Joined the Comfortmatic failure club

[Tea Bag]

Probably too busy with large commercial fleets to worry about 1 off leisure vehicles.

Hi.
Before it was Sherwood trucks,went to book ours in for a complete service and said they could do it at night as i had a mate nearby. A person ( so as to not narrow a witch hunt down said ).. " Oh we don't do m/ho's here,we send them to a garage nearby.." KNEW the g/rage nearby,booked in and had the job done at a fraction of the price,this even included the use of onr of their cars to visit said mate.
If you are in that area, Sherwood trucks...,PM me and i will tell you the name of the garage .
Tea Bag

 

[MisterB]

For those who haven't been to Portsmouth Adams Morey, it's a bit difficult to find.

With the shopping centre directly in front of you turn left, then it's a small road on your right - turn here

Onto

Then drive towards the end for about 100yards

Turn left here

And drive along the very uneven road to the first gate on your left. It's signposted motorhomes

And they discovered we have had 'visitors' ...

And are now checking the air mass flow sensor to ensure its clear.

Really pleased I brought it here!

 

[ghoster]

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.

Can you please say how you enable the routine.

 

[MisterB]

All done, now parked up at Solent Marina on the designated (signposted) camper van parking area and booked in with mission control ... !

 

[WESTY66]

All done, now parked up at Solent Marina on the designated (signposted) camper van parking area and booked in with mission control ... !

Right MisterB what you had done and how long did it take? It’s too late for my trip tomorrow, but I’m thinking of fluid change on the comfortmatic at Portsmouth before I go to Düsseldorf but it’d have to be done in the day with No problems so I can get on the train that night!

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[MisterB]

WESTY66

Around 2 1/2 hours because of the air filter change and dismantling the ducting to make sure no further mice nests were there. I also had an oil change aswell. So as a guestimate I would suggest an hour just for that

 

[dunnah01]

Can you please say how you enable the routine.

You need a registered copy of Multiecuscan (MES) and then you need to perform a few operations.
1. Get everything up to running temperature
2. Connect to Comfortmatic/Selespeed TCU and delete any error codes
3 check that clutch and engine temp are within MES required parameters
4 run 'delete statistical data' operation in MES
5 run ' clutch self calibration enable' routine in accordance with MES. This is a bit faffy but the earlier version of MES requires you to accelerate from standstill for about 2-300 yards and then stop and turn off the engine. Turn the ignition back in and reconnect MES to the Comfortmatic/Selespeed module and the operation should show as complete (may also say status unknown but ignore this)

Go on your hols for the next 10k and then think about doing the procedure again

 

[Lenny HB]

And drive along the very uneven road to the first gate on your left. It's signposted motorhomes

Great fun getting out when the pallet place opposite is loading a lorry, you have to turn left and reverse into AM's other yard.

All done, now parked up at Solent Marina on the designated (signposted) camper van parking area and booked in with mission control ... !

Never noticed a signpost does it look new?

WESTY66

Around 2 1/2 hours because of the air filter change and dismantling the ducting to make sure no further mice nests were there. I also had an oil change aswell. So as a guestimate I would suggest an hour just for that

Ouch! That was an expensive afternoon then.

 

[MisterB]

Great fun getting out when the pallet place opposite is loading a lorry, you have to turn left and reverse into AM's other yard.

Never noticed a signpost does it look new?

Ouch! That was an expensive afternoon then.

Signpost looks new. It directs you to the first section of car parking.
Wasn't too bad £££ .... I suspect it could have been much worse
I also mentioned MHF and hinted they may want to offer some sort of discount .... as the good book said, some fell on stony ground..


We decided not to stay at Solent for a couple of reasons unrelated to the location. I will do that as a separate post though.
It was an ideal location for AM's though!

 

[Lenny HB]

On Tuesday depending on what time we leave AM we will either stay at Port Solent or find a pub half way to Stratford upon Avon.

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[MisterB]

On Tuesday depending on what time we leave AM we will either stay at Port Solent or find a pub half way to Stratford upon Avon.

