Technical The one and only Dualogic failure thread

[ahmett]

Re: Dualogic gearbox nightmare......

Hi all also a newbie,

I have just started experiencing the same problems with 2010 plate 500 1.2 auto sport...

Just got it from a second hand dealer and have covered about 50 miles in it. (29000 on the clock)First issue,gear box warning light came on couldn't get the car out of neutral. Turned the engine on and off a few times which seemed to have solved the problem, since then it had happened twice and gone in to neutral whilst I have been driving twice.

Noticed on the service history 3 months ago it was recovered from the road side due to this, a software update was carried out but a note said something along the lines of (if problem persists actuator will need to be changed)..

Any advice please...

yes thats the same problem you need to replace the whole unit at great cost or keep on driving in misery for several years just like i did! so as jrkitching said do go to the purchased dealer and get a refund, telling him the car is not fit for purpose and even dangerous to drive!

mind you, you are dualogic patient number 4! I was patient 1 and got cured after spending 1200 Euros. We have 3 other cases now pending.

 

[zanes]

Re: Dualogic gearbox nightmare......

Hi all also a newbie,

I have just started experiencing the same problems with 2010 plate 500 1.2 auto sport...

Just got it from a second hand dealer and have covered about 50 miles in it. (29000 on the clock)First issue,gear box warning light came on couldn't get the car out of neutral. Turned the engine on and off a few times which seemed to have solved the problem, since then it had happened twice and gone in to neutral whilst I have been driving twice.

Noticed on the service history 3 months ago it was recovered from the road side due to this, a software update was carried out but a note said something along the lines of (if problem persists actuator will need to be changed)..

Any advice please...

I wonder if the software update was really just read and clear the fault codes?

I'd be thinking along the lines of rejecting the car and trying to get my money back.

Trading standards may be able to help.

Yeah, this.

Why have so many dualogic cases appeared all of a sudden?

 

[matandjulie]

Re: Dualogic gearbox nightmare......

yes thats the same problem you need to replace the whole unit at great cost or keep on driving in misery for several years just like i did! so as jrkitching said do go to the purchased dealer and get a refund, telling him the car is not fit for purpose and even dangerous to drive!

mind you, you are dualogic patient number 4! I was patient 1 and got cured after spending 1200 Euros. We have 3 other cases now pending.

The car is covered on a 3 month warranty, it will be going back for a full check up and sent to the local fiat garage. I'm pretty sure it will need the new part but am worried I will be fobbed of with a system re test (again)..does any one know how long before the problem kicks in again, want to make sure I don't go over on my warranty...

 

[Mick F]

Re: Dualogic gearbox nightmare......

...........the dualogic is simply an outdated operating system that is much more complicated than the manual system and can fail catastrophically with little hope of fixing it except replacing the whole system.

Just a slightly bit off topic, though still on topic - if you see what I mean!

I drive the local community bus and our latest bus is a Fiat (Ducato?) 15 seater minibus with the Dualogic gearbox.

To be honest, none of we drivers like it. Last bus was a Mercedes Sprinter with an auto box which was wonderful but the Dualogic is slow to change gear, especially when pulling away and it seems to hesitate and "die". It's fine if you change gear manually, but that seems daft when it's supposed to work in auto.

However, is the Dualogic in our bus the same as in the Fiat500?
If so, should we be worried that it's going to fail?

Thanks,
Mick.

 

[ahmett]

Re: Dualogic gearbox nightmare......

The car is covered on a 3 month warranty, it will be going back for a full check up and sent to the local fiat garage. I'm pretty sure it will need the new part but am worried I will be fobbed of with a system re test (again)..does any one know how long before the problem kicks in again, want to make sure I don't go over on my warranty...

Yes the same problem happened with me the dealer said there is no problem knowing full well it would eventually break but they did nothing so I went over warranty and paid for it myself.


In your case I would be rejecting the car and asking for a refund. Tell them a relative of yours had the same problem, that the car died on them after a lot of torture and you don't want the same issue .

Get rid of it asap or be prepared for random failures and annoying trips to the dealer and going into neutral at the worst time !

