Does anyone else have this model? I find the automatic transmission is very jerky. One passenger thought the car must have a block in the fuel line. I did take the car in for the 'software upgrade' that was done for this model, which i think was for this problem. But it still persists. Anyone else have any ideas/thoughts/suggestion. I will take it in to get checked, but not really sure how to articulate the problem.

The problem you have, I would guess, is poor information from whoever sold you the car. You do not have automatic transmission, you have a robotized manual gearbox. If you are used to a traditional manual gearbox with torque convertors and that sort of thing, you will be disappointed.

That said, I love duallogics, as long as you expect them only to do what they are capable of they're great. Just learn to drive it properly, and bear in mind that the first 20 or so miles, the car is learning the way you drive.

elation said:

The problem you have, I would guess, is poor information from whoever sold you the car.

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Whats that got to do with origional question?

OP, when does jerking happen? When moving in slow traffic etc?

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Whats that got to do with origional question?

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he got right to the point.

seems that the OP can't tell auto from assisted manual (dualogic)

for a typical driver used to auto gearbox, the dualogic box is jerky.

Sealobo said:

he got right to the point.

seems that the OP can't tell auto from assisted manual (dualogic)

for a typical driver used to auto gearbox, the dualogic box is jerky.

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Having driven all sorts of autos I don't find it jerky unless not driven properly.

There is a trick to driving it, try taking your foot off the accelerator as you would on a manual just before you change gear. This is easier in manual mode so you know when it will change gear (because your doing it!) You'll just have to experiment, I'm sure you'll come up with something.

I used to thrash my mum's so the jerkiness was not noticed, it's quite a fun box on country roads

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Having driven all sorts of autos I don't find it jerky unless not driven properly.

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I hear what you say as it is rather smooth but it is undeniable there is some very slight jerking, especially when used to a normal automatic. Takes little time to get used to it though.

My salesman at the time didn't explain to me the whys and hows neither btw, but that is a different matter.

Edit, advice to redbambino to understand your car: watch constantly (I should say "as much as you can") the gear your car is on (on display) and also the revs, that'll help you a lot during you first days/weeks. After that you'll know and feel the gears without even watching, that's when you know you know your dualogic well.

Thanks for your advice everybody!

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Having driven all sorts of autos I don't find it jerky unless not driven properly.

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the "all sorts of autos" that you drove probably had crappy gearbox or broken torque converter.

Sealobo said:

the "all sorts of autos" that you drove probably had crappy gearbox or broken torque converter.

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Why, do your torque converters jerk then? One's I've driven havent.

Just those electo magnetic powdered clutches. Now they jerked if not used properly.

Dualogic is automatic not a assisted manual gearbox. To be auomatic there has to be no user intervention to change gear, which the dual logic is. Assisted manual means you have to change/select ratio's yourself, i.e sequential boxes in rally cars. Obviously like most auto's now the Dualogic has the option to select gears, but is not required.

So I am afraid somebody is confused on the difference between the two.

Yes, you seem to be.

Traditional automatic gearboxes use a torque converter to switch between ratios.

Duallogic boxes have a clutch, but it is operated electro-hydraulically to disengage drive, then an automated gear selector performs the shift, and then the clutch re-engages drive, all without any intervention from the driver.

Dual-Logic is a development of the original Alfa Selespeed.

It can be jerky at times - especially on medium throttle loadings.

On light loads and full throttle it tends to be very smooth.

If you're using it in manual mode, drive it like you would a manual - ie. lift off when changing gear.

If you're in auto mode, then you need to learn the signs that the car is going to change gear and lift off when you expect it to change.

The act of lifting off the throttle often forces a change up anyway.

Just don't ever expect it to be anywhere near as smooth as a traditional auto.

Admittedly, my point of reference is unfair - as my company car has CVT, so doesn't have any gears to change.

Remember the benefits of this kind of box too:

More economical than the manual equivalent, auto and manual, 5 speed (sometimes 6 in the other Fiats) not 4 speed like other autos, it's quieter than the traditional auto boxes, it sounds like a manual! You don't the dreadful hummm, hummm, hummm as it goes through the gears!

I like it! Just waiting for the 6 speed flappy paddle one to arrive in the Abarth!

elation said:

Yes, you seem to be.

Traditional automatic gearboxes use a torque converter to switch between ratios.

Duallogic boxes have a clutch, but it is operated electro-hydraulically to disengage drive, then an automated gear selector performs the shift, and then the clutch re-engages drive, all without any intervention from the driver.

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No you said it was an assisted manual, it's not it is automatic, fully automatic. You seem to be confused between what is automatic and what isn't, the Dualogic is automatic in it's true sense. You don't need a torque converter to be automatic, in fact the first auto's didn't have one. Also CVT's are also automatic, but the first one's used a centrifugal clutch not torque converters.

You can say the dualogic is a auto without torque converter, but it is a automatic not manually assisted as that is something entirely different. You said it was not automatic, but as it engages drive, selects ratios with no use interventio, it is automatic, so you were wrong to say it was mis sold.

It's a robotised manual box.

By law this may mean it's automatic. But it's not what we know as an automatic.

So you can't expect it to behave like one.

Check the definition of automatic gearbox, the means of technology to achieve is not important, the function of it being automatic is what defines it as such. A robotised manual refers to how the automatic gears are selected by making use of a standard gearbox, but the fact the gears are selected automatically means it is not manual.

As I said you could say that it is not "traditional", but that's it. A hydraulic torque converter does not define an automatic.

The first automatics did not have torque converters, nor did the CVT transmission, which were also automatic. The phrase Variomatic was a marketing exercise, but it was automatic.

poggy said:

No you said it was an assisted manual, it's not it is automatic, fully automatic. You seem to be confused between what is automatic and what isn't, the Dualogic is automatic in it's true sense. You don't need a torque converter to be automatic, in fact the first auto's didn't have one. Also CVT's are also automatic, but the first one's used a centrifugal clutch not torque converters.

You can say the dualogic is a auto without torque converter, but it is a automatic not manually assisted as that is something entirely different. You said it was not automatic, but as it engages drive, selects ratios with no use interventio, it is automatic, so you were wrong to say it was mis sold.

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Fiat themselves claim it's a manual, all be it "robotized"

It is a manual gearbox robotised, making the transmission automatic in function. As I said the method of making it automatic is not relevant. The industry definition of automatic is pretty clear in that it states the gearbox automatically changes ratio's as the vehicle moves.

If it is not automatic, what is the definition of automatic and I don't mean "traditional" automatic.

I'll add my two pennyworth, as a girl who hasn't even looked under the bonnet.

If a car doesn't have a clutch and it changes gear for you - that's an automatic!

If you learnt to drive with a dualogic car, you would only be issued with an automatic licence as you won't have learnt any clutch control.