Fiat Ducato Comfort-Matic Clutch Issue

[DreamerD55]

Hi

I am looking for some help, advise and general opinipons on an issue I have with the clutch on my Dreamer.

The motorhome has just completed 10K miles on the clock and is 3 years old. I have had no previous issues.

I took it away for a few days and whilst driving to the site encountered no issues. The drive was totally normal.

On leaving the site I started the van normally and then selected auto as normal but received the message 'check transmission' and it would go in to gear.

To cut a long story short it was taken to a Fiat dealer who eventually diagnosed the fault as the clutch had gone. I diod find it strange as the van had driven perfectly normally up to the issue occuring. Fiat then changed the clutch and then reported back that the van had a low voltage issue which they believe was the reason the clutch went but they couldn't diagnose the problem and were waiting for Fiat support to advise them.

It now turns out they are saying it needs a new clutch sensor (I believe its a potentiometer) and I am waiting for this to be fitted.

My questions are:

1. Could a faulty clutch sensor cause the clutch to wear out as they say?
2. Could the intial fault have just been a faulty sensor and they have changed the clutch for no reason?
3. Is this an issue that anyone else has experienced?

Thank you in anticipation of some advise.

Regards

Kevin

 

[ChrisL]

Welcome to fun, sorry to hear you have an issue. I don't have first hand experience but if you try the search function for comfort-matic or alternate spellings you will find several threads where people have had similar issues, it might be as simple as a dodgy engine earth strap or could be much more.

 

[dunnah01]

Your dealers are probably talking tosh and changing bits hoping to get lucky. If they haven't run a 'clutch self calibration enable' routine then this needs to be done. It needs a few hundred yards of straight road to do it properly

 

[Andyoxon]

I’ve been searching online to find out how to run a clutch self calibration enable routine, but can’t find a full explanation purhaps someone could explain how to do this and recommend any equipment required/ diagnostic scanner. Hope someone can help or post a link to a site I couldn’t find,

cheers

​

 

[ianto999]

Your dealers are probably talking tosh and changing bits hoping to get lucky. If they haven't run a 'clutch self calibration enable' routine then this needs to be done. It needs a few hundred yards of straight road to do it properly

Would also like to know more about how to do this calibration. Thanks

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[Lenny HB]

The problem with the Comfomatic even most Fiat Professional dealers don't understand then.

At 3 years old and only 10,000 miles the only time I would expect the clutch would fail would be fluid contamination or clutch fluid contamination (should be changed & clutch recalibrate every 2 years). If its contaminated it can cause the clutch not to pull in properly causing clutch and DMF damage.

About the only dealer in the south who are compident to work Comformaics is Adams Morey at Portsmouth.

 

[dunnah01]

Would also like to know more about how to do this calibration. Thanks

You'll need a registered copy of Multiecuscan (MES) (or dealer software). On my older version you need to execute the routine and drive 300yds, but later versions are a static execution so no need to drive anywhere. The procedure re-learns the clutch bite (KISS) point to compensate for wear in the system.
This is a screenshot of the MES routine just prior to execution showing the instructions: