Driving on to levellers - Comformatic gearbox (1 Viewer)

[The Dudess]

Got a 2.3l 150 bhp Frankia on a Fiat Ducato.
Had a problem when trying to drive onto levellers this morning. Once in position, put handbrake on and each time the van rolled back down to a lower level and although it's holding on the handbrake at the lower level it now creaks. Should we be trying to do this in 'manual' mode? Or any other tips.
Only picked up this new van yesterday so be kind!

 

[MillieMoocher]

We picked our comfortmatic up last week and were told to park in gear - reverse or forward, but not neutral. Would this help?

They also told us to move gear level to neutral if sat at lights or in a queue for a long time as it will reduce wear on the clutch - just as you would a conventional gearbox - which you wouldn't sit in gear with the clutch down in for ages either. This may be a well known tip, but it was new to me!

 

[Bill_OR]

If you are new to using the Comformatic box then it's worth reading the Fiat manual about it. I didn't get a copy with my motorhome but found it on the web
http://aftersales.fiat.com/eLumData...7_250_DUCATO_603.95.838_EN_01_10.11_SC_CM.pdf

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[Lenny HB]

Normally creaks and settles back a bit but not a whole level. You say you only picked up the van yesterday, they take a little while to settle in see how it is after a 1000 miles. Selecting manual won't make any difference.
When the van is new we always have trouble reversing onto our drive as need to get the back end within a couple of inches of the garage gutter always a bit dodgy until the van has done 500 - 1000 miles. Last van and current one the same, both 150 hp Comformatic. The gear change also gets better after you have done 12,000 - 15,000 miles, the gearbox software is set up for a fully run in engine (15,000 miles).

 

[davejen]

Probably once you are at the required level, change into reverse, stop engine then put brake on- might be better.
Cheers, Dave

 

[Lenny HB]

Probably once you are at the required level, change into reverse, stop engine then put brake on- might be better.
Cheers, Dave

I would have thought it would be better left in 1st as that is the lower gear.

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[Tony50]

Hi I have just bought s Chausson with a 180 HP engine and a Comfortmatic gearbox being in theMotor trade all my working life, and knowing the guts inside the gearbox I am reluctant to leave it gear,I would rather chock the wheels, apart from now getting used to the gearbox operation which seems about Mickey mouse it drives very well and seems quite powerful.
Tony 50

 

[ianandkath]

should have bought an american rv, no problems with levelers, just park, put the jacks down and beer out

 

[Just smiffy]

I think this thread should be more about the hand brake, not the gearbox...... if it's a new van the brakes will take time to settle and bed in ... especially the rears as that's what the handbrake controls...

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[icantremember]

should have bought an american rv, no problems with levelers, just park, put the jacks down and beer out

Since when does it have to be an American RV?

 

[ianandkath]

Since when does it have to be an American RV?
View attachment 172576

when its only a small mh, my jacks 4 times that size

 

[dodfloss]

Hi I have just bought s Chausson with a 180 HP engine and a Comfortmatic gearbox being in theMotor trade all my working life, and knowing the guts inside the gearbox I am reluctant to leave it gear,I would rather chock the wheels, apart from now getting used to the gearbox operation which seems about Mickey mouse it drives very well and seems quite powerful.
Tony 50

Hi Tony, I have no idea on mechanics, is it wrong to leave a Mh in gear? I have a Euro 5 manual fiat . Any advice would be welcome. Cheers

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[Tony50]

The handbrake should hold it on levellers the same as parking on a hill even if it's a new vehicle but if you feel better by leaving in gear I would apply handbrake but make sure there is no load on the gearbox
Tony50

 

[icantremember]

when its only a small mh, my jacks 4 times that size

I think you will find it's not size that matters!

 

[ianandkath]

I think you will find it's not size that matters!

size does matter, ask my wife

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[dodfloss]

The handbrake should hold it on levellers the same as parking on a hill even if it's a new vehicle but if you feel better by leaving in gear I would apply handbrake but make sure there is no load on the gearbox
Tony50

Thanks

 

[DBK]

Hi Tony, I have no idea on mechanics, is it wrong to leave a Mh in gear? I have a Euro 5 manual fiat . Any advice would be welcome. Cheers

You should leave the Comfortmatic in gear when parking. It will beep very loudly at you if you try and turn the engine off in neutral. Warning you of your error.

It's basically just a manual gearbox internally, so leaving it in gear is exactly the same as parking a vehicle with a manual box which is also recommended as you can never trust handbrakes.

So to answer your question, park it in gear always, whether manual or Comfortmatic. Traditional automatics are different - they have a dedicated parking position where the transmission is locked.

