Technical Conformatic gearbox glitch

[Nosmo King]

Hi folks.

As with most new members, we only search for the forum when we have a problem, and need some advice.

So here I am and thanks in advance for any hints / tips / suggestions and advice!

We have a new Fiat Ducato camper, with the Fiat Conformatic gearbox. 2.3L / 150HP. 4000 miles

Away for the weekend, we’d travelled about 100 miles then stopped at the services for about 20 minutes.
Got back to the ‘van, started the him up and drove off in automatic.
Gear change was very slow between 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
Got to the slip road and accelerated. Or tried to. It stayed in 3rd gear.
Slowed down and it dropped in to neutral and refused to change, even when I tried to select manual.

Turned the engine off, removed the key then re-started and everything was back to normal.

Of particular concern is that this happened on the motorway slip road - not the best place!

Is this a one off?
Do I need to get Fiat involved?

Thanks again

 

[oigle]

I'd give it once chance. If it repeats, I would take it back to Fiat.

 

[Ocwobio]

If its new, no question- get it back. Probably no fault recorded for diagnostics (they would say that....), intermittent faults are loved by dealers as it makes it easier to wash their hands of it. Cynical? Yep, for sure. Many experiences on here like that!
If you have a camera, film the driving experience for maybe the next 1k miles, just in case, then it won't make a liar of you when you take it back. Bit extreme/awkward/inconvenient, yes, but may help settle an argument that you would otherwise struggle to prove. Maybe a cheap dashcam looking at the instrument panel would assist, especially if it has a tacho to show what the engine/road speed is respective to each other. You can always use it for its intended purpose when you're confident it has ceased to be a problem.
Also, give them a written description of the fault and get a written acknowledgement (good luck!)so it is logged for future reference. I'd do this irrespective of the make, not just Fiat. This forum is THE place for help in the meantime, though.

 

[Fozzylad]

I would highly recommend that you check the clutch fluid reservoir to see if it's secure and the level of clutch fluid and condition. Could need a bleed. Known issure for the reservoir comming loose as some techs are a bit heavy handed and it breaks the brackets that secure it on the CS bottle.