Comfortmatic gearbox

Cairngorm

Cairngorm

Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Posts
216
Likes collected
122
Location
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.
 
Mine works fine after 7k miles and haven’t seen many reports of problems on here.
 
Has anyone had a clutch problem with comfortmatic ?

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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
 
2.5 years old and 10,500miles. No issues in the 8 months and 5000miles we've owned it.
 
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
 
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.
 
2 years on our 640i and so glad that I chose it, just takes the stress out of driving

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Just over 2.5 years old from new, about 11k miles - no problems thus far. (y)
 
I did not like it to start with , but after our second van that has one I love it
 
I don't have much good to say about my Fiat, but the auto box seems to be OK.

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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!
 
Larrynwin said:
Has anyone had a clutch problem with comfortmatic ?
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
4 years and 43k miles and I still love it, especially in France with all those damned roundabouts.

Richard.

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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
I was a bit concerned at first so took out extended warranty 5T tag and often tow a car no issues as yet
 
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.

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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.
 
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
 
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 ......
 
Westerham Womble said:
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 ......
Click to expand...
Haven’t heard that one before and hope you get it resolved to your satisfaction.
 
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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