Joined the Comfortmatic failure club

[KD]

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

It is

 

[maison]

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

Yes we have it.

Initially I didn’t want it because of the extra cost but, with a bit of hard bargaining, (pointing out that the dealer one mile down the road had indicated they would make a deal), we got it for little more than the manual version.

it is excellent! Driving on Alpine passes etc is a dream. No more looking at hairpin bends and trying to decide the correct gear, fluffing the change, then having to make a hill start mid bend.

Changes are seamless unless you floor it from start when first to second is noticeable. Normal driving is smooth.

One of the main reasons why this is probably our “keeper” van as well as the layout.

 

[Bobbydaisy]

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

Yep , got one , totally correct .

 

[Lenny HB]

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.

I think with Comformatics you have to accept that they have a tantrum occasionally. Last April in Spain mine suddenly decided it would only use 4th gear just stuck in 4th, turn the ignition off and on other gears came back but the gearchange was slow.
20 miles later going around a hairpin on a 1 in 6 lost all drive message "no gears available". After a change of brown trousers switch off & on all OK and has been OK for the last 8000 miles.

One thing that is very important with Comformatics is to change the clutch fluid regularly although it shares the same master cylinder as the brakes when most garages change the brake fluid they don't bother bleeding the clutch slave cylinder even Fiat Professional ones.

 

[Gizmouk]

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.

Is that a simple process ? Something that can be done at home, or does it require a computermabob ?

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[orridge]

Agree worth having it recalibrated. We were off the road for 3 months whilst SMC messed around before getting Fiat involved and re-calibrating as it went outside the tolerances for the robotic clutch and would not select a gear.

 

[EuroTrotters]

I feel your pain .

Had all that with Mercedes sprintshit

 

[dunnah01]

Is that a simple process ? Something that can be done at home, or does it require a computermabob ?

You need to find somebody local with a copy of Multiecuscan and the correct lead to communicate with the Comfortmatic control unit (or around £100 from Gendan online if you want to try DIY). You'll also need a 300yds straight bit of road to do the procedure.

 

[ChrisL]

I've never driven with a comformatic gearbox but have driven an Isuzu truck with a robotic auto box, it was reliable mechanically but was not fun to drive, gear changes were so slow you could imagine it thinking to itself shall I or shan't I? or maybe it was contemplating the nature of the universe and then suddenly remembering ohh! I'm supposed to be changing gear aren’t I? Roundabouts had to be negotiated in manual mode otherwise it would decide to change gear just as a boy racer in a BMW decided to enter the roundabout at speed, and if driven in "eco mode" it was even worse. I hope those of you that have comformatics or sprint shifts don't have similar experience’s.

 

[WESTY66]

You need to find somebody local with a copy of Multiecuscan and the correct lead to communicate with the Comfortmatic control unit (or around £100 from Gendan online if you want to try DIY). You'll also need a 300yds straight bit of road to do the procedure.

If I had the know how and spare time I would buy the required equipment and offer the service to all funsters for just enough to recoup the costs of the equipment!!
But I’m a numpty and have no spare time, cos I’m still working for the man (and all your pensions)
Is there a list of people (garages) who can do this AND make a good job of bleeding the system at the same time?

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[Googlebot]

If you think comfortmatic are bad, the power shift in some Fords are renowned for being awful.

In fact, it’s a case of when, not if they break.

One of the reasons I got rid.

4k for a reconditioned box.

 

[IRHP]

If you think comfortmatic are bad, the power shift in some Fords are renowned for being awful.

In fact, it’s a case of when, not if they break.

One of the reasons I got rid.

4k for a reconditioned box.

Had a kuga with the Powershift box, I had to have it in sport mode most of the time as just seemed to always be in too high a gear and labouring most of the time. Apart from that it was very smooth and worked well.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

I think pub might be calling me.

Beer fixes everything

 

[Tea Bag]

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?

Hi.
You keep your fingers crossed and we will keep ours crossed......... " United we stand ! "
Tea Bag

 

[Googlebot]

Had a kuga with the Powershift box, I had to have it in sport mode most of the time as just seemed to always be in too high a gear and labouring most of the time. Apart from that it was very smooth and worked well.

The oil changes are essential for them, every 3 years minimum at £300 a pop. That’s why most people didn’t bother.

It always changed smoother after an oil change.

