Technical Automatic drops into neutral after braking

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Technical Automatic drops into neutral after braking

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carolynbennett

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Hi, I'm a newbie :) I was wondering if there is anyone in the Forum that has the same problem as me? My 2013 (bought 2014) Fiat 500cc Pop randomly drops out of automatic into neutral after braking. I can be driving in any gear and suddenly I don't have any power. The gear stick is still sitting in the A/M position, the dashboard says neutral and the alarm is beeping. It happened 8 times last year but it was always when the engine was cold then for 3 months it was fine then it started again this year and has dropped out 5 times, the last time I was almost killed by the truck that was barreling along behind me. I just managed to roll off the road into someones driveway in time. I don't think Fiat took me seriously even after I took it back to the Service Centre several times last year. A delegate from Fiat even had it for a couple of weeks. They were happy to give it back because they couldn't replicate the fault. This year they did take it after my near death experience and replaced the actuator. They still said it didn't do it for them so I'm not confident that it has been fixed. I'm too scared to drive it now. They have had it for 3 months and we need to come to some sort of resolution soon. SO, has anyone else out there had this problem? Thanks in advance
 
Hi, I'm a newbie :) I was wondering if there is anyone in the Forum that has the same problem as me? My 2013 (bought 2014) Fiat 500cc Pop randomly drops out of automatic into neutral after braking. I can be driving in any gear and suddenly I don't have any power. The gear stick is still sitting in the A/M position, the dashboard says neutral and the alarm is beeping. It happened 8 times last year but it was always when the engine was cold then for 3 months it was fine then it started again this year and has dropped out 5 times, the last time I was almost killed by the truck that was barreling along behind me. I just managed to roll off the road into someones driveway in time. I don't think Fiat took me seriously even after I took it back to the Service Centre several times last year. A delegate from Fiat even had it for a couple of weeks. They were happy to give it back because they couldn't replicate the fault. This year they did take it after my near death experience and replaced the actuator. They still said it didn't do it for them so I'm not confident that it has been fixed. I'm too scared to drive it now. They have had it for 3 months and we need to come to some sort of resolution soon. SO, has anyone else out there had this problem? Thanks in advance
they need to replace the whole dualogic (electrohydraulic) unit for it to go away.
 
SO, has anyone else out there had this problem?

Dualogic faults are quite frequently reported on this forum, often on relatively new and/or low mileage cars.

The general consensus would seem to be that major component replacement is the only effective long term cure; this is likely to be very expensive if done out of warranty.

I suspect more than a few cars with dualogic faults are patched up enough to put out the warning lights & then quickly sold on.

In your case, unless you can get Fiat to replace the transmission, I would suggest giving serious consideration to trading the car in before the warranty runs out.
 
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Dualogic faults are quite frequently reported on this forum, often on relatively new and/or low mileage cars.

The general consensus would seem to be that major component replacement is the only effective long term cure; this is likely to be very expensive if done out of warranty.

I suspect more than a few cars with dualogic faults are patched up enough to put out the warning lights & then quickly sold on.

In your case, unless you can get Fiat to replace the transmission, I would suggest giving serious consideration to trading the car in before the warranty runs out.
that's essentially what the Fiat main dealer tech told me. He said that when we see major recurring problems with the dualogic unit, we replace the whole thing.

So, to the original poster, as jrkitching said, try making them replace the whole unit for free. If you can't manage that, then best to trade in the car as it will cost 1,000 GBP at least to replace the whole thing on your account.
 
Just curious Carolyn, did you buy your 500C Pop brand-new, or was it 2nd hand?

Hope you can get these Dualogic problems sorted!
 
Hi, I'm a newbie :) I was wondering if there is anyone in the Forum that has the same problem as me? My 2013 (bought 2014) Fiat 500cc Pop randomly drops out of automatic into neutral after braking. I can be driving in any gear and suddenly I don't have any power. The gear stick is still sitting in the A/M position, the dashboard says neutral and the alarm is beeping. It happened 8 times last year but it was always when the engine was cold then for 3 months it was fine then it started again this year and has dropped out 5 times, the last time I was almost killed by the truck that was barreling along behind me. I just managed to roll off the road into someones driveway in time. I don't think Fiat took me seriously even after I took it back to the Service Centre several times last year. A delegate from Fiat even had it for a couple of weeks. They were happy to give it back because they couldn't replicate the fault. This year they did take it after my near death experience and replaced the actuator. They still said it didn't do it for them so I'm not confident that it has been fixed. I'm too scared to drive it now. They have had it for 3 months and we need to come to some sort of resolution soon. SO, has anyone else out there had this problem? Thanks in advance



