Ducato automatic

[Richard n Ann]

Now the new automatic gearbox is a few years old what are your thoughts on it? Earlier threads sang it's praises, Is it still good? Any trouble?

 

[Howard B]

I like mine, only had one problem.
Stopped at a set of lights exiting Hook of Holland, handbrake on and into neutral. When the lights changed , gearbox back into D, handbrake off and van wouldn't move. Lots of changing between N &D and it finally engaged the drive. Not done it since.

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

It isn’t an exclusive Ducato transmission and has been in use since 2013. Various manufacturers use it and is in several Jaguar Landrover products.
Generally considered very reliable as any ZF product as the development is done properly to ensure manufacturers buy with confidence.

 

[Lazyboy]

Been driving one for two years now so it must be a fairly early one (The van is 3 years old). I have to say that it is a very good installation. Gearchanges are almost unnoticable after the first couple of low changes. The van has now covered just under 18,000 miles and I have to say it has been faultless and the engine pulls well now it is well "run in". This is running at 4,800 kgs GVW and it returns an average of 25 mpg according to the display. I quite often move the gear selector to the left to see what gear it is in and at about 60 mph it usually runs in ninth. I drove the comfortmatic prior to this which was a good drive if you appreciated the technique but this is definitely a world of difference. It would appear that Fiat have managed to present a very good installation which goes against their normal engineering policy!!!

 

[TrudeandDall]

Now the new automatic gearbox is a few years old what are your thoughts on it? Earlier threads sang it's praises, Is it still good? Any trouble?

18 months and 9000 miles with ours and I can't fault it at all. I have never driven a comfortmatic but I did use a Renault Master with a similar box, the AT9 is a world apart. Ours is a pvc running at 3.5t, lovely smooth unnoticeable gear changes and always returns low 30's mpg.

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[seasideBill]

I’ve just got one, previously always had a manual. I’m not sure why so many folks rave about it. It’s ok and does the job but take-up from stationary can be quite harsh, particularly if you don’t turn the irritating stop/start off.

 

[ANDKEZLULA]

Had mine for 3years now & love it, no way would I want a manual motorhome. It did have a bit of a moment in Germany last year when the gear oil temp warning light came on & EML then limp mode & no gear change. It cooled down & has been no further bother in the 4000 miles since. It went in to Fiat on return home & they say they did an update& topped up the gear oil.

 

[AllesP]

Now the new automatic gearbox is a few years old what are your thoughts on it? Earlier threads sang it's praises, Is it still good? Any trouble?

The new 9 speed automatic is fabulous. I love driving it

 

[G7UXG]

Had one on a Fiat 5 tonne tag axle (Carthago) and loved it.
Now got a Mercedes 9 speed auto, again on a tag axle (Carthago). I did some searching and found the gearbox on the Mercedes has a ZF badge on it, so it’s the same or a very similar gearbox. Again, I love it. Can’t fault it.

 

[dash300]

The new 9 speed automatic is fabulous. I love driving it

Ditto superb drive. Borg Warner assisted in the design and having had twin Borg Warner Velvet drives on the boat they were first class as well. However if you have big feet touching the brake only slightly at the same time as the accelerator the engine will die which is a bit of a fright. Just move your foot and it will pick up again. Still happens occasionally after 15 months of driving but it's an operator issue only. Great autobox.

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[PaddyM]

Had mine from new since August ( previous was Peugeot manual ) and i absolutely love it , it’s a dream to drive .
No more burning clutch smell when going up on the chocks !

 

[kimndon]

Ours 25k miles now 4 years old and fantastic. Do we have to do any maintenance on this gearbox? Change oil or check level on a service??

 

[Basildog]

Had it 3 months, just gone into fuel saving mode
They have fixed it apparently was the cable not adjusted / connecting correctly .
Stuck in neutral

 

[RandallC]

I like mine, only had one problem.
Stopped at a set of lights exiting Hook of Holland, handbrake on and into neutral. When the lights changed , gearbox back into D, handbrake off and van wouldn't move. Lots of changing between N &D and it finally engaged the drive. Not done it since.

perchance are you a 2 footed auto driver?

9 speed auto doesn't like accelerator and brake at the same time. Came through a bit of water last year and being of a certain age tried to make sure the brakes were dry so whilst driving applied the brake.. No engine power, came to almost a stop before resetting.

 

[Howard B]

perchance are you a 2 footed auto driver?

No

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[RandallC]

That's a tad succinct.

But would add be glad it's not a comfortmatic. Recovered 5 times in 2019 despite a Fiat Pro saying it's fine, (NNF £300) after the 2nd recovery. Traded, now 9 speed auto

 

[dash300]

perchance are you a 2 footed auto driver?

9 speed auto doesn't like accelerator and brake at the same time. Came through a bit of water last year and being of a certain age tried to make sure the brakes were dry so whilst driving applied the brake.. No engine power, came to almost a stop before resetting.

Yes mentioned this at #10. It's a heart stopping moment when first experienced, fortunately knowing it's operator error with size 12's now does not worry me, but it does take a couple of seconds for the accelerator to work itself out!

 

[Milanlindauer]

Fiat says problems with the 9 speed auto gearbox only relates to 2,2L 160 and 180 bhp engines. My question therefore is if anyone have a 2,2L 140bhp engine with 9 speed auto gearbox with these overheating problems? Another question is if there is somebody out there with a motorhome and the 9 speed gearbox that has done a lot of mileages without any problems?

 

[Lazyboy]

23,000 miles so far. Touch wood , no problems. Just got the bloody air bag light on!!

 

[KUSKUS]

How old is your motorhome Lazy boy

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[ontheroadagain]

Fiat says problems with the 9 speed auto gearbox only relates to 2,2L 160 and 180 bhp engines. My question therefore is if anyone have a 2,2L 140bhp engine with 9 speed auto gearbox with these overheating problems?

The current "problem" with 160/180bhp models is not a mechanical problem with the gearbox. It is just a software update.
The overheating issue appeared to be on some of the earlier gearboxes which had left the factory underfilled with oil.
Fiat are now fitting a new 8 speed gearbox. Time will tell if it is better or worse.
Honda used the ZF9 on various models in America and this has been replaced on some models with their own 10 speed.
From what I have read the 10 speed has not been entirely trouble free.
These modern automatic gearboxes are highly complex.
If you want reliability it is hard to beat a manual gearbox.

 

[maison]

3yrs and 28,000 miles with the gearbox being very smooth and trouble free.

 

[Roby2008]

Only 1 year with the 9 speed on a 140hp, 18,000 km though in that time, a pleasure to drive ......