Comfortmatic gearbox (2 Viewers)

Jan 3, 2017
215
122
Huntly
Funster No
46,720
MH
Frankia i640 SD
Exp
Since 2004
Just checking with members, how they were finding the Comfortmatic gearbox reliablability wise in action. Hear annecdotale tales of woe on other Facebook pages, and it is hard to judge how big a problem it is.
 

Portland

Free Member
Oct 31, 2013
923
1,424
Conwy
Funster No
28,820
MH
C class
Exp
20 years
Had one for years, never trusted it but never had any troubles other than a couple of occasions when you could smell the clutch after going up very long and severe climbs. Also tend to make the motor a little bit thirsty

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Apr 30, 2018
1,982
4,399
Mid Suffolk
Funster No
53,655
MH
Adria Matrix 670DC
Exp
Motorhoming since 2018.
2.5 years old and 10,500miles. No issues in the 8 months and 5000miles we've owned it.
 

TheBig1

LIFE MEMBER
Nov 27, 2011
17,591
42,987
Dorset
Funster No
19,048
MH
A class
Exp
many many years! since I was a kid
I know of firms that specified them on high use vehicles like minibuses. No end of clutch issues, but it may be down to the profile of how they are driven
 
Dec 31, 2017
647
708
South East
Funster No
51,792
MH
Burstner T690G
Exp
Caravanner 40 years. Motorhome 8
Ours is great. 4 years holidays all over Europe and UK, 20,000 miles averaging 33/34 to the gallon. Far better than anything we achieved with our Landrover when towing.

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fleurette

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 30, 2012
253
156
worcester
Funster No
22,197
MH
A Class Frankia I640 SD
Exp
1990
2 years on our 640i and so glad that I chose it, just takes the stress out of driving
 

mikebeaches

LIFE MEMBER
Feb 22, 2010
5,392
8,592
Bristol
Funster No
10,377
MH
Rapido V68 Van Conversion
Exp
Since 2009
Just over 2.5 years old from new, about 11k miles - no problems thus far. (y)
 

two

Aug 4, 2011
4,901
4,571
West Midlands
Funster No
17,624
MH
A-Class Fiat
I don't have much good to say about my Fiat, but the auto box seems to be OK.

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Riverbankannie

LIFE MEMBER
Mar 11, 2016
10,493
61,377
Bristol
Funster No
41,967
MH
IH 630 RL PVC
Exp
12
Just over 3 years and we like it even though hubby suspicious about it before we had it. Having it made the decision to go automatic for our car easier!
 

RandallC

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 4, 2012
1,241
3,487
Devizes
Funster No
22,267
MH
A Class Rapido 8096
Exp
2012, prior too, 17 years Folding Camper & Caravan
Has anyone had a clutch problem with comfortmatic ?

The clutch was replaced at 15,000 due to slipping...… BUT think I got ripped off as they said its due to the dual mass flywheel having too much play and causing the clutch to slip under load on hills in 5/6th.

Believe since then all that was needed was a visit to a proper fiat tech to have the comfortmatic system reset.

Allegedly the system periodically resets/calibrates itself to set clutch clearances (accounting for wear etc) and sometimes this gets screwed by Gremlins.

Anyway deeply out of pocket for the replacement, only later found out the garage who said they had done loads of these had to by £800 worth of tools to bleed and reset the box after clutch fitting.

would advise (think there might be a thread on this) taking the MH to a Fiat commercial garage for a diagnostic check.

Other than that the comfortmatic gear box is very good. like all systems it has its odd spots, but after a few miles you know when a quick flip on the gear lever to help it say change down for a corner with hill. not that it doesn't cope but just makes things smoother.
 
Apr 15, 2015
600
1,034
Whitchurch, Shropshire
Funster No
35,868
MH
Carthago E-Line 50
Exp
Since May 2011
Nov 11, 2013
1,959
6,893
Tewkesbury
Funster No
28,984
MH
Hymer T-SL 668
Exp
March 2014
We love ours and call it Colin, as in "Colin’s changing gear again". It’s such a ponderous gear change that it’s a bit like having an elderly gentleman in the cab pressing the clutch pedal for you.
 