 

[ahmett]

Re: Dualogic gearbox nightmare......

Just a slightly bit off topic, though still on topic - if you see what I mean!



I drive the local community bus and our latest bus is a Fiat (Ducato?) 15 seater minibus with the Dualogic gearbox.



To be honest, none of we drivers like it. Last bus was a Mercedes Sprinter with an auto box which was wonderful but the Dualogic is slow to change gear, especially when pulling away and it seems to hesitate and "die". It's fine if you change gear manually, but that seems daft when it's supposed to work in auto.



However, is the Dualogic in our bus the same as in the Fiat500?

If so, should we be worried that it's going to fail?



Thanks,

Mick.

Yes it must be the same with that name. Can you get rid of the bus? Mercedes sprinter should be far superior

 

[Mick F]

Re: Dualogic gearbox nightmare......

Yes it must be the same with that name. Can you get rid of the bus? Mercedes sprinter should be far superior

Get rid of it?
As far as we drivers are concerned, we'd do it tomorrow!
The Merc was wonderful, but it had done close on 100,000miles when we swapped to the Fiat.

The Merc cost £75,000 if my memory serves me correctly, but this new Fiat cost less than half that. The vehicles are bought as brand new vans and then converted, so there's a double whammy of costs.

We run as a charity, and costs are paramount, so the Fiat SEEMED good value, but none of us drivers think it actually is good value. The Merc didn't have wheelchair access and this Fiat does, so that was another reason the change.

Pity, the Merc would have gone on and on and on. The Fiat will be nothing but problems I'm sure, and the Dualogic will make it worse.

Thanks,
Mick.

 

[ahmett]

Re: Dualogic gearbox nightmare......

Get rid of it?

As far as we drivers are concerned, we'd do it tomorrow!

The Merc was wonderful, but it had done close on 100,000miles when we swapped to the Fiat.



The Merc cost £75,000 if my memory serves me correctly, but this new Fiat cost less than half that. The vehicles are bought as brand new vans and then converted, so there's a double whammy of costs.



We run as a charity, and costs are paramount, so the Fiat SEEMED good value, but none of us drivers think it actually is good value. The Merc didn't have wheelchair access and this Fiat does, so that was another reason the change.



Pity, the Merc would have gone on and on and on. The Fiat will be nothing but problems I'm sure, and the Dualogic will make it worse.



Thanks,

Mick.

Yeah that's what I mean miles are irrelevant on good cars !

 

[djay5759]

Re: Fiat 500c 1.4 petrol Duologic Transmission Failure - Australia

Ok so here I am after I spoke to the Fiat Australia CC.

First thing thanks for ur suggestions guys. really appreciate.

So Fiat CC said their dealers are telling the truth and the part might be that expensive "they won't lie". But then I did explained them the Case of you guys where it was very cheap to fix the same problem. Fiat said it's a different country and we cannot comment on it. So the guy on phone didn't really help.
Hence I got the email ID from him, n I'll be send an email tonight.

Also I have found a local Fiat specialist who I'll be meeting tomorrow so let's see what he comes up with.

Hopping for the best.
Cheers!

 

[ahmett]

Re: Fiat 500c 1.4 petrol Duologic Transmission Failure - Australia

Ok so here I am after I spoke to the Fiat Australia CC.

First thing thanks for ur suggestions guys. really appreciate.

So Fiat CC said their dealers are telling the truth and the part might be that expensive "they won't lie". But then I did explained them the Case of you guys where it was very cheap to fix the same problem. Fiat said it's a different country and we cannot comment on it. So the guy on phone didn't really help.
Hence I got the email ID from him, n I'll be send an email tonight.

Also I have found a local Fiat specialist who I'll be meeting tomorrow so let's see what he comes up with.

Hopping for the best.
Cheers!

yes but tell them you cannot afford $ 6000 and if Fiat will contribute to the repair. call them again and tell them that. Keep on bothering them until they get fed up of you and help you to some extent.

In the meantime, check other main dealers and as you say specialists.

