Fiat 9 speed automatic
We have a 2022 Fiat Ducato based motorhome with the superb 9 speed automatic gearbox. I have found one anomaly, and wonder if anyone else has found the same. Stopped at for example traffic lights, gearbox in Drive with the annoying start/stop function disengaged, and foot on footbrake, the gearbox drops into a sort of neutral. When lights change, foot off the brake, it takes a couple of seconds to re-engage the drive, and it does so with a mild “clonk”. If you accelerate before it re-engages, there’s quite a big “thump” as in engages again. I guess there’s not too many of these new boxes out there, but has anyone come across this, and is it considered normal for this gearbox? Thanks
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We had 2020 model with this gearbox and now have a 2021 and have not encountered this issue with either van. Mind you, I generally put it in neutral and use the handbrake if stopped for more than a few seconds. And, yes, I turn the flaming stop/start off too!
I suggest you get it checked under warranty.
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It’s a slush box, ED.
D'you think it could be connected with Nicho leaving it in D?
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It’s still doing it - 850 miles on the clock now. I have learned to live with it and on most journeys, the circumstances only arise two or three times. I will try putting the handbrake on and releasing the footbrake on the way home. Drove 130 miles yesterday, and once on the move it behaves impeccably. I will talk to a Fiat dealer, but in a couple of weeks we are off to Devon and Cornwall, so it can wait until we return. Any parts from Italy could take weeks, so I may leave it until the end of the season. Fiat U.K. say it will not cause problems.
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We have a 2021 Fiat Ducato and have had experienced exactly the same problem, on 2 different occasions we have taken the Campervan to Fiat and they have said its a "Diagnostic" problem and reset the diagnostics, each time a red engine warning light has come on. At the time we can still drive the van but only in the manual mode, the automatic mode only seems to have one gear.
Each time the Van has been fine for a few weeks, now on this occasion the Fiat garage have said it needs a new Gearbox Control Unit, which is not available until 14th September.
I noted that you are still using your Motorhome and mention Fiat UK have said its ok to do so, will it not damage the engine?
Any help would be extremely appreciated as we are due to go to Spain on the 8th September!
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Hi i to have a fiat ducato registered this year august does exactly the same thing manufactures say it normal
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We have the exactly the same problem on our new van it’s been in fiat 2weeks and they still have not done it, saying they can’t find the fault. Obviously there is a fault and I’m so happy someone else has this error.
if any can phone me to discuss this issue it would be great as we need to get this sorted.
07971 058201. Peter.
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We have the same fault not going into gear correctly and going into neutral at a stop sign the jumping back into gear when you loose the pedal and jumping forward.
note only happens when stop start is switched off
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Hey - so I haven't had this fault, but for all of those with a Fiat Ducato 9-speed auto, Fiat have confirmed this as a 'design'. If you are driving along the motorway say at 60>70, it will sit in 8th gear (especially if in Eco-mode). If you switch to manual mode, it will then say change up a gear (to 9th) and you will get approx 4mpg more.
Fiat have explained that the software for the gearbox has been written to keep the revs higher, so I move mine into manual model when on motorways etc.
Any one else noticing this?
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Personally, I nearly always used mine in auto and rarely in eco mode because it lost so much performance. I also hardly ever used it in manual mode because the auto worked superbly.
I think it’s possible that by using 9th gear and less revs it may encourage more frequent burning off of the DPF.
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I have the same problem. I have a 2022 reg Adria Twin Supreme on a Fiat chassis. It’s 160bhp, 9 speed automatic transmission. From a standing start when I release the brake pedal I get a juddering start rather than a smooth slow movement. I usually have the automatic Stop/Start function inhibited. I haven’t reported it yet but I have questioned members of the Adria Campervan forum and they all tell me this isn’t right. I know you posted your issue a while ago and I’ve just joined this group so I know the thread is quite old. My question is… did you find out what the problem was? Any fixes?
Thanks for any info.
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This box is supposed to be a game changer according to the motor home press,I have a 2023 symbol I must say I am very disappointed with it so far,it’s very lumpy at low speed only done 2000 miles. Keeps changing from 9 to 8 then back to 9 up and down on a perfectly flat motorway ,the fuel consumption is up and down by 4 miles per gallon.
