Technical 2007 Punto Grande 1.4 Dualogic Gearbox Issue and Radiator Temp Warning

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Technical 2007 Punto Grande 1.4 Dualogic Gearbox Issue and Radiator Temp Warning

seven7ten

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Hi,

I have recently bought a 2007 Punto Grande 1.4 Dynamic Dualogic.

There is an issue with the dualogic gearbox. Driving today the light came on and it said "check transmission see manual" (or similar) and didn't seem to have any problems. Then after being on the motorway for a while, then pulling into my drive way and going from 4th gear down, it just went into Neutral while driving. It was then a job to get back into gear, having to fiddle around with the gear stick. Since then, it has been playing up randomly, not able to start it - having to fiddle around with the gear stick and the "check transmission" light coming on again, and it getting stuck in Neutral at a standstill, or 1st when engine off and then wont turn on. Furthermore, at one point after turning engine off and on it came up saying "radiator temp to high". This is from cold. I have no idea how long these issues have been occuring with the car as I have only just bought it. When opening the driver door there is a whirring for about 10 seconds.

I have been doing a bit of googling, seems there is a common problem with this gearbox. I have the option of returning the car on Monday. But if there are any cheap/free fixes that I could try out beforehand that would be great. I have a feeling that it may not be the whole actuator, because it was only replaced recently and the radiator temp I am sure is a sensor issue and not the actual temp of the radiator. Perhaps it is an electrical/grounding issue of some kind?

The car has had issues before with the gearbox (before I owned it). Looking at the history, on 06/03/2015 at 40,036 (Only 1400 miles ago). It was stuck in gear and would not start. Fault was recorded as "Gearbox actuator pump open circuit" and the actuator, relay, fuse and ground cable were all replaced (grand total £1700!!).

So if anyone has ideas on a few cheap/free things to rule out before I return the car, that would be much appreciated. And out of interest does anyone know if the two issues (gearbox issue/radiator temp light) are connected in any way?

Thanks a lot in advance!

Oli
 
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I have the option of returning the car on Monday.
Return it.

There are no cheap or easy fixes to dualogic problems and many dealers won't even touch it. When it works it's great, when it doesn't you want it to be someone else's problem.

I have a dualogic and like it. It has had some problems - selecting gear from cold - but <touch wood> these seem to have cleared up. But dropping out of gear whilst moving is so ****ing dangerous you shouldn't need to be asking whether to return it or not!


£1700 didn't fix it, and you can be sure that they started with the cheap option.
 
Then after being on the motorway for a while, then pulling into my drive way and going from 4th gear down, it just went into Neutral while driving. It was then a job to get back into gear, having to fiddle around with the gear stick.
Another thought, if you slam on the anchors too fast (emergency stop style) the car will automatically drop into N. You'll then need to have your foot on the brake, move the gear shift to N and back to the Drive position before you can get a gear. This would be normal behaviour from an emergency stop situation. But if that was the case I believe the car also automatically puts the hazard warning lights on at the same time.

The brake, N, D tango is the normal procedure for getting back in gear from an unintended excursion into neutral. So I wouldn't worry about that bit too much.

But any other problem, including your stuck in N at junctions and the radiator temp warning - you'd be an idiot to accept these problems as yours when you can return the car. Take it back, reject the vehicle, get your cash back. Do not let them fob you off with "We'll fix it".
 
Same problem here seven7ten
If you can return the car, take it back right away.
They will never be able to fix the problem. From time to time they will replace the actuator for about 2000 EUR.

I am looking now to see if I can change it into a manual gearbox, using the current gearbox (still don't know if it is possible), if not, she will visit the old car junkyard unfortunately (8 years, 64.000 km, pretty young :( )

Nicolae
 
Hi. I m having similar problem now.
2008 1.4 8v.

Normally happens when car is cold. Like driven for less than 5 mins.

1st problem is need a few trys to get into reverse. Sometimes even after long time driving.

2nd if i have to brake hard just to slow down and regardless of which ever gear i m in, it goes into neutral. So i have to come to a complete stop in the middle of highway to step on the brake pedal and with a few attemps it will engage into 1st gear again.

Read a few replies to this saying replace electrohydrualics. So what is that?
 
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Return it.

There are no cheap or easy fixes to dualogic problems and many dealers won't even touch it. When it works it's great, when it doesn't you want it to be someone else's problem.

I have a dualogic and like it. It has had some problems - selecting gear from cold - but <touch wood> these seem to have cleared up. But dropping out of gear whilst moving is so ****ing dangerous you shouldn't need to be asking whether to return it or not!


£1700 didn't fix it, and you can be sure that they started with the cheap option.
Any idea how it cleared up?
 
Hi,

dualogig and temp sensor issues COULD be related: it would be the case if there is a problem with the engine/gearbox earthing.
You really need to have 100% good connection between the battery negative, the car's body and the engine/gearbox. This has been explained many times here and there is a tuto on how to do that checking: basically using battery leads to bypass the original connection(s); visual inspection here is NOT ENOUGH !

@ Nicolae: the dualogic is just a robot that replaces the carbon interface to activate the clutch and the GB lever... The gearbox itself is exactly the same; if yo want to reverse back to manual, you'l need a donor car to get the complete lever, cables assy and selector mechanism. No rocket science here, shouldn't have any issue doing that.

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)
 
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