Joined the Comfortmatic failure club

[CazPaul]

£3,450.

Your van will be joining a friend of mine's van that is in at the moment having a new 9 speed box fitted Fiat are supplying the box FOC but he is not expecting any change out of £2k for labour.

I know someone else who is currently broken down looking like it needs a new 9 speed box.

 

[Nanniemate]

So the much lauded zf boxes have issues too?

Pig sick for you Hope it's not as bad as some are predicting
You may be able to change ferry bookings or claim on your insurance. If the worse happens. Can you change van reg on booking you could pass the ticket on
Good luck I'll say £600. That is on top of the lowloader sadly

 

[Freo]

I get impression that fluid change is important. It can get hot so standard check on moisture in brake type fluids won't confirm if the fluid at clutch end has gummed up.

Thanks. I appreciate your thoughts.
Best of luck with your fix. I hope it turns out to be not too expensive.

 

[Steve-N]

Can you actually check the auto box fluid level ?
If not how would you know the level is correct ?

 

[Freo]

If nothing else do make sure the clutch fluid is changed regularly Simon the service manager at Adams Morey has his changed yearly. Although it's a joint master cylinder with the brakes most garages don't bother bleeding the clutch when they change the brake fluid.

Appreciate your advice, Lenny. Thanks. Think I’ll look into getting this done soonish.

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[L' Hobo]

I hope it's less but I cannot see it being less than £1000-£1250.
Good Luck!

 

[WESTY66]

I know someone else who is currently broken down looking like it needs a new 9 speed box.

Oh dear that’s not good! Just out of interest are the vw a converter box or robotic?

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Can you actually check the auto box fluid level ?
If not how would you know the level is correct ?

Issue for the comfortmatic is tge hydraulic and servo system that replace foot on clutch and arm working the change, rather than oils in the gearbox itself. Unlike the 9 speed reported above that seems misfilled.

If garage service plans were worth it they should have done necessary fluid check. My service plan was silent on comfortmatic fluids, and indeed brake fluids so must suspect never checked, despite being through what I thought was a largish dealer.

 

[L' Hobo]

Issue for the comfortmatic is tge hydraulic and servo system that replace foot on clutch and arm working the change, rather than oils in the gearbox itself. Unlike the 9 speed reported above that seems misfilled.

If garage service plans were worth it they should have done necessary fluid check. My service plan was silent on comfortmatic fluids, and indeed brake fluids so must suspect never checked, despite being through what I thought was a largish dealer.

I thought the comfortmatic was just the normal gearbox with add on's.
It is not difficult to change the oil on the normal gearbox, just make certain you have the correct oil and fill it with slightly less than stated capacity (3.5ltrs I think but check that is correct as there is no level plug)
There is a drain plug (renew copper washer) and refill through narrow breather on top of gearbox.
I did mine a few years ago and it made a lot of difference.

 

[CazPaul]

Oh dear that’s not good! Just out of interest are the vw a converter box or robotic?

I’m not sure it’s a new Fiat 9 speed auto she has.

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[Kannon Fodda]

So initial diagnostics is potentially £3,700 ish. Mismatch between engine and gearbox suggests the clutch isn't disengaged properly so it's gearbox out to probably replace clutch an flywheel and check other fluids.

 

[Steve-N]

I dont think the above referenced 9sp auto is the latest one as fitted in the series 8 Ducaro with the 2.2 lyr engine ?
This 'new' 9sp ZF auto is now the same one as used by JLR and numerous other Marques.
No issues reported so far as advised by my local Fiat Professional dealer.

 

[WESTY66]

I’m not sure it’s a new Fiat 9 speed auto she has.

I know that, I have a mate who was asking for doing a van conversion on a crafter!

 

[Mixyblob]

My sister's 2013 Comformatic Ducato came up with gears not available last week in Provence. €2000 quote for new gearbox and clutch, due to be ready on Wednesday.
We're also cruising round France with our 2014 Comformatic crossing fingers with every gearchange.
So far done a bit of the Pyrenees and Alps with nothing more than a warm smelly engine/clutch/gearbox.

 

[Ditcha]

My sister's 2013 Comformatic Ducato came up with gears not available last week in Provence. €2000 quote for new gearbox and clutch, due to be ready on Wednesday.
We're also cruising round France with our 2014 Comformatic crossing fingers with every gearchange.
So far done a bit of the Pyrenees and Alps with nothing more than a warm smelly engine/clutch/gearbox.

That's cheap 2000€ for a new gearbox and clutch.

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[Lenny HB]

That's cheap 2000€ for a new gearbox and clutch.

More like a clutch & DMF, gearboxes are around €8000.

 

[Bessy765]

Probably already been covered, when we bought our September 2.3 comformatic 2019 new from Southdowns, no one told us about the extra warranty available. By the time we found out it was too late. Contacted Fiat direct. They informed me they could not offer the extended warranty but would look favourably on any major issues up to 6 years as long as the van had been service by a Fiat approved dealer. So far 20560 miles no prob’s

 

[Pausim]

So initial diagnostics is potentially £3,700 ish. Mismatch between engine and gearbox suggests the clutch isn't disengaged properly so it's gearbox out to probably replace clutch a flywheel and check other fluids.