Hi there - I have just come across your post and am experiencing the same thing myself. Unfortunately my car is now out of warranty. Its a 2012 1.2 Lounge and I bought it second hand 3/15. My when breaking gently or hard, sometimes (about 8 times since I purchased it) its gets knocked into Neutral and wont go into gear straight away. Reading the other comments fills me with absolute dread, as for them to replace the whole system is going to cost me dearly......have you had any joy with yours?
 
Also happened to me in 2011 or 2012...the car is a 2008 1.2, so out of warranty of course!
And of course it was the electrohydraulic unit.
Mounting a new unit cost to me 1200 euros (more or less) here in Italy...
 
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Also happened to me in 2011 or 2012...the car is a 2008 1.2, so out of warranty of course!
And of course it was the electrohydraulic unit.
Mounting a new unit cost to me 1200 euros (more or less) here in Italy...
yes exactly how much it cost me!
 
Hi there - I have just come across your post and am experiencing the same thing myself. Unfortunately my car is now out of warranty. Its a 2012 1.2 Lounge and I bought it second hand 3/15. My when breaking gently or hard, sometimes (about 8 times since I purchased it) its gets knocked into Neutral and wont go into gear straight away. Reading the other comments fills me with absolute dread, as for them to replace the whole system is going to cost me dearly......have you had any joy with yours?
i think she probably shifted the car before it broke on her = )
 
I bought it new, sorry for the late reply! I traded it in as they said they couldn't find the fault ��
 
Hi, I had to take Fiat and Suttons to fair trading. Fiat had it for 4 months and said they couldn't find a fault but had changed the actuary (whatever that is) and felt confident they had fixed it. I was not so confident so I traded it in on another car, not a fiat. I lost a lot of money in the deal but at least I feel safe. I suggest you trade it in before something awful happens to you
 
Hi, I had to take Fiat and Suttons to fair trading. Fiat had it for 4 months and said they couldn't find a fault but had changed the actuary (whatever that is) and felt confident they had fixed it. I was not so confident so I traded it in on another car, not a fiat. I lost a lot of money in the deal but at least I feel safe. I suggest you trade it in before something awful happens to you
Brave move Caroyln. When mine first broke they also changed the actuator under warranty, which is a part of the hydraulic unit. That did not permanently fix it, i suspect they fixed it just to last the warranty period. After that it became a source of endless problems until Fiat changed the whole hydraulic unit whole including the reservior, which cost 1200 EUR. That fixed it, but it was a very miserable experience costing me a lot of time in addition to money.
 
A known problem - Ahmett is the most experienced guy with this issue after replaceing every part of the Dualogic unit that did not resolved the problem - the only way to end this is to replace the WHOLE Dualogic unit.

I had that 2 months ago too, with a car that had only 80000 KM on it, the whole unit was leaking for some reason (maybe a hard hit on the road the broke something inside, maybe just a fault with the system), Fiat loves to throw this problem on their customers.
The price for replacing the unit is about 1500 euros - for mw it was about 2300 after adding the clutch, im guessing a worn clutch can also donate the problem (as been told by the mechanic).

Do yourself a favor and after fixing it under the warrenty - sell the car

Just for the recored - the car price in Israel is about 50000K shekels (about 11.500 euros), the fix of the clutch cost me 10000 shekels (2300 euros), that's 20% worth of the car. Shame but i will never buy another Fiat again that's for sure.
 
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In 2013 my OH's 1.2 Dualogic kept going into neutral whist she was driving. A replacement GCU (Gearbox Communication Unit) fixed the problem. Done under 3rd Year dealership warranty
 
Hi - I've already posted this, but this seems like a better thread to post it to...
I bought a fiat 500 dualogic on Saturday. It has twice done exactly as this member describes. Driving along the road and suddenly all power lost, dashboard says its in neutral and yet gearstick still in automatic drive. First time on a clear road, second time on a main road, with traffic. Nearly caused a major accident. The garage are refusing to believe me.:( Has anyone else had this experience with such a new car. (2019, very few miles on the clock)
 
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