Problems

Hi,

My Ulysse 2.0 Petrol Auto Eleganza is going in for it's 1st service in 3 weeks and I have found a few problems which I think need to be fixed. Has anybody had any of the following issues.

1. The auto gearbox whines sometimes when you decelerate. It also seems to select the wrong gear sometimes as well. When you go round a bend and slow down, the gearbox doesn't change down.

2. The climate control fans make a slight screaming noise as if the bearings are not lubricated. You can alter the noise by switching the rear fans on/off.

3. The foam on the driver seat side is collapsing, I think others have had the same problem and had the foam replaced.

4. There is a rattle from under the driver dash, under the small instrument binnacle.

If anybody has any advice for the "dealer" it may save some time when I take it in.

Thanks

Andy

Hi Andy!

At long last, a new thread. Right, good luck with the service.

1. No idea, don't own an auto;

2. I have heard this noise before, well try that rear fan switch. Mine seems to come from front right vent, though;

3. No foam problems our end

4. No rattle either, no none that I can recall.

Sorry to be of no help, but I am sure one of us will come up trumps.

Stu

Hi Andy

The auto box doesn't always change as I'd like it too. Being an adaptive box it changes according to driving style. Unfortunately these can't see that after a few miles of cruising that you've entered the inner city and need some snappy changes. The first few changes are slow. I find making a few manual changes at the right time helps.
This also happens on our Focus auto which is worse because also after a few fast take off's, it changes down at a twich of the accelerator sending the revs into orbit.
Some of the first adaptive gearbox's I experienced (allison's world series gearbox) fitted in Fire appliances, kept their memory even after restarting the engine. Not what you want when you turn the blue's and two's on and someones been to the tesco's earlier.

I haven't heard the fan noise and can't say that it's related, but on the second day I had the Ulysse the climate control completely failed. The dealer disconnected the rear fans till I took it back for "recall" parts to be fitted.

No problems with the seat foam or rattle.

Mine had a new folding mirror last week (sticking) and it's back in on Monday for a bonnet switch that sounds the alarm in the middle of the night and a new pop up washer that flew off as I used it at speed.

Shrek

Hi Poggy

Yes I've had the bird tweeting fan too. Started about 7-8 months old. Could stop it by switching off the rear fan. Recently had it fixed by dealer. No problem now!! Not sure what they did but it worked. (G.B. Ongaro FIAT service dealer 01209 711336) They are the best FIAT dealer I've been to.

Also noticed the collapsing of the front drivers seat foam. May ask my dealer about that.

All the best

Beren

Hi,

Thanks for your replies, I have spoken to the dealer and I am going to pop in before the service so that they can have a quick look and order the spare parts in advance.

It seems the fan is the main centre fan not the rear ones, you can see the rear fans if you open either of the front doors and look into the duct on the body pillar (not the door itself). If you look in the duct you will see a big white fan, you can see the speed difference if you change the second row speed control. I had a listen to these, but it seems to be coming from the centre console. I think the main fan must also be adjusted when you adjust the second row controls.

The foam is a bit more of a problem, because it is glued to the fabric so you can't just change the foam inside. The problem is well know and as far as I can tell is caused by the metal frame pushing into the foam and rubbing everytime you get in the car and brush the raised side of the seat. There is no protection. It itsn't too bad yet, but in a couple of years I don't want a badly worn seat which will cost a fortune to fix.

Andy

Yeah I've also got that fan noise (bird tweeting says it best). I've noticed that it's got slightly worse over the last couple of weeks, since it's got colder, whether that has anything to do with though???

I also hardly use the rear fans, but i'll see if that does anthing.

Trouble is, it's an intermittment fault, the sort that just aren't there when it goes to the dealer.

Very annoying though.

the seat foam is very common, to replace it you get a complete seat foam with the cover on it, as like u say the cover can not be removed.

removal of the seat is basic and once out does not need a major strip (the bottom and back frames do not need splitting), just a few plastic covers and a knob and lever to remove, the foam itself is only held to the frame in a very basic manner. whole operation should be complete within an hour, however the repalement seat foam base can take up to 3 months to come, but lately italy seems to have twigged that its now a common item to replace and can sometimes churn them out in a week, hope all goes well with your service