Ouch.

 

[canopus]

Re the Fiat 3 year extended warranty (£866.66). It makes you wonder how confident Fiat are about their product, when they only give you 14 days to make your mind up to take out the extended warranty.

 

[Lenny HB]

So initial diagnostics is potentially £3,700 ish. Mismatch between engine and gearbox suggests the clutch isn't disengaged properly so it's gearbox out to probably replace clutch an flywheel and check other fluids.

That is one of the problems when the clutch fluid has not been changed regularly.

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[G7UXG]

Your van will be joining a friend of mine's van that is in at the moment having a new 9 speed box fitted Fiat are supplying the box FOC but he is not expecting any change out of £2k for labour.

I may be wrong £2000 labour to fit a ZF 9 speed? Seems a lot. Isn’t it a self-contained unit with just a power and can-bus connection to the vehicle electronics? All the controls and valves are within the gearbox. I’d like to think a competent fitter could have the old one out and a new one fitted within the day.

 

[Lenny HB]

I may be wrong £2000 labour to fit a ZF 9 speed? Seems a lot. Isn’t it a self-contained unit with just a power and can-bus connection to the vehicle electronics? All the controls and valves are within the gearbox. I’d like to think a competent fitter could have the old one out and a new one fitted within the day.

I will know in the next few days, I thought it sounded a lot, at investigation a few weeks ago they thought the gearbox was OK and it was a solenoid labour to replace that was £1900 as they had to strip down the front of the vehicle to get at it, Fiat supplied the solenoid FOC, they took it for a test drive and it went wrong and decided it was the gearbox after all, they didn't charge thankfully.

 

[dunnah01]

So initial diagnostics is potentially £3,700 ish. Mismatch between engine and gearbox suggests the clutch isn't disengaged properly so it's gearbox out to probably replace clutch an flywheel and check other fluids.

Sounds like BS, the KISS point needs to be reset after all parameters have been deleted and then the self calibration needs to be enabled. About 1/2hr on diagnostics if they have access to older versions of their software. They certainly shouldn't start changing things in the hope it cures the problem

 

[dunnah01]

That’s hedging your bets a bit

So if it’s expensive the garage is rubbish?

Post before yours over 4k repair which I have heard lots say.

Garages seem to nearly always change bits at the owners expense until they get lucky. I repaired my own for free but a garage needs to charge around £200 just to run the diagnostics and provide a cup of tea. Unfortunately they'll just tell the owner any old rubbish and change expensive bits needlessly to achieve the same results as the diagnostics would do

 

[G7UXG]

I will know in the next few days, I thought it sounded a lot, at investigation a few weeks ago they thought the gearbox was OK and it was a solenoid labour to replace that was £1900 as they had to strip down the front of the vehicle to get at it, Fiat supplied the solenoid FOC, they took it for a test drive and it went wrong and decided it was the gearbox after all, they didn't charge thankfully.

I’m not sure main dealers know how to do much more than a basic service, and that’s sometimes challenging for them.

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[dunnah01]

My sister's 2013 Comformatic Ducato came up with gears not available last week in Provence. €2000 quote for new gearbox and clutch, due to be ready on Wednesday.
We're also cruising round France with our 2014 Comformatic crossing fingers with every gearchange.
So far done a bit of the Pyrenees and Alps with nothing more than a warm smelly engine/clutch/gearbox.

Why on earth are they changing the gearbox and clutch? The price sounds more like labour and the parts will add a few more k once the bill lands

 

[Pausim]

Re the Fiat 3 year extended warranty (£866.66). It makes you wonder how confident Fiat are about their product, when they only give you 14 days to make your mind up to take out the extended warranty.

The reason for the 14 day period is because of UK financial regulations. If the extended warranty is sold as part of the original purchase from Fiat it is not subject to so many financial regulations. If it is sold later it has to be treated as a financial product and Fiat would have to register with the FCA and they would rather not get involved with that.

 

[JockandRita]

More like a clutch & DMF, gearboxes are around €8000.

Neither Comfortmatic nor Agile, but using OE Spec parts, my mechanic pal and I changed the the complete clutch kit and DMF on the Iveco Daily based Flair, whilts it was on our driveway, (with hydraulic levellers extended fully), and, all in just under 4 x hours. The warranted parts and his labour came to £800 in total.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Nanniemate]

Neither Comfortmatic nor Agile, but using OE Spec parts, my mechanic pal and I changed the the complete clutch kit and DMF on the Iveco Daily based Flair, whilts it was on our driveway, (with hydraulic levellers extended fully), and, all in just under 4 x hours. The warranted parts and his labour came to £800 in total.

Cheers,

Jock.

Not all of us have the knowledge skills and the friends with the same. Unfortunately we have to pay

 

[Lenny HB]

Neither Comfortmatic nor Agile, but using OE Spec parts, my mechanic pal and I changed the the complete clutch kit and DMF on the Iveco Daily based Flair, whilts it was on our driveway, (with hydraulic levellers extended fully), and, all in just under 4 x hours. The warranted parts and his labour came to £800 in total.

Cheers,

Jock.

I imagine a lot quicker when it's not FWD transverse engine & box.

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