Joined the Comfortmatic failure club

[dunnah01]

I don't know how they sleep at night

Yes ive just joined the club. our auto gear selector went while in France a few weeks ago. i was able to drive with manual so not a great hardship.
just had the invoice from Motus £8,760.16.... i'm still crying
View attachment 815083

 

[WESTY66]

Yes ive just joined the club. our auto gear selector went while in France a few weeks ago. i was able to drive with manual so not a great hardship.
just had the invoice from Motus £8,760.16.... i'm still crying
View attachment 815083

Wow!!! I’d be still
Driving in manual!!

So basically the consensus is that a fluid change will stop all this going t*ts up? Really? I’m not convinced

 

[dunnah01]

I'd

Yes ive just joined the club. our auto gear selector went while in France a few weeks ago. i was able to drive with manual so not a great hardship.
just had the invoice from Motus £8,760.16.... i'm still crying
View attachment 815083

I'd be asking for some justification if at least £7k of the bill as they clearly didn't know what they were doing. I'd also want to see the parts they replaced

 

[TCG]

Wow!!! I’d be still
Driving in manual!!

So basically the consensus is that a fluid change will stop all this going t*ts up? Really? I’m not convinced

dont think so. when paying the bill i did mention the fluid change.... the answer i got was "you will never get that done here, we would always advise against it. it causes more problems than it solves.. leave well alone" and they are a Fiat professional garage

 

[TCG]

I'd

I'd be asking for some justification if at least £7k of the bill as they clearly didn't know what they were doing. I'd also want to see the parts they replaced

why do you say that. Robotic unit caput. oil leak on clutch and flywheel - changed

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[dunnah01]

why do you say that. Robotic unit caput. oil leak on clutch and flywheel - changed

That's like changing the gearbox because the engine is knackered. They are barely connected and you'd have to really be unlucky for a Comfortmatic leak the contaminate the clutch friction plate to make it unservicable. No details on what caused the 'oil?' leak

 

[WESTY66]

That's like changing the gearbox because the engine is knackered. They are barely connected and you'd have to really be unlucky for a Comfortmatic leak the contaminate the clutch friction plate to make it unservicable. No details on what caused the 'oil?' leak

I’m sorry I’m not familiar with workings of these (even though I own one) but I thought the robotic crap was outside the bell housing, so can’t contaminate the clutch. I believe theres a Slave cylinder in the bell housing so that could contaminate the clutch, also the rear crank seal.
I don’t see any seal on that invoice to cure the contamination?
Please enlighten me if I’ve got any of that wrong.

 

[dunnah01]

I’m sorry I’m not familiar with workings of these (even though I own one) but I thought the robotic crap was outside the bell housing, so can’t contaminate the clutch. I believe theres a Slave cylinder in the bell housing so that could contaminate the clutch, also the rear crank seal.
I don’t see any seal on that invoice to cure the contamination?
Please enlighten me if I’ve got any of that wrong.

That's about right so begs the question why have they spent £5k+ replacing the robotic bits when the clutch CSC (slave cylinder) has probably failed. If it's something in the robotic bits that's failed (unlikely) why have they changed the clutch

 

[Jackd]

I’m sorry I’m not familiar with workings of these (even though I own one) but I thought the robotic crap was outside the bell housing, so can’t contaminate the clutch. I believe theres a Slave cylinder in the bell housing so that could contaminate the clutch, also the rear crank seal.
I don’t see any seal on that invoice to cure the contamination?
Please enlighten me if I’ve got any of that wrong.

Your correct, the only part in the bell housing is the slave cylinder.
If the seal had gone, there would be no driving in manual or auto.

 

[WESTY66]

Your correct, the only part in the bell housing is the slave cylinder.
If the seal had gone, there would be no driving in manual or auto.

You’ve got all this to come when you’ve saved enough pennies up

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[Jackd]

You’ve got all this to come when you’ve saved enough pennies up

Don’t hold yer breath sunshine

 

[WESTY66]

Don’t hold yer breath sunshine

I knew you would stick with the stick and “little” engine

 

[stuartholmes]

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.

Sorry if I'm too late to this particular party but just for future reference in case I need it, is the '..self calibration enable routine' something anybody can do or does it need expertise, specialist tools or magic 'black box' tricks?

(I've had a comfortmatic on 2010 Ducato for a year & once I learned why it sends out several beeps now & then and have almost adopted the correct habits to avoid same it's been a source of great joy. We're driving campervans not Lotus Cortinas..) (Mostly.) (I presume!)

 

[Dutch 68]

Yes ive just joined the club. our auto gear selector went while in France a few weeks ago. i was able to drive with manual so not a great hardship.
just had the invoice from Motus £8,760.16.... i'm still crying
View attachment 815083

Absolutely ridiculous

 

[dunnah01]

Sorry if I'm too late to this particular party but just for future reference in case I need it, is the '..self calibration enable routine' something anybody can do or does it need expertise, specialist tools or magic 'black box' tricks?

(I've had a comfortmatic on 2010 Ducato for a year & once I learned why it sends out several beeps now & then and have almost adopted the correct habits to avoid same it's been a source of great joy. We're driving campervans not Lotus Cortinas..) (Mostly.) (I presume!)