 

[Tony50]

Hi dodfloss.in your case , with a manual gearbox , apply hand brake , if it's still in gear with engine running switch off engine and depress couch pedal so as not to leave load on gearbox alternatively, apply handbrake put in neutral switch off then putinto gear, nobody will convince me to leave aload on the gearbox whatever a Dealer told me .
Tony50

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[makems]

Mr BeeKeeper is correct. The Fiat Comfortmatic manual says ALWAYS leave in gear when parking.
We suffered the same roll back issue for ages until I bothered to read the manual.

 

[icantremember]

I reckon there's far more stress on the gearbox when driving than could ever be in a parking situation.

 

[Deneb]

I reckon there's far more stress on the gearbox when driving than could ever be in a parking situation.

I would agree. Also, I don't think anyone is suggesting that you have to "load" the gearbox before applying the parking brake, but by leaving the vehicle in gear it provides an additional safety measure should the parking brake fail or be unable to hold the vehicle for any reason.

On modern vehicles with split line hydraulic braking systems, the parking brake is no longer required to also function as an emergency brake and parking brake minimum efficiency requirements are substantially less than they were when that was the case.

Many vehicle handbooks also include an instruction to leave the vehicle in gear and not rely solely on the parking brake when leaving the vehicle unattended. This includes the current Ducato handbook, which says "Stop the engine and engage the handbrake; engage a gear and leave the wheels steered".

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[icantremember]

I would agree. Also, I don't think anyone is suggesting that you have to "load" the gearbox before applying the parking brake, but by leaving the vehicle in gear it provides an additional safety measure should the parking brake fail or be unable to hold the vehicle for any reason.

On modern vehicles with split line hydraulic braking systems, the parking brake is no longer required to also function as an emergency brake and parking brake minimum efficiency requirements are substantially less than they were when that was the case.

Many vehicle handbooks also include an instruction to leave the vehicle in gear and not rely solely on the parking brake when leaving the vehicle unattended. This includes the current Ducato handbook, which says "Stop the engine and engage the handbrake; engage a gear and leave the wheels steered".

In order to leave the Comfortmatic in gear you have to have gear selected before switching off the engine. On restarting it will automatically select neutral.

 

[Tony50]

Nobodies said don't leave it in gear what I mentioned was don't leave a load on the transmission/gearbox.
Tony 50. PS see donor's last paragraph stop engine apply handbrake ,put in gear ,that's it [ no load ]

 

[makems]

Nobodies said don't leave it in gear what I mentioned was don't leave a load on the transmission/gearbox.
Tony 50. PS see donor's last paragraph stop engine apply handbrake ,put in gear ,that's it [ no load ]

Where the Comfortmatic is concerned you have to select gear BEFORE you turn off the engine.
Once the engine is switched off, moving the gear selector has no effect.

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[Lenny HB]

Where the Comfortmatic is concerned you have to select gear BEFORE you turn off the engine.
Once the engine is switched off, moving the gear selector has no effect.

With engine off and ignition on you can still select gears.

 

[Tony50]

Lenny HB well done no load on Gearbox leaving in gear (forward gear )to stop it rolling back off ramps would certainly put a load on the gearbox if the vehicle moved backwards which the gearbox is not designed to do, in fact if a load in it's unnatural state was applied it would certainly put more stress on the gearbox than normal driving.

Tony A

 

[makems]

With engine off and ignition on you can still select gears.

I am not sure. You can certainly move the control lever, but without the engine running I don't think the hydraulic system will be running to effect the changes. I may be wrong......

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[Lenny HB]

I am not sure. You can certainly move the control lever, but without the engine running I don't think the hydraulic system will be running to effect the changes. I may be wrong......

On my 2nd Comformatic does it on both. It uses electrical actuators to change gear you can hear them selecting the gears.

 

[BILL 875]

All in all i think fiat handbrakes are not the best the creaking is the M/H moving when the H/B is on, on the levellers, i parked on shallow slope and had to pull the H/B out off the floor to hold it will be buying chocks at my next M/H show, M/H done 5500 mls 9 months old.
Bill

 

[makems]

All in all i think fiat handbrakes are not the best the creaking is the M/H moving when the H/B is on, on the levellers, i parked on shallow slope and had to pull the H/B out off the floor to hold it will be buying chocks at my next M/H show, M/H done 5500 mls 9 months old.
Bill

I always use chocks when on ramps. Because I dont drive due to poor eyesight Gwen drives up onto the ramps and holds it on the footbrake while I whack the chocks in. Job done, no rollback.

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