I could help you there re the pub. Might not be halfway though ....

We're there now .. Three Horseshoes ...

United Kingdom (GU34 3AE ) The Three Horseshoes

Beer garden is stunning

What a great little pub. Road was a bit noisy up until 11pm, but now very quiet

 

[dunnah01]

Well it failed again yesterday . Gear Unavailable dash error and random neutrals and limp modes. Limped to motorway services and did an ignition on/off. This got me another few miles but then same again so limped to the next junction. Nowhere to perform the dynamic 'clutch self calibration enable' routine so tried a static 'end of line service calibration'. This got me about 20 miles before the error reappeared. Limped to the nearest slip road hard shoulder and managed a full 'clutch self calibration enable' routine. Done about 250 miles so far with no issues so fingers crossed. It's about 10k and 18 months since the last time I had to perform the routine so it sounds like it's worth doing it annually at each service

 

[MichaelT]

It's about 10k and 18 months since the last time I had to perform the routine so it sounds like it's worth doing it annually at each service

Perhaps Fiat professional garages do as part of the service?

 

[dunnah01]

Perhaps Fiat professional garages do as part of the service?

Fraid not

 

[Captain Lloyd]

Brought my MH in today to Motus Commercials Gloucester(fiat professional) for service and MOT had a long chat with the technician who appeared knowledgeable on the subject of comformatic gear boxes, mine is coming up to 4 years old my last MH was 2 years old (18,000 miles)when i had the intermittent problem would not select any gears so i traded it in for a new one.
He said they get continually on average get one a fortnight brought in with this problem and 90% of the time its motor homes no definitive reason why but perhaps its their little use as a factor.
I asked about changing the fluid he said they knew all about the Motorhome forum sites with this opinion but said there is no Fiat directive to do so and considered it a waste of money.
To replace the robotic box the part is around £7000!! Plus 15 hours labour maybe more on an A class.
I’ve come away feeling like i want to trade it in again and get the new gear box.

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[MichaelT]

Brought my MH in today to Motus Commercials Gloucester(fiat professional) for service and MOT had a long chat with the technician who appeared knowledgeable on the subject of comformatic gear boxes, mine is coming up to 4 years old my last MH was 2 years old (18,000 miles)when i had the intermittent problem would not select any gears so i traded it in for a new one.
He said they get continually on average get one a fortnight brought in with this problem and 90% of the time its motor homes no definitive reason why but perhaps its their little use as a factor.
I asked about changing the fluid he said they knew all about the Motorhome forum sites with this opinion but said there is no Fiat directive to do so and considered it a waste of money.
To replace the robotic box the part is around £7000!! Plus 15 hours labour maybe more on an A class.
I’ve come away feeling like i want to trade it in again and get the new gear box.

or just use your MH more?

 

[MisterB]

He said they get continually on average get one a fortnight brought in with this problem and 90% of the time its motor homes no definitive reason why but perhaps its their little use as a factor.
I asked about changing the fluid he said they knew all about the Motorhome forum sites with this opinion but said there is no Fiat directive to do so and considered it a waste of money.

i would imagine that as Fiat dont make motorhomes, they wouldnt offer any specific directive !

if its only @£90 to do the fluid change arent you tempted to consider it ?????

 

[Pausim]

I asked about changing the fluid he said they knew all about the Motorhome forum sites with this opinion but said there is no Fiat directive to do so and considered it a waste of money.

He is clearly wrong it is specifically shown in the Fiat Handbook as a required service item. He doesn’t need a specific directive to follow the service schedule.

 

[dunnah01]

Brought my MH in today to Motus Commercials Gloucester(fiat professional) for service and MOT had a long chat with the technician who appeared knowledgeable on the subject of comformatic gear boxes, mine is coming up to 4 years old my last MH was 2 years old (18,000 miles)when i had the intermittent problem would not select any gears so i traded it in for a new one.
He said they get continually on average get one a fortnight brought in with this problem and 90% of the time its motor homes no definitive reason why but perhaps its their little use as a factor.
I asked about changing the fluid he said they knew all about the Motorhome forum sites with this opinion but said there is no Fiat directive to do so and considered it a waste of money.
To replace the robotic box the part is around £7000!! Plus 15 hours labour maybe more on an A class.
I’ve come away feeling like i want to trade it in again and get the new gear box.