RandallC

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 4, 2012
1,241
3,487
Devizes
Funster No
22,267
MH
A Class Rapido 8096
Exp
2012, prior too, 17 years Folding Camper & Caravan
ER, HEM,

Dare I say Colin is not alone!

Having said that the 3.0l fiat ducato TAG axle isn't exactly a snail, the comfortmatic box generally makes for a relaxed drive.

Must confess I was a bit apprehensive heading into the French alps and came across a bit of a hill,

No problem, up it she went no cyclic gear change issues, kept the revs steady and no temperature rise issues in the engine. RESULT.

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Sep 23, 2013
2,583
8,736
Lincs
Funster No
28,231
MH
Globecar Campscout
Exp
Since 2008 (started in a VW T4 campervan)
36000 mls & 5 year & fingers crossed no problem. Not the best for delicate parking manoeuvrers if you are on a hill in a very tight spot, but very much easier for general driving.

6 manual gears in a sports saloon is fun. In a motorhome it's just tedious.
 

Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
53,280
149,390
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
20000 miles in the last van in just over 2½ years no problems. Current van under 2 years old 15000 miles, so far no problems.
 

Steve and Denise

LIFE MEMBER
Sep 26, 2011
5,278
14,065
Spalding LINCS
Funster No
18,300
MH
A Class Carthago
Exp
Since 2008
I was a bit concerned at first so took out extended warranty 5T tag and often tow a car no issues as yet

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Apr 10, 2010
551
544
Bedfordshire
Funster No
10,998
MH
Carthago
Exp
Since Sept 2003
Before I had one I wouldn't have chosen it, except that the used van I bought had it. Now on the third vehicle with it and wouldn't have anything else.
 

rrusty

Free Member
Dec 4, 2009
258
212
Scotland
Funster No
9,563
MH
None sold sept 2019
Exp
7
9 years old and 50000 miles, clutch broke 2 years ago at 40000 miles. 5500kg fully loaded and regularly take it on 4000-5000 10 week trips all over Spain,France and Germany and love driving it.
 

Happy Jim

LIFE MEMBER
Jun 13, 2017
338
507
Devon
Funster No
49,020
MH
Rapido 9095DF
Exp
Since June 2017
I was apprehensive but the van was right, now 2 years down the line I’d happily take another, relaxed and easy, engine braking down hill etc zero issues.

Jim

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Westerham Womble

Free Member
Feb 26, 2019
49
33
Westerham Common sometimes
Funster No
58,773
MH
Low Profile
Exp
3 years
Sadly I can report the Comfortmatic is not infallible, ours is currently in for its first service at just under 2 years and 18000 miles and it needs a new clutch and flywheel, currently Fiat are saying its not covered by the warranty as there was a clutch overheat logged on the ECU. I explained this was a fault of the hill holder not releasing and awaiting further news from dealer. I can concur it does make for a relaxing drive however.
Anyone else have hill holder issues, on ours it has refused to release about 6 times since new so unsurprisingly the dealer couldn't replicate the fault in a 15 mile drive. Each time need to turn the ignition off and back on to clear. Guess what thats not logged by the ecu ......
 
OP
OP
Cairngorm
Jan 3, 2017
215
122
Huntly
Funster No
46,720
MH
Frankia i640 SD
Exp
Since 2004
Sadly I can report the Comfortmatic is not infallible, ours is currently in for its first service at just under 2 years and 18000 miles and it needs a new clutch and flywheel, currently Fiat are saying its not covered by the warranty as there was a clutch overheat logged on the ECU. I explained this was a fault of the hill holder not releasing and awaiting further news from dealer. I can concur it does make for a relaxing drive however.
Anyone else have hill holder issues, on ours it has refused to release about 6 times since new so unsurprisingly the dealer couldn't replicate the fault in a 15 mile drive. Each time need to turn the ignition off and back on to clear. Guess what thats not logged by the ecu ......
Haven’t heard that one before and hope you get it resolved to your satisfaction.
 

Happy Jim

LIFE MEMBER
Jun 13, 2017
338
507
Devon
Funster No
49,020
MH
Rapido 9095DF
Exp
Since June 2017
Is hill hold a later thing? Or am I a biff and just don’t know how to use a feature (2010 Rapido)?
Jim

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