Told to leave the Comfortmatic in gear before turning engine off...

[TheLifeofBrian]

I'm doing what it says in the manual, leave in gear and switch off. It's just the same as parking a manual and leaving it in gear. Why wouldn't you do that?

Exactly what I think. Apparently I confused the gearbox by not putting it into neutral??????

 

[Pausim]

Just had a quick look at the Comformatic Handbook and they do stress “IMPORTANT NEVER leave your vehicle with your gearbox in neutral.”

I also noticed that they advise shifting to neutral when parked for long periods with the engine running. Is this the Comformatic equivalent to not riding the clutch when stationary or just to guard against it creeping off if you are distracted? When I was young I was in trouble for bending the front wing on the firms van, the boss said he would be speaking to me in the morning about this. Fortunately that evening he started his automatic Jag and was about to drive off when he remembered some papers he needed and shot back inside. While he was away the engine warmed up, drive engaged and it drove itself into the back of the same van. I never heard anything more about my misdemeanour.

 

[Lenny HB]

Always turn ours off in gear otherwise I'm deafened by the beeps.
Our first Comfomatic you had to put it in neutral before you could start it.

Current one it you start it in gear it automatically selects neutral before turning over. But you still have to put the gear lever into neutral before it will allow you to select a gear. Also if you open the drivers door with the engine running it selects neutral.

 

[Bessy765]

There is no mechanical connection between the gear-lever and the box. All changes are done through the servers/solenoids
ideally leave the van in first or reverse depending which way you are facing. When you turn the key to start a comformatic it sends a signal to the relevant server/solenoids to shift into neutral.

 

[IRHP]

There is no mechanical connection between the gear-lever and the box. All changes are done through the servers/solenoids
ideally leave the van in first or reverse depending which way you are facing. When you turn the key to start a comformatic it sends a signal to the relevant server/solenoids to shift into neutral.

Fly by wire

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[SteveRallye]

I am on my 2nd M/H with the comformatic gearbox and they are an acquired taste but I like them especially after reverting to a Peugeot based M/H for 3 years.So yes it has to be in gear at shut down and never had a problem so far touch wood.

 

[Buster54]

We have just had the first MOT carried out on our A Class which has a Fiat Comfortmatic gearbox.

Due to work committments, I wasn't able to collect it, but the Beauty Terrorist did. No problems with it passing the MOT but on collection, the mechanic recommended leaving it in gear when turning the engine off - he said it automatically restarts in Neutral.

Anybody know why this would be recommended or beneficial?

Thanks

Leaving it in gear is extra safety precaution when on a hill as a comformatic does not have Park like the conventional torque converter.

 

[Buster54]

Have you not got P on a comformatic?

No P 4 Park on comformatic.