Doblo Dualogic YES or NO?

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Doblo Dualogic YES or NO?

MAD MONK

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My first post and I'm even more confused after looking at the user guide.

Just spent a long time writing on "The one and only Dualogic failure thread" only for it all to evaporate into cyberspace when I hit the launch button.:bang:
Maybe because I don't actually own a Doblo yet.....

Since a very clean looking ex-Motability 2013 with 30.3K is begging me to buy it, should I take a chance or not? Sorry, I really am not up to combing through that dualogic thread for the answer, please, anybody, venture an opinion or at least point me to the posts I need to read to make up my own mind.

So as a "senior citizen" and "crumbly" whose left knee has just packed up I badly need an automatic that I can put a daybed into. Badly need because although physically infirm, driving I enjoy as therapy to keep me alert, mentally sharp and with excellent reflexes.

Being of low income the Doblo fits the bill for running costs but I CAN NOT afford an expensive failure any time soon or ever.

I'm assuming that a Doblo doesn't have the same unit as the 500, is not normally caned like a 500 might be and hence might not have the same issues unless overloaded weight-wise.

Answers urgently needed, RSVP please and Thank You.
 
Hello, good morning, and a very warm welcome to the forum.

It's good to have you along.

Sorry you haven't had much response as yet; there aren't that many Doblo owners here and in automatic form, they're as rare as hen's teeth. That said, the individual components are common enough in other models and the relevant comments in the respective threads are equally applicable.

I've had a look on the dealer's website at the specific car I think you're looking at.

I can understand the appeal of this car; like many ex-motability vehicles, it looks completely clean, well cared for and the mileage and usage are trivial compared to what you'd normally expect of a Doblo of similar age.

Being of low income the Doblo fits the bill for running costs but I CAN NOT afford an expensive failure any time soon or ever.

This is what makes it difficult. The two big risks with that car are that it's a DPF equipped diesel, and it's a dualogic, with all the potential issues that sometimes, but by no means always, happen with this gearbox. Either could give you an expensive problem in the future, but equally that could well never happen; it's impossible to say for certain.

To try to give you a better answer as to how suitable this particular car will be for your needs, whereabouts do you live (big city, small town, village), what kind of mileage do you plan on doing going forward, and how important is it for you to have a) an automatic and b) a wheelchair-accessible vehicle?
 
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jrkitching, Thank you very much, confirms my thoughts pretty well.

The Doblo basically suits my needs very well: I live in a suburb 3 miles out of Bristol city centre and avoid the peak traffic whenever humanly possible...even in my present 1.2 TSI Skoda Roomster which is brilliant for city driving. Fantastic little motor.
So its for shopping trips in general plus the occasional "day out" or burn up the M4 to London which should take care of the DPF.
I guess what is more relevant is how its been (ab)used by the previous owner.
I can see the time is not far off, at my age and condition, when a buggy if not a wheelchair would be very useful if not essential, meanwhile I very much desire the possibility of a bed in the back or week-end camper. I like the size, space and high ride position; had a Ford Transit Connect van and the Tourneo people carrier version in the past.

One thing about this forum (I am also on Ford and Skoda), that it is not clear what vehicle ( model, year, variant) the OP is referring to or posseses.

What's relevant to a 1.9 JTD (?) may not be applicable to a 1.6 Multijet, I had a quick look at "Doblo DPF" and can't tell how relevant that is, DPF being an afterthought for the early ones and presumably designed in to the Multijet.

Its a severe headach for an old geezer with brain fog to take in and co-ordinate...I'd go out for a joy ride if it wasn't so hot...
 
Further question, somebody other than jrkitching might know :eek:

Anybody in Bristol (Area) have a go-to independant (FIAT approved or capable) garage for their repairs/service/MoT?

All my googling comes back to the main stealers...not a welcome prospect.

Thanks, Anybody! I'm on the south side of Bristol, if that helps....
 
The only advice I can give you....When I was looking for a Qubo/Bipper/Nemo I googled the semi automatic gearbox options on all three essentially the same vehicles. There were literally thousands of pages of people having issues with the peugeot/citroen made gearbox, and not one about the fiat dualogic system (this was in 2014 BTW). I ended up buying a peugeot bipper version with the fiat 1.3 multijet and a 5 speed dualogic gearbox. Never had an issue with either of them, nore the DPF. however I didn't like the way the gearbox operated in automatic mode, if you got in a mess and had to try and accelerate away from trouble quickly it would do the dirty and mess about trying to select lower gears wasting time so I used to drive it in manual gear selection mode all the time, which worked just fine.
 
Further question, somebody other than jrkitching might know :eek:

Anybody in Bristol (Area) have a go-to independant (FIAT approved or capable) garage for their repairs/service/MoT?

All my googling comes back to the main stealers...not a welcome prospect.

Thanks, Anybody! I'm on the south side of Bristol, if that helps....

