Technical Tranny issues

[fsharkyb]

Hi fiat owners, my 2016 fiat 500x has the ZF 9 speed transmission
Car started up and put shifter in reverse and herd a banging noise. Put it back in park and thought I herd the noise again. Now shifter is stuck in park. Dashboard message says cannot engage drive. Service transmission.
I’ve been able to push the release tab beside the shifter to put the car in neutral , but that’s as far as it will go. Won’t engage in any gear and when I put it back in park it locks again.
Has anyone encountered this problem?
Mechanic says he has to pull out the transmission to explore what might be wrong.
17 hour of labour to pull tranny.
I would appreciate any feedback.

 

[s130]

I have no experience of the ZF9 or other automatic/semi-automatic gear boxes.

That said on the 500X then if the box has failed/played up then I'm pretty sure there will be diagnostic error messages logged. The error codes/messages need to be read and understood before taking any further action.

Just "pulling out the transmission to explore what might be wrong" is not IMHO a good/professional step to take without further investigation.

 

[fsharkyb]

Hi s130, thanks for the advice , I totally agree. I’m going to take it to the dealership.

 

[vexorg]

Wow, 9 automatic gears, that seems mental to me. But you guys do like your autoboxes over there.

 

[s130]

Wow, 9 automatic gears, that seems mental to me. But you guys do like your autoboxes over there.

Same box is used in UK / EU.

Fig. 3 – 948TE automatic transmission
The meaning of the commercial name 948TE can be interpreted as follows: 9 = 9 speeds 48 = maximum engine torque of 480 Newton metres. T = transverse mounted transmission E = electronic control

 

[fsharkyb]

Well, I had the fiat 500x towed to the dealership today. They said they will let me keep the car in the yard but my car won’t be looked at till September 6.
Keep you posted.

 

[fsharkyb]

Thanks for the info on the gear box s130. Greatly appreciated.

 

[s130]

Thanks for the info on the gear box s130. Greatly appreciated.

Plus:

NEW 948TE NINE-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION The 500X crossover is the first Fiat vehicle – unique in the segment together with the Jeep Renegade – to offer the brand-new 948TE nine-speed automatic transmission (Fig. 3). This transmission offers many advantages, including great pick-up capability and smooth power delivery. Controlled electronically, the new nine-speed automatic transmission features a specific mapping with the option of managing automatic and manual-sequential modes.

 

[vexorg]

Same box is used in UK / EU.

That doesn't make it sound any less dumb, and unless you have the audi dsg type gear change then it'll probably spend more times changing gear than in gear.

In my view there are only two options for cars, manual or auto with torque converter. Anything else is asking for trouble.

 

[s130]

That doesn't make it sound any less dumb, and unless you have the audi dsg type gear change then it'll probably spend more times changing gear than in gear.

In my view there are only two options for cars, manual or auto with torque converter. Anything else is asking for trouble.

You might like this technical explanation of the 948TE. It has a traditional torque converter, multiple clutches and fast shift.

948te_introduction.pdf

Mind you this ZF box is sooooo complicated and Fiat/ZF have an extensive training course for it, especially regarding setting it up correctly etc.

 

[vexorg]

That's mental!

 

[fsharkyb]

Well fiat forum I received some info from the dealership, they said the diagnosis was a faulty transmission control module. This part features the chip , and the part is back ordered at least a month. I was quoted $1100.00 to repair the vehicle. I think it’s all on the up and up. The mechanic wanted 17 hours of labour to remove the transmission and then , as he called it exploratory surgery on the transmission gear box.
Hopefully the dealership diagnosis will be correct. Thanks again for your help s130.

 

[s130]

Well fiat forum I received some info from the dealership, they said the diagnosis was a faulty transmission control module. This part features the chip , and the part is back ordered at least a month. I was quoted $1100.00 to repair the vehicle. I think it’s all on the up and up. The mechanic wanted 17 hours of labour to remove the transmission and then , as he called it exploratory surgery on the transmission gear box.
Hopefully the dealership diagnosis will be correct. Thanks again for your help s130.

Well yes this is progress for you.

Make sure they give you ALL the parts they replace, especially the control module(s). They are your parts unless it is and exchange part. There are specialist ECU/Control Module companies that can diagnose and repair these expensive items so getting the old part back is quite important and save you money in the future should you have another failure.

Not suggesting your dealer might be dishonest but it has been known for unscrupulous dealers to order a factory reconditioned item, and or exchange item, and then charge the customer the full new (non reconditioned/non exchange) price.