Technical Problems with the automatic gearbox

[Fiat500xq]

I bought my automatic 1.4 multi air cross second hand last year (July) and it had done 12000 miles. I’ve now done 25000 and have had a few issues with the car since owning it. The electricals have been a bit hit and miss, with the hand brake stopping working within the first two weeks. More recently though the outside temperature gauge went with readings of 95 degrees Celsius. I have also had problems with the side lights and a whole new light fitting had to be ordered. All of these things are annoying but manageable. In the last few weeks, however, warning lights were coming on when doing long journeys (40 miles) and I was being told there was a transmission error. I was driving home when the error came back and told me drive mode not available. The car then wouldn’t move from neutral into drive. It just revved. I managed to get it moving and it wouldn’t move out of first gear. Took it to a local garage who told me to go to fiat. Eventually fiat told me the gearbox had gone and I needed a new one.
My question is should a car, which has done 25000 miles and is only 4.5 years old, need a new gearbox?

 

[Scourie]

I think we all know the answer is no. What gearbox is it? 9 speed ZF or 6 speed DCT?

 

[Fiat500xq]

I think we all know the answer is no. What gearbox is it? 9 speed ZF or 6 speed DCT?

It’s a 6 speed. The Fiat garage said they contacted fiat head office to ask whether they would help pay for the repair/replacement (!!) but they said no. I want to see whether this has happened to other people and whether I should be pushing harder to get fiat to pay for the work.

 

[varesecrazy]

Unfortunately 4.5 years old is well past warranty..and you obviously havent been using a dealer for servicing either

A gearbox specialist could be a safer bet..

Although from your description it could be a control issue.. not a gearbox failure

Need more info really.

 

[Fiat500xq]

Unfortunately 4.5 years old is well past warranty..and you obviously havent been using a dealer for servicing either

A gearbox specialist could be a safer bet..

Although from your description it could be a control issue.. not a gearbox failure

Need more info really.

Two out of three services have been with main dealer.

Fiat have had it in the garage for the last three weeks and have said faults were found with gearbox solenoid valves/pmp system. They also replaced gearbox control unit.

 

[2FiatsRon]

I had exactly the same problem with my 1.4 500X, warnings came on and would not change gear etc. Waited for the RAC to appear, about 2 hours and on starting the engine all seemed OK. RAC man not convinced though and followed us whilst we went towards home. After a few miles it happened again and was towed to my local fiat agent, approx 25 miles. They changed an electronics module and what appears to be a container that acts as a pressure chamber, they said the pressure chamber had leaked and contaminated the electronic unit.

Collected car and drove home about 7 miles but about 1/2 mile from home exactly the same thing again. RAC towed me back to the agent.

The agents then put it on a ramp and discovered an electric motor that powers an hydraulic pump was getting red hot. Motor changed end of problem. I did complain to Fiat and at first they were going to be very generous, car only a couple of months out of warranty but in the end they stumped £217.00's credit towards my next service. Not great but better than nothing. I personally don't think changing the module or pressure tank had anything to do with the problem, look for the electric motor getting hot and cutting out when it over heats, then once it has cooled seeming OK. After taking it off the car it was tested on the bench and the problem was obvious.

Hope all of this is some help to you and you get it fixed, apart from the new motor shouldn't be too expensive as the motor is an external unit and just need the wiring plug disconnecting and the motor unbolted, a few minutes work.

Have run the car for many miles now without further problem

 

[Ralf S.]

Aye.. what 2FiatsRon said.

My bro-in-law had similar issues with his Mercedes M..? something... the box would refuse to cooperate but it was a control module issue. That cost him £600 .. (genooine Merc' part.. ) which worked for another 3 years until it failed again.

He doesn't have that car anymore.. I think he sold it to an ex-mate of his..


And my X (on order) is a manual.



Ralf S.

 

[PatrickSeb]

Hi there, just joined the forum.
I have a 500x 2 litre diesel, 4x4, auto.
I've reached 64k miles, but am experiencing 'transmission', 'engine warning' lights after I've been on the motorway for about 2hrs with a 'Drive mode not available' message being displayed with sport and traction modes unavailable (Strangely the stop start unavailable message also pops up).
Car is with my local Fiat dealer waiting to be sorted.
I had hoped that the issue might just be a fluid problem i.e. getting too hot - because all the warnings can disappear after a day or so (when things cool down?)
Now... Fiat have told me that the gearbox is 'sealed' so fluid change can't be done by them, and they have recommended a local autobox specialist.
IS THIS TRUE? IS THIS NORMAL?
The gearbox is a nine speed auto, with manual override. Surely there must be a way to replenish fluids or adjust levels?
I enjoy my car, but just want Fiat to fix the problem.