Mostly motorhomes because the Magneti Marelli TCU software providers skew the clutch degradation map towards high mileage delivery vans rather than low mileage mohos. A clever remapper could possibly create and flash a revised map to the Moho TCU but that's not been done yet so we're stuck with resetting the parameters every 10-20k with the clutch self calibration enable procedure.

 

[Captain Lloyd]

or just use your MH more?

As I said I did 18,000 miles in 2 years in my previous MH that’s not exactly not using it.

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[TheBig1]

An update on mine, the mechanic has noted that the slave cylinder, fitted by Southampton in August, has popped again. Currently they are liasing between branches and Fiat Italy as to who is responsible. It has done about 300 miles since August and is probably because it was not bled properly when they changed the fluid. I footed the bill for new clutch and slave cylinder last time, but not again due to their incompetence

 

[MisterB]

and managed a full 'clutch self calibration enable' routine.

Sorry if it's already been posted, but can you explain the process please? Is it something a lay person could do or do you have specialised tools/eqpt?

It might be the sort of information worth printing out and keeping with the vehicle handbook etc when travelling, even if only to get someone moving again.

 

[Lenny HB]

so we're stuck with resetting the parameters every 10-20k with the clutch self calibration enable procedure.

I find it hard to believe it needs it that often 10k is only a years mileage. We have done 41k without problems but getting it done as a precaution.

 

[Mixyblob]

My sister and bil's van, (a year older than ours) broke down with a knackered clutch while we were with them in France.
The eventual diagnosis from the French Fiat Professional garage was failure due to contaminated clutch fluid probably caused by lack of maintenance (changing oil) .
For less than the cost of a tank of fuel and the peace of mind it will give me, its a no brainer to have the oils changed.

 

[TheBig1]

My van now back on a recovery truck to Southampton Adams Morey as it is their cockup to fix (under warranty?)

The service manager from Portsmouth is now area Manager and is aware of the situation. They have been told I need it by Thursday as I am committed to stewarding a rally

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[L' Hobo]

Brought my MH in today to Motus Commercials Gloucester(fiat professional) for service and MOT had a long chat with the technician who appeared knowledgeable on the subject of comformatic gear boxes, mine is coming up to 4 years old my last MH was 2 years old (18,000 miles)when i had the intermittent problem would not select any gears so i traded it in for a new one.
He said they get continually on average get one a fortnight brought in with this problem and 90% of the time its motor homes no definitive reason why but perhaps its their little use as a factor.
I asked about changing the fluid he said they knew all about the Motorhome forum sites with this opinion but said there is no Fiat directive to do so and considered it a waste of money.
To replace the robotic box the part is around £7000!! Plus 15 hours labour maybe more on an A class.
I’ve come away feeling like i want to trade it in again and get the new gear box.

I'm confused, why would anyone replace a Comfortmatic gearbox with another at that sort of price when one can get one of the new, trouble free fully automatics for half that if the price quoted in an earlier post of £3500 is correct?

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm confused, why would anyone replace a Comfortmatic gearbox with another at that sort of price when one can get one of the new, trouble free fully automatics for half that if the price quoted in an earlier post of £3500 is correct?

Replacement 9 speed with torque converter & ECU is over £13k and a few more £K for labour.
And would cost a lot more to convert an existing Comformatic if at all possible probably well the wrong side of £20k.

 

[Marie-Claire]

Would it be possible to go the other way and convert it back to a manual?

 

[L' Hobo]

Would it be possible to go the other way and convert it back to a manual?

This is what confuses me, I was under the impression that a Comfortamic was a manual gearbox with a few add-ons.

 

[Marie-Claire]

That's what I thought so cant be too hard if its cable operated

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