Hi :),
we've often had newbies asking for a recommendation of a decent indy near Bristol..
it's not had any good responses,
My ususal reply is look for an Alfa speciialist.. cheaper than the dealers.. and often more knoweledgable.. especially with the semi-auto's.. however being "specialists" they are NOT generally cheap.

I've had dealings with a couple of the semi-auto's - I found them a bit fussy.. but work o.k., no great issues

DPF - I'm not sure if your general around town driving would be enough..:confused:

daft to NEED a M4 blast.. just to keep it alive..:bang:

Charlie - M4 commuter.. just had my 2 hour run today;)
 
Thank You Turbozed,

I think my kind of driving should take care of the DPF; I am more concerned about what the previous owner has been doing with it. Or not doing.

Varesecrazy, thanks also.

Seems to be only one Alfa specialist, reputed to be very expensive indeed. I have found two or three FIAT approved indies, but well out on the other side of town. Seems strange since there is a huge area of Automotive businesses a short distance away on this side of town.

I am having the car out for a test drive next Monday, what should I look out for?
Anything in particular?
 
Thank You Turbozed,

I think my kind of driving should take care of the DPF;

I am having the car out for a test drive next Monday, what should I look out for?
Anything in particular?

Suspension noises..

Random failures have been reported..( check tyre wear)

The chatter of a failing Dual Mass Flywheel
Also. Expensive repairs.

Im using a tired punto with the 1.3 mj.

2007 ..so pre DPF..
Its actually ok.

Tried one in a panda 8 years ago and didnt see the point of it...

There are always south wales places to consider for basic work.
 
DMF failing at 30,300 miles???:eek: are you serious?

AND is the DPF as much a problem with the later models?

Is it a specific FIAT problem or are we talking about DPFs in general which don't get driven as they need to be?
 
Varesecrazy, I took the machine out for a good test drive yesterday, had it inspected by a local mechanic and committed to buy it. NOW, the dealer is having the can belt replaced, big question, does this also also need the water pump doing....1.6 multijet??? RSVP ASAP please as I need to let them know. PS how do I get notification to my email inbox???
 
500e Thanks for your comment re. water pump. I'm confused because most of these threads seem to be about older jtd's. Mine is a 2013 1.6 Multijet...that's why I asked in the first place. So who is right here? Anybody else something to say? varesecrazy?
 
Often to be changed as a set..

But..

Most failures are engines that are laid up for extended periods..and bearings getting corroded.

Many people do 200k without changing ANYTHING..

TBH. Waterpumps failing is far from common.

And any wear that will induce belt wander will give you SOME warning.

And noise.. fluid loss.

My 1st jtd had a bearing failure.. LOTS OF NOISE... local garage misdiagnosed..and changed wrong bearing.. belt wandered enough to saw slots in plastic covers.. YES REALLY..!!

engine ran for another 70k until sold on.
 
Fairy Nuff.

I'll make sure they check it out.

Since its ex-Motability I'm guessing its probably had the right stuff in the coolant...

Thanks again.
 
As a disabled, using hand controls, Dualogic user ( 3 different cars ) I would say to get someone who knows these gearboxes to check it out very carefully before you buy . They are great when they are working but VERY expensive to fix . My present Fiat is 9 years old and, dare I say it, o.k. but two previous cars both had problems, one fixed under warranty, and the other was unfixable without major repairs, so was quickly part ex'd.
Do get an iron backed warranty if you do buy, but when working they are, in my opinion better than any other auto, although they are a little slow in changing gear compared to, say, the twin clutch auto's . as it's possible to over-ride them without having to change over to 'manual'
 
DavyP Thanks for taking interest.. :)

I did give the car a jolly good run around yesterday. About town hither and thither + dual carriageway bypass burn on manual + a stiff, practically vertical, sharp uphill S-bend in auto :devil: and gently down the other side....

Allowing for my lack of experience, it did very well. I like it.

Mechanic had a proper look for oil leaks etc. and ran a diagnostic, only minor flags are likely due to low battery which is apparently critical.

I went in to the subject pretty thoroughly, thanks to this forum; recon. gearbox actuators can be fitted for very reasonable sums so I'm not too worried now.

I'm also thinking there's been a lot of research and development behind the scenes in the years since your bad luck.

FIAT wouldn't be advertising the problems or the solutions; they certainly won't want to be getting a bad enough reputation to prevent their sales paying for the investment in initial design and production work.

The amount I'd have to pay for an "iron backed" warranty would go a long way to paying for whatever might go wrong, and there's lots of horror stories about the warrantee firms not paying up...and the claimant has to pay first and then get a refund. :rolleyes:

With one thing and another, especially when far from home, a lot of strife and stress. :cry:

Being disabled myself, my money goes on a premium AA national recovery breakdown assistance which will get us and the car back home where I can relax with my wife and sort things out leisurely with known contacts...cheap and best. (y)

Should be picking it up next Monday, new cambelt and all...onward and upward, fingers crossed.
 
Try Green Flag, they offer a great service to get you and your car home with premium service if you register as disabled with them for about a 1/3 of the price AA charge.
 
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