Joined the Comfortmatic failure club

[WESTY66]

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

Yup, been around for donkeys years, everyone I’ve ever changed was plastic/steel bearing

 

[Fragle]

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

That is a bloody nightmare. Really feel for you.

I have to say that I've just had enough of the Comformatic failure club

We are so far blessed with one that as I've said before has performed perfectly. 90 days up and down mountains it was a pleasure to drive. The whole van is great but it's the fear is unknown.

Just had the full service and fluids changed at Adams and Morley and the report says that the fluids removed were clear. All ok.

It has cost me more than that bill, but as of today (we only went to look) We have traded in. I am not going to search for the VW failure club.

 

[Larrynwin]

N

That is a bloody nightmare. Really feel for you.

I have to say that I've just had enough of the Comformatic failure club

We are so far blessed with one that as I've said before has performed perfectly. 90 days up and down mountains it was a pleasure to drive. The whole van is great but it's the fear is unknown.

Just had the full service and fluids changed at Adams and Morley and the report says that the fluids removed were clear. All ok.

It has cost me more than that bill, but as of today (we only went to look) We have traded in. I am not going to search for the VW failure club.

Ours also is fine but there are times where a handful or so problems from potentially thousands that are fine create a fear of the unknown.
I have asked on an earlier post for accurate facts of the number of Comfortmatics in service and of those that have failed, and why . Maybe we will get that info.

 

[jockaneezer]

According to the Dutch website info that was posted earlier on here, the actual clutch plate used plastic spring guides as part of the "cush drive" feature and these disintegrated and got caught up in the flywheel/clutch plate interface. I don't know if the problem is confined to Comformatics only as I'm lead to believe they share the same clutch plate as the manual version ?

 

[MichaelT]

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.

As far as I know (and happy to be corrected) the comformatic and manual box are both the same its just the external mechanics to change the gears that's different.

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[Smudger55]

Perhaps it should be labelled the FIAT FAILURE CLUB, as I said before I'm on my 2nd expensive Fiat repair within a year.

Its been helpful to share the woes of the failure problems and cost but.... had i not done so i may not have been directed to information that for my 2 problems, has been really useful.

Im no mechanical person so Comformatic, gearbox and clutch in my head realate to similar parts of the vehicle.

I think if the Fiat part of vehicle is working, its doing its job so perhaps you wouldn't comment on that.

When it fails, with the evidence ive seen its on vehicles in the prime of their live, so human nature is to have a moan about. Apologies to all Non Fiat fault funsters.
So FIAT FAILURE CLUB it is then Cheers Smudger55

 

[Minnie]

Too late then, get the fluid changed and recalibrated. Ours is being done this Friday.

Would that be at a fiat garage is is as been discussed at a specialist place ?

 

[WESTY66]

Well guys I’m booked in at AM on 27/11/23 8.00am for fluid change, kiss point and a clutch degradation test
Anyone know where I can stop the night before?? Lenny HB ?

 

[Lenny HB]

Well guys I’m booked in at AM on 27/11/23 8.00am for fluid change, kids point and a clutch degradation test
Anyone know where I can stop the night before?? Lenny HB ?

Port Solent, 15 min from Am, loads of restaurants, the Thai one is good.

 

[Just smiffy]

If having the gearbox gone and repaired at thousands £’s are they not repairing it with the same parts that went..? Some of these vans that have had trouble are 10-20k miles so in theory could go again in a couple of years…

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[gus-lopez]

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

It would not have driven in manual if that was the case.

 

[Jackd]

Well guys I’m booked in at AM on 27/11/23 8.00am for fluid change, kiss point and a clutch degradation test
Anyone know where I can stop the night before?? Lenny HB ?

Welcome to park up on the drive mate. 30mins from AM

 

[WESTY66]

Welcome to park up on the drive mate. 30mins from AM

Really? That’s very good of you, make sure you have plenty of Tunnocks in
Might even come down Saturday and empty the pantry

 

[Jackd]

Really? That’s very good of you, make sure you have plenty of Tunnocks in
Might even come down Saturday and empty the pantry

Fill your boots mate. It’s about time you bought me a beer

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

make sure you have plenty of Tunnocks in

Thought I was the only person who buys these think someone has been holding back on them

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[WESTY66]

Thought I was the only person who buys these think someone has been holding back on them

No, Brian’s very obliging and nowhere near as tight as you

 

[TheLifeofBrian]

I just waded through a lot of this Dutch thread. What are plastic clips doing in a clutch? Must be a recipe for disaster. So many of the contributors have had these plastic clips break up. Members on that thread seem to think that there was a change of something when engine went from Euro 5 to Euro 6 and that 2017/18 and early 19 more at risk.
A few knowledgeable garages in Netherlands get a mention. I might try and make a list from that and the German forum. Seems like we need to find the equivalent French forum to find a good garage there.

They aren't clips, they are plastic covers over the springs (supposedly to make it quieter)
After a year of them breaking off, one at a time I suspect, I had the clutch replaced with a Sachs one which doesn't have them & it finally seems to have cured the problem
Each time one breaks it gets mashed up inside & causes a 'gear not available' nightmare!!!!!
This is my old clutchplate on a 2015 Fiat (manufactured in 2014)

 

[TheLifeofBrian]

For all the white noise around Comfortmatic failures I can only think of two reported failures on here of a component. One was a cracked solenoid casing and one a seal failure in the Master/Slave unit, although even these may be questionable diagnoses. All the other failures seem to be the regular clutch parts failure or an electrical gremlin exacerbated by poor knowledge or training of mechanics/fitters.