You need a registered copy of Multiecuscan and a means of connecting to the OBD port. Not an expensive bit of kit tbh for what it allows you to do

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[Kannon Fodda]

Yes ive just joined the club. our auto gear selector went while in France a few weeks ago. i was able to drive with manual so not a great hardship.
just had the invoice from Motus £8,760.16.... i'm still crying
View attachment 815083

WTF

I thought mine at some £3,500 was bad but your bill I would not have been able to pay without selling up the Moho.

I do wonder what the "control" actually is. On mine an item called "form" was replaced, a £900 part, which I think is sort of the master actuator cylinder system. Also the slave cylinder and the clutch plate (reconditionedis typical Fiat) as the plastic thrust bearings had disintegrated. Flywheel itself OK. If the seals fail (hence recommendations for the fluid check / changes) invariably it's in the slave and master cylinders.

 

[Dutch 68]

I don't know how they sleep at night

That’s Motus for you, they are extraordinary in writing ridiculous invoices, in real terms what do those parts really cost and how much time have they really spend on it, playing on your phone shouldn’t be invoiced

 

[stuartholmes]

You need a registered copy of Multiecuscan and a means of connecting to the OBD port. Not an expensive bit of kit tbh for what it allows you to do

Thanks - I'll save that info & pass on to the relevant peeps if need arises!! (And report back here!)

Cheers.

 

[Smudger55]

Well we've got home without breaking down

MHome booked in for repair at Adams Morey towards end October

At least if we breakdown on the way there are our belongings will have been removed from MHome.

 

[Steve-N]

I have not seen the hundreds you mention on this forum, verified facts would be helpful.

When my 2019 went in for the proverbial Comfortmatic failure repair, my local (Gloucestershire) Fiat Professional dealer already had 9 vans in his yard waiting for repair, mine was No 10 that had been brought in that month (Sept 19) it took over 3 months to repair due to parts supply issues from Italy)

It might be worth noting that it isn't just MH's and PVC's thay have had these problems, but also trade vans, ambulances, NHS transport mini buses and dozens of other Ducato's that seem to suffer issues related to the Comfortmatic clutch and actuator system, none of which I suspect will post on here.
Yes some owners have had trouble free 1000's of miles, and realistically the failure rate may be low, but it is way to high than it should be and should have warranted a recall from Fiat, but they have buried their head in the sand and only deal with those owners who threaten to take legal action against them under the 'unfit for the purpose intended' clause (which is the path I took) in order to get a repair carried out that didn't cost several £1,000's for a van with only 10k on the clock

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[Badknee]

Just had the fluid change and reset at Adam Morey this afternoon. Excellent service.

 

[DBK]

Just had the fluid change and reset at Adam Morey this afternoon. Excellent service.

How long did it take? I'm planning to visit them but it's a long drive from Plymouth.

 

[Riverbankannie]

How long did it take? I'm planning to visit them but it's a long drive from Plymouth.

Pity you couldn’t have combined it with your ferry home and changed to Portsmouth. I have booked in for clutch hydraulic change and interim service and it is an afternoon booking arriving midday. We are going down direct from a meet at Devizes.

 

[DBK]

Pity you couldn’t have combined it with your ferry home and changed to Portsmouth. I have booked in for clutch hydraulic change and interim service and it is an afternoon booking arriving midday. We are going down direct from a meet at Devizes.

Many thanks, I think if I can get booked in for a midday or afternoon slot I can drive there in the morning and then spend the night somewhere.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Many thanks, I think if I can get booked in for a midday or afternoon slot I can drive there in the morning and then spend the night somewhere.

I believe you can stay in the carpark at Port Solent.

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[Badknee]

How long did it take? I'm planning to visit them but it's a long drive from Plymouth.

Exactly one hour ten minutes

 

[Badknee]

Many thanks, I think if I can get booked in for a midday or afternoon slot I can drive there in the morning and then spend the night somewhere.

We stayed at Port Solent. A 14 minute drive from Moreys

 

[Badknee]

Give Port Solent security a call to book in
023 9221 0606 their very helpful.

 

[Thornebt]

WTF

I thought mine at some £3,500 was bad but your bill I would not have been able to pay without selling up the Moho.

I do wonder what the "control" actually is. On mine an item called "form" was replaced, a £900 part, which I think is sort of the master actuator cylinder system. Also the slave cylinder and the clutch plate (reconditionedis typical Fiat) as the plastic thrust bearings had disintegrated. Flywheel itself OK. If the seals fail (hence recommendations for the fluid check / changes) invariably it's in the slave and master cylinders.

Plastic Thrust Bearings! Disintegrated! What idiot designed the Comfortmatic gearbox?

Repair bills of nearly £9000. I would never buy a vehicle with one of these gearboxes. I know that some people like them and have had zero problems but I would be very nervous about owning one.

 

[dunnah01]

Plastic Thrust Bearings! Disintegrated! What idiot designed the Comfortmatic gearbox?

Every CSC I've changed has had a plastic body with a steel bearing, it's not a Fiat thing. It's certainly nothing to do with the Comfortmatic system

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