I suppose they are complex machines, change the fluids, same as comfortmatic for the clutch fluid, or reap the problems. :-(

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[scotzsue]

Kannon Fodda Currently in France our problem was a detatched cable which fooled system into thinking we had no hydraulic fluid, was a reasonably quick and fairly reasonable fix we took it Fiat professional as truck firms like things fixing not replacing the whole unit also got it in sooner and labour was marginally less per hour.
No limp mode just stopped as we were trying to get it on the ramps at Chester, manual gears not available either.

 

[RandallC]

Hhhmm,
Had a comfortmatic for 8 years, 3.0 tag axle. yes the drive is relaxed copes with most, needs a bit of help if you know there's a sharp up hill curve at low speed, however in that time, 2 clutches and dual mass flywheels. (If the box is out silly not to replace stuff)
The final straw was being recovered 4 times in one year due to gearbox fail to engage a gear. after each advised the problem was fixed.
Alas didn't know if we were going to get there or if we would get home, so it was traded.

New 9 speed auto box (manual rather than a comfortmatic again) is superb.
Sorry for anyone having troubles but the repair costs are, shall we say! OK, let's not!

 

[Ditcha]

We had a 5.5t tag axle with comfortmatic previously and found it no probs, much rather have had it than a manual, how many thousands are out there, bound to be some problems.

 

[Nanniemate]

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?

1 in 10 sorry could not resist , for use with an old twiddle stick

 

[Nanniemate]

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.

how was the pub just arrived at one of my favs cider on table menu next to it van parked with leccy and water 3 yards away booked cooked brekkie for tomorrow

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[Kannon Fodda]

Oh @^/%#. Just tried to drive off campsite and same no gear fault. Disconnected battery which has solved it for now. Will hopefully drive home some 230 miles without stopping.

Anyone with thoughts of a good comfortmatic repairer down Surrey way?

 

[davidroxburgh]

I know it is a way from you but I rate Adams Morey at Portsmouth (Simon Potter is manager). Used him now for 3 vans and also read lots on here supporting fact that they do diagnose faults which others seem to struggle with. Bad news is Lenny HB has found their hourly rate is around £115? However you want the issue sorted! David

 

[Lenny HB]

Bad news is @Lenny HB has found their hourly rate is around £115?

Plus VAT.

 

[Lenny HB]

Simon at Adams Morey understands Comfomatics I think he has one himself.

 

[AlunandFelicie]

Well that’s me buggered then ,just pulled onto a festival site (Teddy Rocks) wheel spin ,can’t drive forward metal post 2ft in front of me,wait till Monday to see how I get of the site and how far I get before van disintegrates and I’m left with a steering wheel in my hands

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[WESTY66]

Well that’s me buggered then ,just pulled onto a festival site (Teddy Rocks) wheel spin ,can’t drive forward metal post 2ft in front of me,wait till Monday to see how I get of the site and how far I get before van disintegrates and I’m left with a steering wheel in my hands

I THINK I Seem to remember seeing the op Kannon Fodda wheels spinning in the mud briefly just before his comfortmatic packed up just sayin

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Got back home OK some 230 miles non stop (apart from traffic jams on M1 and M25 where at times it was standstill. Once the battery reset trick is done, the comfortmatic worked absolutely fine.

Just don't turn the engine off or the same error comes back up - just proven that outside the house stopping engine for only 30 seconds

I've put a call into Adams Morey Portsmouth who will call me back. They did say they couldn't look at it for at least a fortnight so that could screw up a lot of plans for most of May (I was expecting to be away for at least 3 weeks, including rallies).

Yes I did get stuck at Peterborough, with wheels spinning in the mud. But I quickly stopped. Was then towed all of 10 metres, parked it up fine an d next day drove off no issues. Since then the van did 150 miles up the A1 without issue, stayed on a campsite and drove off (grass pitch) no issue and went to have some work done on the gas system (engine mechanics not touched). The van will have been driven on and off ramps at the workshop, was absolutely fine and then failed, as the original post.

 

[Lenny HB]

I've put a call into Adams Morey Portsmouth who will call me back. They did say they couldn't look at it for at least a fortnight

Try to talk to Simon Potter he can be very accommodating, got me in next day to do my airbag ECU.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Try to talk to Simon Potter he can be very accommodating, got me in next day to do my airbag ECU.

I think that is the one I'm waiting for a call back from - the receptionist did say they'd be getting the manager to call me.

 

[Nanniemate]

I think that is the one I'm waiting for a call back from - the receptionist did say they'd be getting the manager to call me.

Any news ,as it appears to be the computer how often can you use the disconnect battery before ot causes another issue. Maybe its just like turning it on and off again reboot and away. Not the best but if it works hope it's sorted quick for you fingers crossed

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