Technical Dualogic failure

[Panda92]

Hello everyone.

I have Fiat Panda 2004 1.2 with Dualogic. (just under 20.000km)

I have an issue where the transmission would randomly "slip" in to NEUTRAL when downshifting from certain gears (most notably from 3-2 and from 2-1st gear).

It drops in to neutral and stays there. It doesn't happen all the time but it happens often enough to write about it here haha.

Help?

p.s- Glad to be here

 

[koalar]

I have never worked on the duologic

cant help much


this might help

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-guides/439619-dualogic-troubleshooting-guide.html

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

You’ll need the get the fault code as it can be a number of different things potentially.

 

[kenmac15]

We're just scrapping the wifes panda for this reason, her's was turning into a bit of a money pit, so cutting our losses on it

 

[MrMagoo]

Automatic cars have so many sensors that you will really need to get codes and parameters checked.

 

[koalar]

We're just scrapping the wifes panda for this reason, her's was turning into a bit of a money pit, so cutting our losses on it

I'd hang fire

while looking for the thread I post earlier I found someone with a panda and the same fault after they had the clutch changed

I didn't post as it went back to the garage. It was something and nothing and fixed straightaway. They were told it was a sensor. I would take this with a pinch of salt.

 

[Panda92]

From the link that koalar posted, I gathered that the possible cause might be the Dualogic actuator problem and old transmission oil.

Mind you that this car is from 2004 and it stayed in the garage for over 7 year most of the time. Hasnt had a change in transmission oil ever.

Like I said from 2004 till 2020 it managed to "rack up" measly 20.000km (mostly highway and short trips).

I was hoping to avoid scanning for fault codes since I dont have any tool for that. And the FIAT mechanics in my country are lying thieves (as well as incompetent).

Was hoping that this was a rather known fault with A) B) C) reasons/causes for this fault.

What can reasonably be the cause on essentially brand new car?

 

[kenmac15]

Yep we've installed a new clutch kit (genuine fiat) recalibrated it all, flushed & changed the selespeed oil, bled the system all done with the official multiecu software. Changed the brake light switch, selector fork & rod in the box etc & still won't select any gears, & coming up with major clutch failure on multiecu.
Only thing left to try would be a rebuild of the robot @ £450 but that's not including any sensors or pump etc. Not prepared to spend anymore time or money on a car only worth around £600

 

[jrkitching]

Hello everyone.

I have Fiat Panda 2004 1.2 with Dualogic. (just under 20.000km)

I have an issue where the transmission would randomly "slip" in to NEUTRAL when downshifting from certain gears (most notably from 3-2 and from 2-1st gear).

It drops in to neutral and stays there. It doesn't happen all the time but it happens often enough to write about it here haha.

Help?

p.s- Glad to be here

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Good to have you here.

Read this thread.

Like I said from 2004 till 2020 it managed to "rack up" measly 20.000km

Cars deteriorate based on both time and mileage. After 16 years, parts like seals may be breaking down, even if it's hardly been used, and any original fluids will be well past its best.

I'd probably try changing the selespeed fluid first.

 

[MrMagoo]

From the Dualogic failure guide:

Gears are ejected in Driving
Accumulator defective
Too little oil in the system

 

[varesecrazy]

Yep we've installed a new clutch kit (genuine fiat) recalibrated it all, flushed & changed the selespeed oil, bled the system all done with the official multiecu software. Changed the brake light switch, selector fork & rod in the box etc & still won't select any gears, & coming up with major clutch failure on multiecu.
Only thing left to try would be a rebuild of the robot @ £450 but that's not including any sensors or pump etc. Not prepared to spend anymore time or money on a car only worth around £600

It really is one of the regular reasons for "Dualogic failure".
Hardest things are
A) getting people to believe it and
B) stopping them from trying something else first.

A is free, quick, easy to do.
Often B leads to real failure, lots of money changing hands, and long depressing threads on forums...

Sorry to hear its got so problematic

Worth getting some of the money back in the new parts worth though

Rather than £30 from Challow..

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

From the link that koalar posted, I gathered that the possible cause might be the Dualogic actuator problem and old transmission oil.

Mind you that this car is from 2004 and it stayed in the garage for over 7 year most of the time. Hasnt had a change in transmission oil ever.

Like I said from 2004 till 2020 it managed to "rack up" measly 20.000km (mostly highway and short trips).

I was hoping to avoid scanning for fault codes since I dont have any tool for that. And the FIAT mechanics in my country are lying thieves (as well as incompetent).

Was hoping that this was a rather known fault with A) B) C) reasons/causes for this fault.

What can reasonably be the cause on essentially brand new car?

You can do the fault code reading yourself with multi ecu scan. Well worth the investment

 

[koalar]

always check the free or cheap first

we had one recently where they were pricing a new dualogic unit but it turned out to be a blown brake light bulb


unfortunately i know nothing about the system


very few Pandas turn up on here with the system fitted


You might get more help in the 500 or punto section where far more were fitted

 

[DaveMcT]

The Duologic gearbox uses a single generated by the reverse light switch to indicate that it's in (or not in) reverse gear. When the bulb or switch fails or just a high resistance, the gearbox stays in neutral because it can't complete the self-test. Jumping out of gear its likely to be the hydraulic actuator or accumulator which needs special oil. Sadly that's the depth of my knowledge on the auto box. But the reverse light and switch are easy to test and confirm before doing anything else.

http://www.multiecuscan.net runs on Windows and will work happily on a basic old laptop. The software is about 50 Euro and you will need a set of cable adaptors for the OBD port. Download and install the software before you connect the cables and all goes smoothly.

 

[Panda92]

Hello everyone,

Just to give you all an update on the situation.

1. The firmware was updated

2. Dualogic oil changed

3. Actuator replaced.

Transmission works like a dream now :slayer:

Thank you all for your inputs. Otherwise I wouldn't know the general problem of the transmission