Could you be a bit more specific?You've been luckier than me, I've had 3 torque converter autos and they all gave trouble with leaks, clonks, rattles and broken bits
Joined the Comfortmatic failure club
- Thread starter Kannon Fodda
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Porsche sheared input shaft and had bad leaks, Jaguar Aisin auto box imploded and destroyed a 4x4 transfer box with it, Maserati Australian BTR box had a clonking torque converter and leaking input shaft seal.
These were all years ago but put me off owning true autos
Blimey that's unlucky I can only say of my experiences, mind you I now have a Transit base motorhome, and really in this day and age would you think we would be worried about whether the injectors are going to fail ?You've been luckier than me
Well, since the early 90s, I’ve owned 10 cars with automatic gearboxes and none of them have given me a moments trouble
Opel Commodore, Vauxhall Senator x2, Saab 9000, Saab Cabriolet x3, Mazda CX5, MB GLC, MB GLA
Plus family owned VW Golf and now Fiat Ducato auto (not Comfortmatic)
A few years ago a company I worked for ordered 22 Fiats with the Comfortmatic gearboxes and every single one failed, some failed more than once.
It got that bad that they had to hire ten Mercedes based vehicles to keep the fleet running.
I wrote about this on Motorhome Fun forum many years ago as some might remember.
The vehicle I drove clutch gave up at 22,000 miles, clutch slave cylinder and again at 37.000 miles
Many of the vehicles were fixed under warranty by Vickers of Telford and Guest trucks Wolverhampton.
Comfortmatic didn't work well in a commercial environment, possibly OK for motorhomes with less mileage.
It got that bad that they had to hire ten Mercedes based vehicles to keep the fleet running.
I wrote about this on Motorhome Fun forum many years ago as some might remember.
The vehicle I drove clutch gave up at 22,000 miles, clutch slave cylinder and again at 37.000 miles
Many of the vehicles were fixed under warranty by Vickers of Telford and Guest trucks Wolverhampton.
Comfortmatic didn't work well in a commercial environment, possibly OK for motorhomes with less mileage.
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I’ve had to have automatics since 1978 and fortunately have not had any trouble with a gearbox….
- Oct 25, 2024
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Can it be done on a phone or does it need to be a laptop?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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I think it's Windows PC only but if you contact Gendan they will be able to advise
MultiECUScan Wireless Diagnostic Package for Fiat / Alfa Romeo / Lancia cars (Single PC)
MultiECUScan Wireless Diagnostic Package for Fiat / Alfa Romeo / Lancia cars (Single PC) - only £129.95 including VAT & UK delivery!
m.gendan.co.uk
Its not really a relevant comparison then.
- Nov 19, 2024
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Hi,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
Sorry to ask but what is the 'clutch self calibration' routine?
Cheers
Peter
2017 comfortmatic with 34k on the clock
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- Dec 2, 2019
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It's a diagnostic routine that you need a copy of Ducato specific diagnostic software such as Multiecuscan or dealer software to perform. It resets parameters in the electronic control unit for the gearbox to allow for clutch wear over time.
Minxy
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It was just our experience which was 'picked on' to try to make a point about how 'bad' comfortmatics were compared to manuals, never do that unless you have all the facts first.
Yes I know , I know because I had a brand new comformattic & had to visit them for complete breakdown twice in the first year , my experience of them have been shit & fiat professional just ain’t professional which just compounds the problem
Sorry but that is not how it was. I stated that replacement of the clutch mechanism on a ducato with a manual transmission can be carried out quickly and easily by any competent garage but that the same problem with a comformatic transmission is going to more problematic, take longer and cost substantially more. Your argument citing an event that occurred during and was badly affected by the covid period is so obviously irrelevant that I'm really surprised you're persisting with it.
Minxy
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If you go back you'll see that I was referring to the slave cylinder replacement, at which time they replace the clutch too, it makes no difference if it's a comfortmatic or manual, both will take the same time as they are identical. Getting the parts would take the same amount of time regardless of transmission type.
The only difference between the two is setting up the auto bit afterwards (fluids etc) which will add to the cost but not substantially or massively increase the time. That's why I persisted with it.
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So you could take a comfortmatic to any garage then? I don't think so.
MisterB
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- enough to know i shouldnt touch things i know nothing about ....
I've seen this mentioned a few times. Does anyone actually do this on their own motorhome and how often? Any practical comments or experiences from doing it yourself (not asking for comments on taking it to a specialist ie Adams Morey)
Minxy
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But that's not the thing I was talking about. It's the same for all autos as very few garages will touch them, it's not specific to Comfortmatics. How many people have an auto car but never think about where they'll take it if the auto bit plays up - try finding a garage that will have the knowledge to work on them, you'll discover that it's very few.
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I do it myself at least once a year. Very straightforward, clutch fluid gravity drain in 20 mins and 10 mins on the laptop to reset the clutch
I would love you to do a video of you doing it next time for the brave ones amongst us who would like to try, both the fluid change and the clutch self calibration using MES.
You are after all our Confortmatic expert on this forum!
You are after all our Confortmatic expert on this forum!
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- Dec 2, 2019
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If these storms ever stop coming in and the sun comes out I may do a video in spring
I just find it bizarre that Fiat recommend a fluid change every two years but the Fiat professional garages struggle to carry out the procedure or even understand it! I have a comfortmatic and have had zero problems but why should I have to drive to Portsmouth to get work done. It’s all very odd!
AlunandFelicie
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Nuts isn’t it ,I’ve got to travel from South Wales to Portsmouth to get something done that should be standard practice for Fiat dealers!!
Given their market share I would have thought Fiat would have been all over this!
Can you imagine any decent car manufacturer putting something in their service plan that their garages were unable to perform! It’s laughable!
Would be interesting to get a comment from someone at Fiat HQ.
MichaelT
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Some say AM are creating a nice little earner but I couldn't possibly comment .
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At least they are looking after our gearboxes when other Fiat Service centres don't seem to be doing, two of which I have attended didn't carry out fluid changes. Mine then failed. Perhaps I've just been unlucky.
Don’t blame the ones that are doing the job properly, blame the ones that are not doing all the service items specified by Fiat.
MichaelT
LIFE MEMBER
I'm not blaming anyone about anything
OK you are suggesting that AM may have created a nice little earner. I am suggesting that if this is a nice little earner for AM it is created by others failing to do the job properly. AM are taking a business opportunity created by the incompetence of others. Good luck to them.I'm not blaming anyone about anything
AM do a good job I’ve been down there myself but there’s only so many times I can go visit the Mary Rose!!
We should all be able to get this work done locally.
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