Checking and changing Comformatic gearbox oil.

[peterc10]

They lo

They look like washer fluid, power steering, coolant and brake reservoirs so there should be a couple hidden away on the other side of the engine bay behind the air filter on top of the gearbox

Well I think that I have found it. Hidden by two large air intake ducts for the turbo and large metal plate in front of it with electrics on it. I don't know how you managed to take that photo with nothing around it. I have an A class and they are going to have to strip bits out to get to it.

 

[dunnah01]

My current understanding, and please, correct me if I’m wrong, is that there are 3 separate fluids to consider.
1. Gearbox Oil - which will outlast the clutch and so will not need changing until the clutch needs replacing.
2. Hydraulic Oil (Dexron) - which does not normally need replacing.
3. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid (DOT 4) - which does need replacing every 2 years, although recommended for annual replacement by Adams Morey, Portsmouth.

Spot on with the 3 different fluids and how often they do or don't need changing

 

[dunnah01]

Well I think that I have found it. Hidden by two large air intake ducts for the turbo and large metal plate in front of it with electrics on it. I don't know how you managed to take that photo with nothing around it. I have an A class and they are going to have to strip bits out to get to it.

Agreed it's hidden well even on a big standard cab
Once the air filter is removed it's amazing how much is revealed.

 

[peterc10]

View attachment 812435
Agreed it's hidden well even on a big standard cab
Once the air filter is removed it's amazing how much is revealed.

You have a different air intake and filter than mine by the look of it. Being an A class Hymer 2 x 150mm diameter expanding air ducts running in front of your air intake and the metal bracket. That was why I couldn't see it.

 

[DBK]

OK I have a plan.

We will not be using the motorhome until the new year at the earliest because Angela will be having her second hip operation soon. In addition our daughter and Son in Law are coming over for Xmas, so no Benidorm at Christmas. So in October I will take the motorhome to our local mechanic and get him to do a full service including changing the gearbox oil and MOT. l will not get him to touch the Hydraulic clutch fluid or the clutch fluid. I will book a separate visit to a specialist in comformatic gearboxes and who can recalibrate the clutch mechanism.

We are in West Kent so it's quite a long drive the Adams Morley in Pompey. Does anybody know any other garage nearer to us that could be able to do this properly? Our nearest Fiat Pro dealer, Northern Commercials in Sevenoaks, is slapdash and expensive, so don't want to use them

There are several Adams Morey branches in the south and west of the UK but I think the one at Portsmouth is closest to you. Whether they all understand Comfortmatics is a different question. There's one in Plymouth near where I live and I intend to talk to them soon and see if they are familiar with the system. Depending on the answer I may be heading for Portsmouth!

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[Minxy]

There are several Adams Morey branches in the south and west of the UK but I think the one at Portsmouth is closest to you. Whether they all understand Comfortmatics is a different question. There's one in Plymouth near where I live and I intend to talk to them soon and see if they are familiar with the system. Depending on the answer I may be heading for Portsmouth!

I thought Peter liked Pompey ...

 

[Pausim]

There are several Adams Morey branches in the south and west of the UK but I think the one at Portsmouth is closest to you. Whether they all understand Comfortmatics is a different question. There's one in Plymouth near where I live and I intend to talk to them soon and see if they are familiar with the system. Depending on the answer I may be heading for Portsmouth!

Adams Morey have been expanding into the Southwest recently but I am not sure all of the new branches are Fiat Professional, the Plymouth one seems to be DAF Trucks. The new branches may not be up to speed on Comfortmatic problems.

 

[Rodders1234]

Help, this is a very confusing subject as there seesm to be inconsistent messages. Not just in this thread but also from local garages. I have contacted 3 local garages (2 Fiat approved) and only one has seemed interested in comfortmatic. Although this garage did not change comfortmatic oil as a serviced scheduled item and had to check whether it was required.
They are Hutton Fiat in Weston Super Mare who said:
I have been doing some digging into the gearbox oil change for you and we have now found that there are intervals for this to be replaced, which are every 2 years, according to the schedule.
This would include the gearbox oil being replaced and the oil for the gearbox control unit being replaced, as these are 2 separate things.
The estimated cost to do this would be approximately £396.00 including VAT.

So very expensive and no discount if done as part of an annual service.

Does anyone have AM contact name to get a quote or any alternatives? Thanks

 

[Riverbankannie]

Help, this is a very confusing subject as there seesm to be inconsistent messages. Not just in this thread but also from local garages. I have contacted 3 local garages (2 Fiat approved) and only one has seemed interested in comfortmatic. Although this garage did not change comfortmatic oil as a serviced scheduled item and had to check whether it was required.
They are Hutton Fiat in Weston Super Mare who said:
I have been doing some digging into the gearbox oil change for you and we have now found that there are intervals for this to be replaced, which are every 2 years, according to the schedule.
This would include the gearbox oil being replaced and the oil for the gearbox control unit being replaced, as these are 2 separate things.
The estimated cost to do this would be approximately £396.00 including VAT.

So very expensive and no discount if done as part of an annual service.

Does anyone have AM contact name to get a quote or any alternatives? Thanks

AG 2602 had this quote from them, just for clutch fluid change and calibration

Hi Just an update from Huttons near Weston Super Mare they can change the hydrolic clutch fluid and perfom a re learn for £360 inc vat. She seemed to think that it would be a 3 hour job.

I am taking ours to AM at Portsmouth dropping down after a rally at Devizes.
The service manager is Simon but I didn’t speak to him.

 

[rupert]

This is turning into a pantomime.... (oh no it isn't).. £369
After lots of reading various threads on this subject not least on MHF I decided to bleed the clutch dot 4 as described by dunnah01 in this thread. ie. gravity bleed, this procedure took all of 20 mins from start to finish,
with the aid of a brake bleeder. The dot 4 has prolly never been done in the 13 years of life of my c class 3.0 and was BLACK. Spurred on by this success I changed the contents of the hydraulic oil reservoir with the recommended oil. This oil looked very clean and no different from the new oil ,so I didn't take it any further
I may add, I contacted 2 fiat professional garages a, trusted local garage, and a recommended transmission specialist to have this work carried out, none of which were prepared to get involved.
all the work was done on my drive from under the bonnet. this not a difficult task, IF you can bleed your brakes you can do this job...I love my comfortmatic coupled with the 3.0 engine and had no problems before or after

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[Lenny HB]

Did you recalibrate the clutch bite point afterwards using Multiscan or similar software?
If not you could be in for big problems it's a very important part of the job.

 

[rupert]

hi Lenny HB I didn't do any re calibrating ( not got multiecuscan as yet) I didn't see the need for that as I haven't had any probs before or after The van doesn't even know I did it (shhh)

 

[rupert]

I think all this recalibrating etc. hocuspocus is scaring people into paying exorbitant prices for this relatively simple task. Don't mess with calibrations unless there is a problem. I have been informed the 'kiss' point calibration with the correct software takes but a few mins to accomplish, so this does not justify the outrageous charges banded about. if I feel it's needed I will purchase multiecuscan software but see it unnecessary for me at the mo

 

[Rodders1234]

Interesting - Did you replace the gear box oil or just replace the hydraulic clutch activation system oil?

 

[rupert]

No not gearbox oil
Just dot 4 clutch activation and hydrolic oil for gear change

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