a bit older , we currently run twenty two small buses on three litre engines with Comfortmatic gearboxes, as of last Friday six vehicles were off the road due to failure of gearboxes. Two have clutch problems and the remaining four have gear selection problems. We are having to use hire vehicles and some old vehicles that were due to be sold to keep us going . These problems are not new we have been having problems with the Comfortmatic gearboxes for some time. The vehicles were purchased new in August 2013 and some in 2014 on a seven year lease, god help us when they get nearer to the end of the leasing period.
 
Comfortmatico must be Italian for Marmite :rolleyes:
 
Mine is second hand but I've owned it longer than the first owner and driven it 5 yrs this November. No complaints. Nothing better in queuing traffic
 
Techno said:
Mine is second hand but I've owned it longer than the first owner and driven it 5 yrs this November. No complaints. Nothing better in queuing traffic
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But Andy you've described above how you have to nurse it take care of it and get clutch slip !

Sorry but for me if a gearbox displayed a propblem I would get shot. Fortunately I googled the box and what I read immediately killed any chance of having one.

Apart from which i hate the robotised change . It should be remembered that this is by no means a conventional automatic gearbox it's far more complicated than that .
 
Must admit I had heard one or two stories and I was a tad dubious when we were looking at our Burstner and the Comformatic Box.....now I wouldnt be without it. In my opinion makes driving a total pleasure..!!

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