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Technical The one and only Dualogic failure thread

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Technical The one and only Dualogic failure thread

HI

also where about is the dipstick to check oil level for the gearbox I have been told that there is one but I cant see it anywhere, am I right in saying the the transition fluid goes into the plastic reservoir with the screw top lid just under the battery department
 
donkeyuk said:
HI

also where about is the dipstick to check oil level for the gearbox I have been told that there is one but I cant see it anywhere, am I right in saying the the transition fluid goes into the plastic reservoir with the screw top lid just under the battery department
Click to expand...
What type of fluid did you put in the plastic reservoir?
Was it low before you put fluid in?

How much fluid did you need to add?

Dipstick for gear box , I don't know.
 
donkeyuk said:
The oil that I was given by halfords is "Gear Oil" EP75W/80 GL-4

I put less then 1/4 cup in
Click to expand...

:eek:!

If you have put gear oil into the selespeed fluid reservoir, this is not good news.

Your car has a manual gearbox with a robotic selespeed unit bolted onto it. The gearbox uses normal gearbox oil (which is what you bought); the selespeed unit uses its own specialist fluid made by Tutela. You need to plug the car into a suitable computer and run diagnostic software even to properly check the selespeed fluid level, as the system must first be depressurised.

According to the manufacturer, if you put anything other than the correct fluid into the selespeed unit, you risk ruining the pump and actuator.

This is the fluid you need for the selespeed unit.

Unless you know what you are doing, I strongly suggest you do not do anything else, and that you do not drive the car until you have sought specialist advice.
 
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donkeyuk said:
The oil that I was given by halfords is "Gear Oil" EP75W/80 GL-4

I put less then 1/4 cup in
Click to expand...
Oh no , I am so sorry to hear that.


The oil halfords gave you is for the gear box. Not the selespeed/duologic unit ,often called the "robot" .

The robot is what controls the clutch and gear change functions in your car.

The robot needs very special oil.
DO NOT ADD any more of the wrong oil to the robot.

You definitely need to find a dualogic specialist. Not just an automatic gearbox specialist , not a fiat dealer they will say they know what they are doing but they always say that and most often don't but will charge you more than the car is worth.
You need a dualogic specialist.

In the meantime try the battery and battery lead fixes.
If that doesn't work You may end up looking for a new car.

Was the robot fluid low in the reservoir?

Also check the brake lights aren't on all the time when ignition switched on. The robot doesn't like it if it thinks the cars brakes are on all the time.

Was your car unused for weeks during lock down?

PS selespeed, dualogic, duologic are different names for the same thing
 
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jackwhoo said:
The robot needs very special oil.
DO NOT ADD any more of the wrong oil to the robot.
Click to expand...

:yeahthat:


Tutela CS (the correct hydraulic fluid for the robot) is fully synthetic; Halfords GL4 is a mineral oil. Putting mineral oil into a system designed for, and run with, synthetic fluid can cause irreperable damage to the seals.

If serious seal damage has occurred, then it's going to need a new actuator and a new pump; probably an uneconomic repair on a 12yr old car. It may possibly be sufficient to drain, flush and refill the system with the correct fluid; this is probably worth trying as the next step, but this will need to be done by someone with both the equipent and knowledge to do it properly.
 
jrkitching said:
:yeahthat:


Tutela CS (the correct hydraulic fluid for the robot) is fully synthetic; Halfords GL4 is a mineral oil. Putting mineral oil into a system designed for, and run with, synthetic fluid can cause irreperable damage to the seals.

If serious seal damage has occurred, then it's going to need a new actuator and a new pump; probably an uneconomic repair on a 12yr old car. It may possibly be sufficient to drain, flush and refill the system with the correct fluid; this is probably worth trying as the next step, but this will need to be done by someone with both the equipent and knowledge to do it properly.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the reply all, I feel very stupid now lol.

question if I was to drain it out ( there was only alittle added) could I refill with the correct fluid ?

What do you mean using correct equipment to do this ?

The car has not been used since putting the wrong fluid in so should not have done to much damage, I HOPE
 
donkeyuk said:
Thank you for the reply all, I feel very stupid now lol.

question if I was to drain it out ( there was only alittle added) could I refill with the correct fluid ?

What do you mean using correct equipment to do this ?

The car has not been used since putting the wrong fluid in so should not have done to much damage, I HOPE
Click to expand...
Don't feel stupid lots of people do it.

Don't open the drivers door , that causes the robot pump to run which will mix up the fluids.

