M24 Fiat Ducato 2.2 180bhp - 9spd box - flat spots
Discussion
Looking for any advice or similar experiences.
I have just taken delivery (2months ago) of a brand new Fiat Ducato based motorhome. It's a 5.4t (maxi Alko chassis) unit with the 2.2l Euro6 engine at 180bhp and 9spd ZF autobox. It's the first time I've (reluctantly) owned a Fiat, having always preferred Sprinters and MAN/Crafter side of things but with 3 kids to accomodate, my choices were limited.
On collection day, I had a couple of thoughts - firstly, I was surprised at how perky it was in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears. Really seemed to get away sprightlier than I was expecting. But then it seemed to bog down with the throttle pedal needing more pressure to get it to keep momentum up. I've now done 2.6k miles and perhaps it's familiarity and more confidence about getting it down the road, but now when I ask for more power - either keeping up with traffic or when going up hills, it seems to bog down in 4th, 5th and 6th where it feels like it has flat spots (hesitation) or even worse at times, like it's in limp mode at around 2,100rpm until it sets off again at 2,600rpm with a load of turbo.
It's evidently had the new software update to limit torque to the ZF box and save the torque converter (subject of many motorhome post) and the dealer re-did this update when it was in with them last week just to be sure.
But they're saying there's nothing wrong with it. "They all do that sir". They reckon the 5.4t variants are particularly afflicted. I drove back from the dealers and tried to take it a bit easier again. It's fine, but you really have to drive around the characteristics rather than the van driving to your demands, which I've never really experienced before.
Can anybody tell me if I should be escalating with Fiat UK or whether their is experience is that this is symptomatic of the torque being curtailed as a result of the software patch?
I have just taken delivery (2months ago) of a brand new Fiat Ducato based motorhome. It's a 5.4t (maxi Alko chassis) unit with the 2.2l Euro6 engine at 180bhp and 9spd ZF autobox. It's the first time I've (reluctantly) owned a Fiat, having always preferred Sprinters and MAN/Crafter side of things but with 3 kids to accomodate, my choices were limited.
On collection day, I had a couple of thoughts - firstly, I was surprised at how perky it was in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears. Really seemed to get away sprightlier than I was expecting. But then it seemed to bog down with the throttle pedal needing more pressure to get it to keep momentum up. I've now done 2.6k miles and perhaps it's familiarity and more confidence about getting it down the road, but now when I ask for more power - either keeping up with traffic or when going up hills, it seems to bog down in 4th, 5th and 6th where it feels like it has flat spots (hesitation) or even worse at times, like it's in limp mode at around 2,100rpm until it sets off again at 2,600rpm with a load of turbo.
It's evidently had the new software update to limit torque to the ZF box and save the torque converter (subject of many motorhome post) and the dealer re-did this update when it was in with them last week just to be sure.
But they're saying there's nothing wrong with it. "They all do that sir". They reckon the 5.4t variants are particularly afflicted. I drove back from the dealers and tried to take it a bit easier again. It's fine, but you really have to drive around the characteristics rather than the van driving to your demands, which I've never really experienced before.
Can anybody tell me if I should be escalating with Fiat UK or whether their is experience is that this is symptomatic of the torque being curtailed as a result of the software patch?
Well this morphed yesterday into the dreaded “Transmission Fault” check light plus “Transmission Oil Overheating” lights. Got recovered following the Roadside Mechanic finding the fault code “P1DB7” relating to torque converter.
Van is now with a Fiat Professional dealer in Doncaster, awaiting their diagnosis.
If the forums are to be believed, could be a new torque converter and/or gearbox & TCU.
Not impressed on a vehicle with 3,130miles at 3m old.
Van is now with a Fiat Professional dealer in Doncaster, awaiting their diagnosis.
If the forums are to be believed, could be a new torque converter and/or gearbox & TCU.
Not impressed on a vehicle with 3,130miles at 3m old.
Spuffington said:
Well this morphed yesterday into the dreaded Transmission Fault check light plus Transmission Oil Overheating lights. Got recovered following the Roadside Mechanic finding the fault code P1DB7 relating to torque converter.
