How bad is Fiats comformatic gearbox

[peter.green]

Seen a few vans with this gearbox, just how bad are they driven loads of torque boxes and loved them, so why are Fiats so bad

 

[WESTY66]

I really need to buy a windows computer and MEUscan

 

[Clive Mott]

Fiat dropped it as soon as they could.

 

[dunnah01]

Fiat dropped it as soon as they could.

Took Fiat over 20 years to find something better..

 

[deemac]

Seen a few vans with this gearbox, just how bad are they driven loads of torque boxes and loved them, so why are Fiats so bad

I have had a comfortmatic for 7 years with no problem. You need to learn how to use it properly and follow the maintenance schedule.

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[Brakes508]

No I don't think it has any problems, the vans only over a month old but I've put a couple of 1000 miles on it now and it's still crap, the auto is just too slow to move up the gears when your driving off it sits in the same gear until its revving its head off when first taking off, it revs up far too much and when it's eventually up the gears it changes gears far too many times for what it's doing, for example yesterday driving along at a steady 55 mph or so and up ahead is a slight incline and I mean slight about 50 metres long at most and yet there it is dropping down gears to climb it and there's absolutely no need to change gears, the amount of gear changes it does I would never need to do in a manual van, its just a dose yet others think its fantastic lol
I should never have bought it, I've never had an automatic motorhome before and never will again, I should of listened to my gut instincts but nothing I can do now, as I say at least the Mrs likes it

A couple of things to "keep in mind" with both a motorhome and the comformatic box. A lot of issues are caused by "driver behaviour or expectation" It will not change gear like an automatic in a car, think of the weight you have (our's is 5.25 ton) resist from being impatient and reverting to manual mode to change gear, they're automatic for a reason. When they appear to over rev this is engine braking or torque stretching to assist and ease braking. When you park up always leave the gearbox in first gear, the handbook tells you this but a lot of owners don't read then sadly. Plan your stopping and starting, rolling is always better and reduces the load on the clutch and gearbox. Don't expect it to pull away from lights or a roundabout quickly, they are commercial vehicles after all and not a hot hatch. Service the gearbox regularly (oil changes, re teach) this will also remove a lot of issues. Ours is 11 years old with 52k on it and no issue, I quite like the lazy relaxed drive on it as I just think it's like driving one of our lorries and adjust my driving style accordingly. I think the box gets a bit of a bad rap (unjustifiably) but do appreciate that like anything mechanical you can get issues. I would always look to have an auto over a manual now tbh as we find it more relaxing to drive. My last thought like anything is always road test something before you buy it, done it for 35 years with company cars and vans / lorries at least that way you know what to expect and make a judgement from there for my tuppence-worth . Hopefully you have many years of happy adventures.

 

[dunnah01]

A couple of things to "keep in mind" with both a motorhome and the comformatic box. A lot of issues are caused by "driver behaviour or expectation" It will not change gear like an automatic in a car, think of the weight you have (our's is 5.25 ton) resist from being impatient and reverting to manual mode to change gear, they're automatic for a reason. When they appear to over rev this is engine braking or torque stretching to assist and ease braking. When you park up always leave the gearbox in first gear, the handbook tells you this but a lot of owners don't read then sadly. Plan your stopping and starting, rolling is always better and reduces the load on the clutch and gearbox. Don't expect it to pull away from lights or a roundabout quickly, they are commercial vehicles after all and not a hot hatch. Service the gearbox regularly (oil changes, re teach) this will also remove a lot of issues. Ours is 11 years old with 52k on it and no issue, I quite like the lazy relaxed drive on it as I just think it's like driving one of our lorries and adjust my driving style accordingly. I think the box gets a bit of a bad rap (unjustifiably) but do appreciate that like anything mechanical you can get issues. I would always look to have an auto over a manual now tbh as we find it more relaxing to drive. My last thought like anything is always road test something before you buy it, done it for 35 years with company cars and vans / lorries at least that way you know what to expect and make a judgement from there for my tuppence-worth . Hopefully you have many years of happy adventures.

I think the post was about driving a Merc true slush box not a Fiat Comfortmatic

 

[Steve-N]

I never said it wasn't a ZF, I just said where it is made.

Haha, Ok, fair enough

Probably made in China like just about everything else in the world, I certainly wouldn't be the least bit surprised

 

[ChrisL]

CaptainPaul did you try reseting your box as per the video I linked to in post #67, just wondering if it helped at all?

 

[Steve-N]

Just on the 9 speed ZF auto box, there is a Fiat recall on it, but Fiat never contacted me, I phoned them to ask. It was to do with the software. I also heard about these boxes being under filled from new so asked my supplying dealer to check it before I picked it up which they said they did. I wasn't convinced so got my local garage to check. The only way to check it is to drain the box and check how much drains out. It is supposed to hold 6 litres. When drained, mine had just under 4 litres (5 months old and 3000mls). They ordered the correct Fiat fluid and filled with the correct 6 litres. Anyone with this 9 speed auto, I would recommend contacting Fiat professional about a possible recall and getting the auto fluid content checked.

It's not usual for a auto box to drain completely, as some fluid will still be trapped in the convertor and low points below the drain point.

If a brand new box took 6 litres, you wouldn't drain 6 litres back out.

I'd also find it hard to grasp how a box could be under filled during manufacturing as the fluid would be dispensed by a metered bulk supply system, no way would there be a assembly worker with a bottle and funnel.
This is the same as the coolant and brake systems, fluids are dispensed from bulk supply lines.
Take a factory tour of a vehicle plant, its quite an eye opener !!

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[CaptainPaul]

CaptainPaul did you try reseting your box as per the video I linked to in post #67, just wondering if it helped at all?

Yes Chris they reset it up at the dealership a couple of weeks back, it's still the same but I actually believe it's learning how I want it to perform, as a lot of the free revving and slow changes don't seem to be as bad, someone on here said a few weeks back that these g tronic gearboxes learn your driving style and adapt and that seems to be the case so hopefully it's going in the right direction,

 

[WESTY66]

Yes Chris they reset it up at the dealership a couple of weeks back, it's still the same but I actually believe it's learning how I want it to perform, as a lot of the free revving and slow changes don't seem to be as bad, someone on here said a few weeks back that these g tronic gearboxes learn your driving style and adapt and that seems to be the case so hopefully it's going in the right direction,

Well if you dont want it……