If you really have no choice, order the part from EU. Here it is - > https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=15048&sku=256831

As you see, MUCH CHEAPER even if you include delivery to Australia. Fitting wont take more than 2 hours from someone who knows what he is doing.
Do keep us informed and we will keep on helping.

 

[djay5759]

Re: Fiat 500c 1.4 petrol Duologic Transmission Failure - Australia

Sure I'll do that. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Adzee]

Re: Fiat 500c 1.4 petrol Duologic Transmission Failure - Australia

Wow not what I want to hear! I'm at 40k already so I hope it blows before my warranty expires next year! Then I'll sell it maybe.

Zagame looked after me service wise but they aren't cheap. Look up Alfa dealers?/indies they may be able to help? I at least know zagame service the car but you get hit like always at a dealer.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

Re: Fiat 500c 1.4 petrol Duologic Transmission Failure - Australia

Wow not what I want to hear! I'm at 40k already so I hope it blows before my warranty expires next year! Then I'll sell it maybe.

Zagame looked after me service wise but they aren't cheap. Look up Alfa dealers?/indies they may be able to help? I at least know zagame service the car but you get hit like always at a dealer.

Maybe I should advise the partner to trade in the 1200 DL before it reaches similar km, reading these things does nothing for one's confidence in the car.

 

[ahmett]

Re: Fiat 500c 1.4 petrol Duologic Transmission Failure - Australia

Maybe I should advise the partner to trade in the 1200 DL before it reaches similar km, reading these things does nothing for one's confidence in the car.

If you get a good price and are out of warranty, do it!

 

[ahmett]

Re: Fiat 500c 1.4 petrol Duologic Transmission Failure - Australia

Wow not what I want to hear! I'm at 40k already so I hope it blows before my warranty expires next year! Then I'll sell it maybe.

Zagame looked after me service wise but they aren't cheap. Look up Alfa dealers?/indies they may be able to help? I at least know zagame service the car but you get hit like always at a dealer.

Good idea. At least the manual gearbox has many less things that can go wrong if you want to switch it to that !

 

[Adzee]

Re: Fiat 500c 1.4 petrol Duologic Transmission Failure - Australia

Can you swap a DL to a manual?

 

[ahmett]

Re: Fiat 500c 1.4 petrol Duologic Transmission Failure - Australia

Can you swap a DL to a manual?

forget it = )

 

[alexGS]

Re: Fiat 500c 1.4 petrol Duologic Transmission Failure - Australia

To offer a bit of perspective on this - from what I have read elsewhere and have heard from a specialist in NZ, it sounds like the problems begin with a fluid leak, from the gearchange position sensors. Can this (simple) fluid leak be fixed?

The official policy is complete actuator replacement, but until we hear of other problems happening, is it worth perhaps fixing the fluid leak? Ahmett I think you had that done, yet had other problems? What happened?

-Alex

 

[ahmett]

To offer a bit of perspective on this - from what I have read elsewhere and have heard from a specialist in NZ, it sounds like the problems begin with a fluid leak, from the gearchange position sensors. Can this (simple) fluid leak be fixed?



The official policy is complete actuator replacement, but until we hear of other problems happening, is it worth perhaps fixing the fluid leak? Ahmett I think you had that done, yet had other problems? What happened?



-Alex

Exactly Alex I had several problems with it going into neutral that no software fix would change. Then eventually it seized, we fitted a new actuator that fixed the problem for a while, but then going into neutral again. Eventually it started leaking by itself slowly slowly which went on and on until it seized again and the whole unit was replaced this time.

I recommend changing the whole unit as it saves a lot of potential hassle, at least for a year or two or until you get rid of the car. I doubt you'd be able to sell it for much with oil coming out the bottom or it going into neutral on a test drive

 

[sem973]

Re: Dualogic gearbox nightmare......

Another day gone & no reply from "senior case manager?" at Fiat Customer Care......despite me phoning 4 times today & explaining I need this resolving ASAP as I'm out of the country come the weekend.....

Shocking service, feeling very :bang::bang: & ready to explode!....me & not the car.....actually come to think of it probably me & the car