I can only comment on mine which had a couple of electrical connections thrown in the works as well but was mainly caused by the plastic spring covers breaking and then the bits floating around inside causing the sensors to shut the gearbix down & give the dreaded 'gear not available' message.
If you have had it happen I can assure you it's an absolute nightmare!
As there are several springs it just keeps happening In a manual clutch you probably wouldn't notice it & the bits would just get broken up but the Comfortmatic has sensors that just show a fault.
Now I've had a new different make clutchplate fitted I'm hoping it's solved but it always makes you think twice before you set off anywhere

 

[TheLifeofBrian]

According to the Dutch website info that was posted earlier on here, the actual clutch plate used plastic spring guides as part of the "cush drive" feature and these disintegrated and got caught up in the flywheel/clutch plate interface. I don't know if the problem is confined to Comformatics only as I'm lead to believe they share the same clutch plate as the manual version ?

I believe the clutchplate is the same in both but driving a manual clutch you probably wouldn't know much apart from a bit of a crunching sound but the broken bits would just get mashed up.
In the Comfortmatic the sensors pick up signals to say something is wrong & just shut it down. Even when it is reset & works again because there are several springs & covers the problem just repeats itself when it happens again

 

[dunnah01]

B

I can only comment on mine which had a couple of electrical connections thrown in the works as well but was mainly caused by the plastic spring covers breaking and then the bits floating around inside causing the sensors to shut the gearbix down & give the dreaded 'gear not available' message.
If you have had it happen I can assure you it's an absolute nightmare!
As there are several springs it just keeps happening In a manual clutch you probably wouldn't notice it & the bits would just get broken up but the Comfortmatic has sensors that just show a fault.
Now I've had a new different make clutchplate fitted I'm hoping it's solved but it always makes you think twice before you set off anywhere

View attachment 823226

But a decent garage would operate the clutch a few times via the diagnostics to displace the broken plastic bits to get you on your way within the hour .

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[TheLifeofBrian]

B

But a decent garage would operate the clutch a few times via the diagnostics to displace the broken plastic bits to get you on your way within the hour .

Yes, it's just finding one that knows how to or even that it needs doing!

 

[Smudger55]

Well we are stopping over at Hill Farm campsite, North of Southampton tonight then driving down to Adams Morey, Southampton tomorrow to leave MHome with them to get our clutch repaired.

Not sure what to expect but I will be offloading all my worries about the problem, most of which have come from funsters who also had problems.

At the end of the day we just want our confidence restored in driving our MHome, worry free.

 

[Antique]

22k miles and not a problem.

Just had fluid changed and 'kiss point' etc at AM Portsmouth today. (£147inc)

Is it me or does the gear changes feel smoother ??

Either way I fell so much better

All the best
Antique

 

[Badknee]

Just had fluid changed and 'kiss point' etc at AM Portsmouth today. (£147inc)

Is it me or does the gear changes feel smoother ??

Ours does and I believe rb62 does as well.

 

[Lenny HB]

I also thought mine felt smoother, just thought it was my imagination.

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[L' Hobo]

I also thought mine felt smoother, just thought it was my imagination.

I have a manual 2007 X250 gearbox and changed the oil a couple of years back soon after I purchased the vehicle.
It immediately changed gear a lot better & smoother.
I'll be doing it again next year just to remove the remnants of any old oil from the gearbox.

 

[rb62]

Ours does and I believe rb62 does as well.

Certainly does,but then I'd expect it to when the jobs done properly Heck of a responsibility on the lad who does them especially knowing how many of us are then crossing the channel.

 

[Smudger55]

Following earlier post above our MHome has been at Adams Morey in Southampton expecting a new clutch and slave thingy may gig.

Adams Morey have diagnosed that clutch fluid dirty and carried out remedial repair.

WHAT DO I DO
3 x Diagnostic checks done:
1. Suspected Gear box ECU failure
2. Advise new slave head and clutch, following dirty fluid. Possible burnt plastic clutch springs
3. Clutch fluid dirty.

Do I accept Adams Morey Diagnostic and repair, in my mind though could the springs still be damaged or as for 2 above to be repaired.

I'm not a mechanical person just want to trust and enjoy driving our MHome.

 

[TheLifeofBrian]

Following earlier post above our MHome has been at Adams Morey in Southampton expecting a new clutch and slave thingy may gig.

Adams Morey have diagnosed that clutch fluid dirty and carried out remedial repair.

WHAT DO I DO
3 x Diagnostic checks done:
1. Suspected Gear box ECU failure
2. Advise new slave head and clutch, following dirty fluid. Possible burnt plastic clutch springs
3. Clutch fluid dirty.

Do I accept Adams Morey Diagnostic and repair, in my mind though could the springs still be damaged or as for 2 above to be repaired.

I'm not a mechanical person just want to trust and enjoy driving our MHome.

I would change the clutchplate for one without the plastic covers on the springs.
I doubt the ECU is faulty & would suspect it's just the plastic covers breaking off the springs & bu****ing the sensors to give a faulty reading.
And always change the slave cylinder whilst changing the clutchplate.

 

[CazPaul]

Did they give an estimate of the bill?

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