Technical DuaLogic Oil Change on a Fiat 500 1.4 Sport from '08:-)

[Fiat176]

Hi, i bought this wonderfull car. Got i real cheap, because first owner said it had jumped out of gear into N while driving twice.
Drove it home no problems, amazing car.
Id had been cared for real good, MES Says last delete of fault codes in ECU was at 5400km and we are at 189.000km now.
But one thing his mechanic forgot is, the hydraulic fluid had newer been changed. Same with gearbox oil.
I changed the ATF with help from the web, and MES. Drives good, no problems. But i also want to change the gearbox oil, but i just can't see no fill plug.
Where is it?

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi

What did you change?

Most FIAT gearboxes are filled through the 'level hole'.. remove the hex key plug on the side of the gearbox


The selespeed fluid is different..

Almost like water.. and will need the MES software to change it properly

 

[Fiat176]

Hi

What did you change?

Most FIAT gearboxes are filled through the 'level hole'.. remove the hex key plug on the side of the gearbox


The selespeed fluid is different..

Almost like water.. and will need the MES software to change it properly

I looked in the manual to see which fluid the selespeed needed, it said ATF Dextron III so that’s what it got, even from Castrol. So it should be happy.
And yes I first opened up to the pump, opened the door.
Did that until it was all out, filled it up some more, did it again.
Then closed the pump again, filled it up.
Used to MES to remove the air, filled it up to max. Then used MES to check there still was no air, no probs.
And then calibration.
With the gearbox it self, I can only see the drain plug, maybe the fill plug is behind the reservoir for selespeed?
It really should be time for the gearbox to get changed oil after 189tkm.

 

[puntodeltathema]

Yes the filler plug for the gearbox is (handily) behind the actuator (same place it is on the manuals).

Not sure if you had a handbook for the US automatics (which are conventional torque converter boxes) but the Dualogic/Selespeed normally uses Tutela CS Speed fluid in the actuator - straw coloured. Different fluids can shorten the life of the seals and accumulator....

Unless the spec was different in far northern Europe, maybe because of climate? Might be worth double-checking.

If your 'box starts slipping into N again it generally means the hydraulics are getting tired (the control electronics are very risk averse so will fail supposedly "safe" on the first sign of issues). There are people who can refurb the actuators for reasonably money however - and one highly recommended specialist in the UK, CD Autos (no connection to me apart from being a repeat customer!)

Nick

 

[Fiat176]

Yes the filler plug for the gearbox is (handily) behind the actuator (same place it is on the manuals).

Not sure if you had a handbook for the US automatics (which are conventional torque converter boxes) but the Dualogic/Selespeed normally uses Tutela CS Speed fluid in the actuator - straw coloured. Different fluids can shorten the life of the seals and accumulator....

Unless the spec was different in far northern Europe, maybe because of climate? Might be worth double-checking.

If your 'box starts slipping into N again it generally means the hydraulics are getting tired (the control electronics are very risk averse so will fail supposedly "safe" on the first sign of issues). There are people who can refurb the actuators for reasonably money however - and one highly recommended specialist in the UK, CD Autos (no connection to me apart from being a repeat customer!)

Nick

https://www.fiat.lv/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/500_EN_.pdf

It sure says Tuttela, but also states what it equals too. So that’s what I used, since I can’t get a hold of Tuttela so easy here.
So I really need to disseasemble the robot to change the oil?

 

[puntodeltathema]

Well I never - I hadn't noticed CS Speed had a Dexron equivalent.... If in doubt, read the manual

 

[jaahn]

Hi Fiat176,
The gearbox oil fill plug is on the front side of the gearbox, in the same position as the manual gearbox. But it is hard to access because it is under the dualogic actuator system. However if you remove the metal shield from the front behind the radiator you can get access to the area. The resevoir for the actuator oil is a plastic container that is square but moulded with a cut away so there is access to the fill plug. You will need the correct hex bit to fit the plug socket and an extension than can just fit the available length and apply the required torque to loosen it in the available space.
The oil is filled to level of the hole to overflow. I used a long tube and funnel in the engine compartment and filled it slowly and did not spill much Hard to see what is going on. DO NOT DAMAGE THE PLASTIC OIL RESEVOIR.
Good luck jaahn