If you havent opened the drivers door or switched on the ignition since wrong oil.Your best bet to try to remove the contaminated fluid "on the cheap" would be to suck all the fluid out of the reservoir and refill with selespeed fluid(not atf) .

In the meantime open the bonnet, without opening drivers door, disconnect battery negative lead to ensure robot pump doesn't run mixing the wrong fluid with the correct fluid.
 
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Thank you for all your help, I will try and empty the tank and replace will get back to you with how it goes lol.

Any easy way of draining it out
 
jackwhoo said:
Don't feel stupid lots of people do it.
Click to expand...

:yeahthat:

In the USA, valeters sometimes top up the windscreen washer fluid when washing/parking cars; when the Alfa selespeeds first hit that market, a surprising number of them put the washer fluid in the selespeed reservoir. Apparently even main dealers were doing it.

donkeyuk said:
I will try and empty the tank and replace will get back to you with how it goes lol.
Click to expand...

I really don't know if this will be enough, or how thoroughly the contaminated fluid needs to be flushed from the system, but at this stage, you have little to lose from trying. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.


donkeyuk said:
What do you mean using correct equipment to do this ?
Click to expand...

You need software to control the operation of the selespeed system when doing stuff like this. It's needed even to check the fluid level.

Go investigate multiecuscan.net, which also has its own forum.

donkeyuk said:
Any easy way of draining it out
Click to expand...

Cheapest way is with a syringe and rubber tubing.

Be aware that some Alfa's have a baffle in the reservoir which prevents you from getting the fluid out this way; I don't know if this applies to the 500.
 
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Hi,all

I have managed to drain all the oil out and replaced with the correct fluid,the car still has no reverse and still slips into neutral when slowing down.

Someone did mention before about when you open the drivers door you should here a weering sound like a pump going but that dont happen on mine, could this be the problem ie not enough pressure ( pump failed? )

When I do drive the car it changes gears no problem it's very smooth it's just when u slow down. It also says check transmission check manual.

Any ideas at all ?

Thank you
 
donkeyuk said:
Hi,all

I have managed to drain all the oil out and replaced with the correct fluid,the car still has no reverse and still slips into neutral when slowing down.

Someone did mention before about when you open the drivers door you should here a weering sound like a pump going but that dont happen on mine, could this be the problem ie not enough pressure ( pump failed? )

When I do drive the car it changes gears no problem it's very smooth it's just when u slow down. It also says check transmission check manual.

Any ideas at all ?

Thank you
Click to expand...

Could the relay have failed on this too?
 
donkeyuk said:
Hi all

Sorry to be a pain but is anyone able to shed any light on this really keen to get this solved,

Really much appreciated

Thank you
Click to expand...
Hi,
I am very sorry but it is exceedingly unlikely any of us can fix this for you remotely.

Other than asking you to check if your brake lights are stuck on , if they are you need to adjust brake light switch. This wouldn't stop you selecting reverse.

You could also check battery ground wires and have a battery check done but this is clutching at straws.

You need to find a specialist garage or gearbox specialist that specifically deals with selespeed/ dualogic gearboxes.

If you do find such a specialist and they fix your car please post their details on here, I'm sure in doing so you will help others.
If someone else had already done so you could have benefited from the information.

Very best wishes.

Jack.
 
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donkeyuk said:
Hi all

Sorry to be a pain but is anyone able to shed any light on this really keen to get this solved,

Really much appreciated

Thank you
Click to expand...

We feel your pain and we'd love to be able to help.

But the reality is that these faults are difficult to diagnose even with the car in front of you and connected to a specialised Fiat diagnostic computer. With just a keyboard in front of you, it's sadly not possible.

The reality is that it's all been said already. If there were a simple answer, or something else easy for you to try, we'd be the first to suggest it, but if there is, I don't know of it.

On an older dualogic 500, the cost of diagnosing and repairing a transmission fault can easily exceed the value of the vehicle, which is why so many of these get bodged into some semblence of working order and quickly sold on.

Personally I'd cut my losses, sell the vehicle 'as is' and move on, but I know that's easier said than done when you're short on cash and need reliable transportation.
 
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I have a Fiat Punto Grande dualogic 2008 1.4.

It is in gear and will not attempt to turn over.

The problem happened suddenly with no warning after parking it. There are two clunking noises in succession that are new.

Presumably they indicate what the problem is? Would anyone know what those new two clunking noises might be?
youtu.be/3O90WhaxNdc

I've no idea what to do next. The battery is charged and all the large external fuses are okay (20 and 30s checked).
 
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