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Technical Gears popping into neutral and won't change to reverse

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Technical Gears popping into neutral and won't change to reverse

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Blaise

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Hello all. I have a beautiful red Fiat 500, manufactured March 2008. In warm weather I put the sunroof back and play Italian opera out loud.

But recently it has started to have problems, one of them quite dangerous. The gears suddenly change into neutral. This can happen in traffic or when stopped or moving. I have to pull over, turn off the car and start it again. I had it checked out at the dealer and they could only get a "Gear shift" problem read out on the car's computer. They can't diagnose the problem. I have read some similar problems on fiat forums and someone said they had to get the "ecu" replaced. I don't even know what that is. Has anyone had a similar problem that they got fixed? Any ideas for what the problem is so when I take it back, if it happens again, I can suggest some solutions?

Also, when I first start it in neutral, it won't shift straight into reverse. I now have to shift it into 1st, then into reverse. It is duologic and I use it on automatic all the time. I'm sure it used to shift straight back in reverse for the first few months.

I would appreciate hearing any suggestions on the solutions to these two problems.:confused:
 
By the gears popping out, you saying as if you put it into gear, then they pop out? or as if you're driving along and all of a sudden bam, they pop out.

I'm surprised the dealership is taking this lightly to be honest as its a pretty serious problem. Not only is it an annoyance for you its a safety issue. Which state are you in? Tried taking it to a different dealership? If you get no where i'd recommend calling up Fiat in Sydney and telling them the problem.

If it's doing it when you put it into gear, it would most likely be that you're not placing it far enough into its slot.

EDIT: Also, about reverse, when you're saying not going in, not going in crunching style? or doesn't want to go in at all? Sounds almost as if everything is out of allignment.
 
Last edited:
Eki

It pops into neutral when I am driving along, in any gear from 1st to 4th, then suddenly it goes into neutral and all I can do is steer it over to the side of the road with the hazard lights on. Sometimes I am actually moving forward or sometimes I am in 1st gear waiting at lights or roundabout when it goes into neutral. It's happened to my husband as well when he drove it.

With the not changing straight into reverse when I start it. This happens in the morning on first start. I start the car in neutral. Then pull the gear straight back into reverse, except that the screen reads it is in neutral, while the gear is in the reverse position. If I shift the gear into 1st, then into reverse, it does go into reverse.

Another thing happened today. When I went to start it after it had been parked all day, it wouldn't go into any gear at all. When I shifted the gear into 1st, it was still just in neutral. I had to turn off the car, start it and shift into 1st, six times before it would shift into 1st.

I'm going to ring the Fiat support number then I will ring the Sydney dealer, as you suggested, if it keeps happening. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
Blaise said:
Eki

It pops into neutral when I am driving along, in any gear from 1st to 4th, then suddenly it goes into neutral and all I can do is steer it over to the side of the road with the hazard lights on. Sometimes I am actually moving forward or sometimes I am in 1st gear waiting at lights or roundabout when it goes into neutral. It's happened to my husband as well when he drove it.

With the not changing straight into reverse when I start it. This happens in the morning on first start. I start the car in neutral. Then pull the gear straight back into reverse, except that the screen reads it is in neutral, while the gear is in the reverse position. If I shift the gear into 1st, then into reverse, it does go into reverse.

Another thing happened today. When I went to start it after it had been parked all day, it wouldn't go into any gear at all. When I shifted the gear into 1st, it was still just in neutral. I had to turn off the car, start it and shift into 1st, six times before it would shift into 1st.

I'm going to ring the Fiat support number then I will ring the Sydney dealer, as you suggested, if it keeps happening. Thanks for the suggestion.
Click to expand...
Definitely a case where the dealer needs to look at it.
 
I have the very same problem, I have a 2008 Lounge Automatic... It went out of gear while I was driving in heavy traffic in Holland, it also refuses to go into gear while stopped. Was there a solution to this problem as the dealership here in Holland seems to be befuddled with the problem.
 
Blaise said:
Eki

It pops into neutral when I am driving along, in any gear from 1st to 4th, then suddenly it goes into neutral and all I can do is steer it over to the side of the road with the hazard lights on. Sometimes I am actually moving forward or sometimes I am in 1st gear waiting at lights or roundabout when it goes into neutral. It's happened to my husband as well when he drove it.

With the not changing straight into reverse when I start it. This happens in the morning on first start. I start the car in neutral. Then pull the gear straight back into reverse, except that the screen reads it is in neutral, while the gear is in the reverse position. If I shift the gear into 1st, then into reverse, it does go into reverse.

Another thing happened today. When I went to start it after it had been parked all day, it wouldn't go into any gear at all. When I shifted the gear into 1st, it was still just in neutral. I had to turn off the car, start it and shift into 1st, six times before it would shift into 1st.

I'm going to ring the Fiat support number then I will ring the Sydney dealer, as you suggested, if it keeps happening. Thanks for the suggestion.
Click to expand...
I have the same problem with my New Fiat 500 (limited edition by diesel). It pops up into neutral from any gear while I am driving. I have sent the car to the service every second day and each time I get it back the problem persists. The service did the following:
1. re-programed the software - the problem appeared again after one day
2. had ECU replaced - again the same problem after one day
3. They have changed the clutch and gave me the car for testing again - again the same problem.

currently the car is at service for another examination, no news yet :(
 
The Fiat dealer finally fixed my car after about 5 times. They found another Fiat 500 with the same problem in Melbourne.

They removed the actuator and replaced it. They did this on instructions from Fiat, probably Fiat Australia.

It has finally fixed the problem. Perhaps you could try contacting Fiat Australia by email.
 
Here is hte email address for my Fiat dealer. You could email them and see if they could give you an email that tells your dealer how to fix your problem.

[email protected]
 
Did they change the actuator or the accumulator ????

As I said jut recently ...DuoLogic = Selespeed ... they the same with the same issues that are well known by now. You may need to remind the dealer of this fact

Good Luck All
 
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