Joined the Comfortmatic failure club (1 Viewer)

[Kannon Fodda]

Oh dear. Started engine, won't select a gear error message.

Had been fine, drove here this morning no issues. At least currently parked safely.

At least AA breakdown through Comfort may be here in half hour.

 

[AndyPK]

Good luck!

 

[dunnah01]

Don't let the garage change anything mechanical or electrical unless it is obviously broken. Ask them to do a 'clutch self calibration enable' routine first . If they laugh or look blank move on to another garage.

 

[Quackers]

Good luck Rob, glad you are not stuck at traffic lights etc.

 

[ChrisL]

Sorry to hear that, when I was looking to buy a motorhome I completely discounted fiat based ones as I wanted an automatic but was put off by the number of people reporting issues with comformatic gearboxes. I hope the fault is cheap and easy to fix for you.

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[Kannon Fodda]

Apparently error is communication.

 

[Clivefog]

Hope it is a quick and easy fix.

 

[Badknee]

Apparently error is communication.

I think scotzsue had a similar problem at the Chester rally.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Sorry to hear that, when I was looking to buy a motorhome I completely discounted fiat based ones as I wanted an automatic but was put off by the number of people reporting issues with comformatic gearboxes. I hope the fault is cheap and easy to fix for you.

The new Fiat auto is a 9 speed ZF box; proper auto and an absolute dream to drive according to those who have one.

Next van will almost certainly have this option

 

[Ditcha]

Apparently error is communication.

That's what the wife keeps telling me

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[dunnah01]

Apparently error is communication.

That could be just about anything tbh. It would give this error if the garage's diagnostic tool doesn't work with the Comfortmatic module, or their could be physical damage to the loom near the wiper mechanism in the engine bay (have you used the wipers recently?).

 

[Kannon Fodda]

After a bit of fiddling, plugging stuff in, removing nearside light to get at fuses below, diagnosis was the computer needed a hard reset.

Possibly confused that it had thought the gear was selected but hadn't quite been. Note the van had just had some work done on the gas system, engine not touched, but in doing so would have had a couple of very short start stops getting on and off ramps, etc. My suspicion is that in moving, and particularly stopping gear selection hadn't had time to complete, or neutral was being selected, yet manual for comfortmatic says to leave in gear when stopping engine.

AA eventually disconnected engine battery (causing temporary loss of hearing as that set the Strike back alarm off). In turn that reset the comfortmatic. Error codes cleared and I've since driven the 15 miles back to campsite.

I think pub might be calling me.

 

[Sue and Rick]

Ah beer... there’s a temporary solution

 

[Sue and Rick]

Hope your fix is permanent on the van though.

 

[dunnah01]

After a bit of fiddling, plugging stuff in, removing nearside light to get at fuses below, diagnosis was the computer needed a hard reset.

Possibly confused that it had thought the gear was selected but hadn't quite been. Note the van had just had some work done on the gas system, engine not touched, but in doing so would have had a couple of very short start stops getting on and off ramps, etc. My suspicion is that in moving, and particularly stopping gear selection hadn't had time to complete, or neutral was being selected, yet manual for comfortmatic says to leave in gear when stopping engine.

AA eventually disconnected engine battery (causing temporary loss of hearing as that set the Strike back alarm off). In turn that reset the comfortmatic. Error codes cleared and I've since driven the 15 miles back to campsite.

I think pub might be calling me.

If it happens again in the next 1k miles or so then the longer term solution is still the 'clutch self calibration enable' routine to re-teach the control unit the clutch degradation and transmissibility indices

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[Just smiffy]

I just worry a little bit more when I hear of another one having problems….

 

[dunnah01]

I just worry a little bit more when I hear of another one having problems….

My take is that it's a motorhome thing where the low miles mean that the clutch wear characteristics are not as programmed into the control unit which is set for the more usual high mileage delivery van. A simple re-learn every 30-40k ish should do the trick in most cases if only the garages would try it.

 

[Al n Val]

The new Fiat auto is a 9 speed ZF box; proper auto and an absolute dream to drive according to those who have one.