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Are you using it in economy mode, Bronco? The performance is pretty dire in that mode as it will always try to keep in a high gear. Alternatively, you might be driving at a speed that’s borderline between the two gears.
Our 9 speed boxes when in auto mode did not show which gear was selected, only 'D' was displayed so it was not possible to know which gear the box was using.
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777 - the 9 speed comfortmatic gearbox was introduced in 2015 by ZF to numerous vehicle manufacturers worldwide. Many of these manufacturers have experienced faults similar to those described in replies to your post.
For a history of this gearbox search Wikipedia for “ZF 9HP transmission”. This will show the manufacturers using this gearbox, and when they started.
The following link details Fiat-Chrysler / FCA (and by default, Ducato) issues with the gearbox and several recalls called for in the USA.
https://www.transmissionrepaircostguide.com/zf-9hp48/
Although the idea of a 9 speed gearbox appears good, there are either design or programming issues that lead to the faults owners have detailed. Given that the gearboxes have been around since 2015, it is astonishing that there is not a solution found yet. One also has to wonder how re-programming the control of a system that may have internal wiring harness issues will allow full use of all designed parameters without replacing the wiring harness?
the following link is an in-depth description of the ZF9HP gearbox’s operation;
Maybe, knowing how the gearbox works will change your thinking about the ‘feel’ of the gearchange? There is, however, no doubt that delays in engaging gears or selecting false neutrals can be very dangerous - and needs sorting asap.
If you are suffering faults or issues of any kind, it may be prudent to contact your Fiat Ducato service centre and ask questions about the recalls in America …..!!
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We have a odd problem on our 2022 2000 mile model. When slowing at a roundabout in will go into 2nd and the revs will fall to idle at about 10mph as I am rolling, if I spot a gap and rapidly accelerate, there will be a thump as it rengages 2nd. Very annoyingly I think I will mention it to fiat when I return from holiday.
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Similar problem here. 2021 Fiat campervan with 9 speed automatic 140 multijet. Nice gearbox but on a dual carriageway I pressed the mode button to change from power to normal as I was trying to see what difference the gearbox modes make. After pressing from sport to normal I pressed the throttle fully down to kick down. The gearbox dropped into neutral and I lost drive power. Although I was still in Drive the power was not being delivered to the drive wheels and the revs were unresponsive. Pusing up and down on the throttle pedal did little to affect the revs.
I pulled over. Turned everything off and restarted. Problem was gone and everything back to normal.
My concern is I have 2 months left on warranty and I'm not sure what to do about it? I havn't been able to replicate problem so if I take it to a dealer theres nothing to show them....
I get somethines there are glitches. I had a Discovery one that went into limp mode. Trun on and off and it ran again for years and never repeated the problem. I am curious though to see if anyone else has had this issue with the ducato 9 speed automatic box?0 -
We have ordered a Wildax with the auto box which I’m told is a Mercedes unit. Our local dealer has only ordered auto versions as he says the 9 speed box is so good. Hopefully we won’t have the problems mentioned above.
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As I mentioned on page 1 the same 9 speed box is in my car, and behaves impeccably. Almost certain it is down to the software design by differing motor vehicle manufacturers, maybe vehicle weight plays a big part in how the software is written and behaves.
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Thanks so much for posting this comment.
You've helped to 100% make my mind up NOT to buy the 9 speed auto version of this van. Our current 2023 VW Transporter LWB Hillside Cromford is just BRILLIANT to drive but ideally we'd like a slightly larger van in a couple of years from now.
Looks like we're going to have to look at a VW Crafter which also uses the DSG box. More expensive but..... hay ho!
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So 2 years on where are you with the gearbox?
We have a new Auto-Trail GF80 A Class We have 1500 miles on the clock 10 days ago the Red Transmission light came on The RAC identified the issue as The Clutch Torque Converter We had the Motorhome recovered to Fiat they said the gearbox was a little short of oil they topped it up and reset the fault.
20 Miles after picking it up the Motorhome the same Red Transmission Light came on again Once again it recovered after 3 days working on her we have been told they are not able to pinpoint the issue so they are going to replace the gearbox and clutch It doesn’t bode well for the future and we are worried about taking longer trips into Europe Has anyone else had this or similar experienceRegards
Ian & Mary
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