Technical Help Needed – Fiat 500 TwinAir Dualogic semi auto stuck in N + screeching sound when engine is on, OBD scan results included

[Syedsid]

Hi everyone,

Hoping someone knowledgeable can guide me. My 2013 Fiat 500 TwinAir Dualogic semi auto has recently gone into the usual “stuck in Neutral” situation and won’t select gears at all now. The issue with gears being stuck and not selecting has been happening for over a year and I just have needed to switch off and switch back on to resolve it but a few weeks back it discharged a burning smell, smoke from
Bonnet and a constant screeching sound when car is running and it won’t select gears at all.

I had a basic OBD scan at a local garage (I’m trying to understand what’s most likely before committing to a Fiat dealer scan MultiESUScan) and these were the results:

NO faults in:
• ABS
• OBDII permanent codes
• OBDII pending codes

Faults found:
Engine Management: 2
– P065B | (OEM description needed)
– P0700 | Transmission Control System (MIL request)

Body Computer: 1
– U1411 | Battery Sensor (IBS)

OBDII Codes ($03): 1
– P0700 | Transmission Control System (MIL request)

Questions:
1) Given these codes, can anyone advise realistically what I might be dealing with?
Possibilities I’ve been told include:
• Clutch
• Actuator
• Flywheel (DMF)
• Pump/pressure issue
• Sensor fault
• Input shaft bearing

2) Is P0700 usually triggered by the actuator or clutch on Dualogic?

3) And could any of this relate to the new alternator + belt replacement I had done a few months ago?

Any guidance would mean the world to me. I’m really stressed and just trying to make the right decision before booking repairs.


Thank you in advance.

 

[jrkitching]

Have a look at this thread to get some idea of the problems associated with this type of transmission in an older car.

There are not many garages outside of the franchised dealer network that have any meaningful knowledge of how to repair these transmissions. And a franchised dealer repair on a 12yr old car is unlikely to be economically viable.

I guess your problem is compounded by the fact that the car can't be driven and is going to have to be trailered to a place of repair. Once there, your options are limited if you don't like what they tell you.

The issue with gears being stuck and not selecting has been happening for over a year and I just have needed to switch off and switch back on to resolve it

This was your chance to sell the car whilst it still had some value. But that's water under the bridge now.

but a few weeks back it discharged a burning smell, smoke from Bonnet and a constant screeching sound when car is running and it won’t select gears at all

That would point to the clutch having burned out. As a minimum, that means a new clutch and recalibration of the transmission. A non-fiat specialist might not have either the equipment nor the experience to do this recalibration. And if your car has a DMF, then that will quite likely also need to be replaced. If the DMF has damaged bearings or the transmission housing (it often happens), then the bill just got bigger. But the real issue is that even doing all this may, or may not, fix the problem, and if it doesn't, whatever else is needed isn't likely to be cheap.

I’m really stressed and just trying to make the right decision before booking repairs.

I can understand this. The risk of ending up with a four figure bill and a car that still isn't working properly is considerable.

If funds permit, the least stressful way forward would be to sell the car 'as is, where is' and buy something else. That way, all the issues associated with fixing it, and then worrying about when it's going to fail again, won't be your problem anymore.

I'd suggest giving it some careful thought before putting any more money into this car.

 

[Syedsid]

Have a look at this thread to get some idea of the problems associated with this type of transmission in an older car.

There are not many garages outside of the franchised dealer network that have any meaningful knowledge of how to repair these transmissions. And a franchised dealer repair on a 12yr old car is unlikely to be economically viable.

I guess your problem is compounded by the fact that the car can't be driven and is going to have to be trailered to a place of repair. Once there, your options are limited if you don't like what they tell you.



This was your chance to sell the car whilst it still had some value. But that's water under the bridge now.


That would point to the clutch having burned out. As a minimum, that means a new clutch and recalibration of the transmission. A non-fiat specialist might not have either the equipment nor the experience to do this recalibration. And if your car has a DMF, then that will quite likely also need to be replaced. If the DMF has damaged bearings or the transmission housing (it often happens), then the bill just got bigger. But the real issue is that even doing all this may, or may not, fix the problem, and if it doesn't, whatever else is needed isn't likely to be cheap.

I can understand this. The risk of ending up with a four figure bill and a car that still isn't working properly is considerable.

If funds permit, the least stressful way forward would be to sell the car 'as is, where is' and buy something else. That way, all the issues associated with fixing it, and then worrying about when it's going to fail again, won't be your problem anymore.

I'd suggest giving it some careful thought before putting any more money into this car.

@jrkitching
Thank you so much honestly for your kind advice and the enormous amount of time you took to dissect and respond to my question. Honestly so generous of you and it means a lot.

I understand what you’re saying about selling it but to me because it has sentimental value attached, I’d like to at least try and see what I can do to get clarity with what the issues may be before writing it off completely.

Today I was researching to even purchase a basic MultiECUScan kit + software licence to at least get a more accurate description of what the problem is. I know it may not be completely accurate but I’ve just had an OBD scan done and it generated the above 3-4 fault codes.

I know you did your best to make suggestions but given the codes from the Obd Scan, would you be able to advise realistically (based on probability lol) what I might be dealing with?

I know it’s just an OBD scan and not a MultiESUscan hence why I’m thinking of purchasing the kit and do it myself as I am quite handy with tech. If I don’t want to sell it yet, would you suggest that is a good next step into the investigating the issues?

Thank you so much once again