Next van will almost certainly have this option

i've had both, tbh the Comformatic gave me no issues whatsoever in the 3 years of ownership, the new 9sp is on another level and truly is a superb gearbox so highly recommended from me

 

[Kannon Fodda]

For reference my van, 130bhp, 5.4m PVC is about 3 3/4 years old coming up to 17,000 miles on clock. Serviced yearly on a three year plan (but not sure now what that actually covered).

Must say very pleasantly surprised how quick AA arrived, less than 20 minutes from call to the Comfort insurance breakdown number.

 

[Carpmart]

Have you had any spinning of wheels recently?

I believe that the clutch engagement gets a little bit confused if you’ve been getting on or off a wet, slippy, muddy pitch and causes mismatch between wheel speed sensors, diff output sensor and gearbox ECU, confusing the management and causing this kind of issue.

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[Just smiffy]

My take is that it's a motorhome thing where the low miles mean that the clutch wear characteristics are not as programmed into the control unit which is set for the more usual high mileage delivery van. A simple re-learn every 30-40k ish should do the trick in most cases if only the garages would try it.

My vans done 117k and 3ltr so hopefully past the stage where there are problems…

 

[DBK]

After a bit of fiddling, plugging stuff in, removing nearside light to get at fuses below, diagnosis was the computer needed a hard reset.

Possibly confused that it had thought the gear was selected but hadn't quite been. Note the van had just had some work done on the gas system, engine not touched, but in doing so would have had a couple of very short start stops getting on and off ramps, etc. My suspicion is that in moving, and particularly stopping gear selection hadn't had time to complete, or neutral was being selected, yet manual for comfortmatic says to leave in gear when stopping engine.

AA eventually disconnected engine battery (causing temporary loss of hearing as that set the Strike back alarm off). In turn that reset the comfortmatic. Error codes cleared and I've since driven the 15 miles back to campsite.

I think pub might be calling me.

If that was diagnosed and fixed at the roadside by the AA I'm very impressed!

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Have you had any spinning of wheels recently?

I believe that the clutch engagement gets a little bit confused if you’ve been getting on or off a wet, slippy, muddy pitch and causes mismatch between wheel speed sensors, diff output sensor and gearbox ECU, confusing the management and causing this kind of issue.

Er Peterborough last weekend, even indulged in the tractor tow experience. But done some 200 miles since up the A1.

Was wondering though if that might not have helped.

 

[AlunandFelicie]

As the proud (?) of a comformatic gearbox how common is a fault like this ,is it one in a hundred vans, one in a thousand?

 

[Ditcha]

My vans done 117k and 3ltr so hopefully past the stage where there are problems…

Just run in

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[Badknee]

From other Fiat forums rushing changes in direction as in forward to reverse, braking hard then accelerating can confuse the gear change I’ve read.

 

[dunnah01]

My vans done 117k and 3ltr so hopefully past the stage where there are problems…

Our 3.0l Comfortmatic went berserk at about 25k, worked around it by a combination of restarting, resetting parameters with MES and using manual mode for about 20 more limp modes for the next 5k. Finally refused everything in southern Spain at around 30k. Luckily I limped to a motorwaty aire so could try all sort in MES. Managed to get 1st gear but wouldn't go into 2nd no matter what I did until I did the arnagedon ''clutch self-calibratuon enable' routine and voila, all gears and no limp modes or messages. I've done about 12k since then and no problems whatsoever. I've go the confidence back and no longer worry about the dreaded 'gear unavailable' message.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Our 3.0l Comfortmatic went berserk at about 25k, worked around it by a combination of restarting, resetting parameters with MES and using manual mode for about 20 more limp modes for the next 5k. Finally refused everything in southern Spain at around 30k. Luckily I limped to a motorwaty aire so could try all sort in MES. Managed to get 1st gear but wouldn't go into 2nd no matter what I did until I did the arnagedon ''clutch self-calibratuon enable' routine and voila, all gears and no limp modes or messages. I've done about 12k since then and no problems whatsoever. I've go the confidence back and no longer worry about the dreaded 'gear unavailable' message.

MES ?

 

[Ditcha]

MES ?

Multiecuscan software

 

[ChrisL]

The new Fiat auto is a 9 speed ZF box; proper auto and an absolute dream to drive according to those who have one.

Next van will almost certainly have this option

Unfortunately one of those would be a bit over my budget but I hope it turns out to be reliable for you, ZF have a good reputation I think.

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