Ducato Comfort-matic transmission problems

[Bobmbell]

I bought an Adria Coral in October 2011, fitted with the 3.0 litre engine and comfort matic gearbox. Whilst I love the effortless driving with the auto box, I have expoerienced some problems which appear to be getting worse. The problem relates to hesitation on the take up of the drive, both in forward and reverse. It first happened the Easter after purchase - coming out of a driveway from a CL with the Coral being the best part of seven and a half meters long, I had to drive almost to the far side of the road before turning - the drive just wasnt there - good job there was no traffic coming. Bit scary. Since then it has been noticable when wither driving out of my drive ( about 60cm wider than the van) or reversing into it. It has to be a slow process to ensure I do not catch the rear end on the house wall or the fence. The drive on the van will dissapear at times as I slowly move, stop to check my clearances, and move again. During these manouvers I quite often have to brake or slow to a stop and then the drive will fail to take up again or come in with a clunk if too much acceleration is applied. I noticed that the has been a letter in April's MMM, entitled 'Automatic Advice' from Vince Wright, which sounds very simelar to my problem. I will book the vehicle into my nearest dealer in Dumfries and hope they can sort this out. Anyone else had probles with this aoto box?

 

[vincechris]

Very interested in your comments and reference to my letter which were passed on to me a liitle late in the day. Would be interested to know how you are progressing with a problem which seems quite rare and is therefore, partly because of this, quite baffling. My dealership thought they had diagnosed where the fault was. They checked a multi pin connector under the engine and I ran for 1000 miles with no issues but then it returned. Fiat Professional seem to think the problem is electrical rather than mechanical and the plan now is to recheck the same connector. My sympyoms are the same as yours but it has only ever occurred when the engione is hot and then when we come to a halt. Fiat Professional have been very helpful and I gather after the fault recurred they checked data across all their vehicle records in Europe - hence suggested checking electrics. But finding an electrical fault that is intermittant and only occurs very rarely might be tricky. At least I know if I let the engine cool down I can be mobile again. Once had no drive take up at all so we just stayed put until the morning and then away we went!!
Do let me know how you are progressing - might be useful for both our dealerships.

 

[katetaylor1]

Thanks for sharing this info, I don't know how many people have taken up the automatic transmission option, but it's great to know that if you just let the motorhome cool down you can get on your way again.
Kate

 

[Bobmbell]

Update on my auto box problem - since my first post, the van has twice been into North East Trucks in Carlisle, second visit the engineer did an update to the software and said he hoped this would solve the problem -NO! Been away on a six week tour of Devon and Cornwall and problem raised its ugly head a number of times - became quite frustrating at times. Since arriving back home, got in contact with a garage inWakefield and spoke to the Service Manager. He has agreed to investigate the problem but would need the van for a couple of days - long way to travel but need to sort the problem out as warrenty due to expire in a couple of months. Not been able to do anything about this as I have had a partial detachment of the retina in my right eye! therefore cannot drive. Hope to bee able to arrange this trip in the next month - eye being passed fit to drive! Will let you know the outcome.
ps had to move the van out of the drive yesterday and the fault is still there.
Bob

 

[Bugsy.47]

HI
how are you progressing with the Comfort Matic gearbox problems
is anyone else experiencing similar problems
Bugsy.47