Van is now with a Fiat Professional dealer in Doncaster, awaiting their diagnosis.
If the forums are to be believed, could be a new torque converter and/or gearbox & TCU.
Not impressed on a vehicle with 3,130miles at 3m old.
Im genuinely sorry to hear this chap because I rely on my vans for my business and although yours is leisure use ultimately the results are the same . I have seven Mercedes Sprinters and I have ran these since their introduction in 1998 gradually updating as I go along . Pound for pound and mile for mile they are the best all round machines in the marketplace and I wouldn't consider buying anything else .Van is now with a Fiat Professional dealer in Doncaster, awaiting their diagnosis.
If the forums are to be believed, could be a new torque converter and/or gearbox & TCU.
Not impressed on a vehicle with 3,130miles at 3m old.
My advice to you is get it repaired and then get rid of it . Look for a Sprinter based Mobile Home even if it's a year or so older than you presently have because in the long run you will be thanking me for my good advice . I say this in all humility rather than the smart arse advice it may appear .
There is a reason these Conversion Companies build on Fiat/Peugeot (Stellantis) chassis and thats one of cheaper cost and therefore increased margin for the Company carrying out the conversion . Repair and get rid .
Appreciate your experience, red diesel.
And if the situation were any different, I’d be doing exactly as you suggest. I’ve spent the last 10yrs of motorhoming sticking to Merc Sprinters and most recently MAN TGE, rather than having anything to do with FIAT. Unfortuntately, with the size of my family now, I’m rather more limited in my options given very few manufacturers build quality/luxurious/winterised habitation units on anything other than FIAT or Iveco. At least in my £150k price range.
So even if I go about rejecting this one (which I’m reserving my position on), it’s likely I’ll just end up in the new Ducato with the 8spd box as there’s nothing else out there.
Update from FIAT Professional dealer is that it’s not 100% confirmed in writing from FIAT but suspicion is it’ll be needing a new gearbox. Unbelievable for 3k miles and 3months old.
And if the situation were any different, I’d be doing exactly as you suggest. I’ve spent the last 10yrs of motorhoming sticking to Merc Sprinters and most recently MAN TGE, rather than having anything to do with FIAT. Unfortuntately, with the size of my family now, I’m rather more limited in my options given very few manufacturers build quality/luxurious/winterised habitation units on anything other than FIAT or Iveco. At least in my £150k price range.
So even if I go about rejecting this one (which I’m reserving my position on), it’s likely I’ll just end up in the new Ducato with the 8spd box as there’s nothing else out there.
Update from FIAT Professional dealer is that it’s not 100% confirmed in writing from FIAT but suspicion is it’ll be needing a new gearbox. Unbelievable for 3k miles and 3months old.
Spuffington said:
Appreciate your experience, red diesel.
And if the situation were any different, I d be doing exactly as you suggest. I ve spent the last 10yrs of motorhoming sticking to Merc Sprinters and most recently MAN TGE, rather than having anything to do with FIAT. Unfortuntately, with the size of my family now, I m rather more limited in my options given very few manufacturers build quality/luxurious/winterised habitation units on anything other than FIAT or Iveco. At least in my £150k price range.
So even if I go about rejecting this one (which I m reserving my position on), it s likely I ll just end up in the new Ducato with the 8spd box as there s nothing else out there.
Update from FIAT Professional dealer is that it s not 100% confirmed in writing from FIAT but suspicion is it ll be needing a new gearbox. Unbelievable for 3k miles and 3months old.
Complicated machines go wrong - build problems are more likely to be found in the early days of it's use... And if the situation were any different, I d be doing exactly as you suggest. I ve spent the last 10yrs of motorhoming sticking to Merc Sprinters and most recently MAN TGE, rather than having anything to do with FIAT. Unfortuntately, with the size of my family now, I m rather more limited in my options given very few manufacturers build quality/luxurious/winterised habitation units on anything other than FIAT or Iveco. At least in my £150k price range.
So even if I go about rejecting this one (which I m reserving my position on), it s likely I ll just end up in the new Ducato with the 8spd box as there s nothing else out there.
Update from FIAT Professional dealer is that it s not 100% confirmed in writing from FIAT but suspicion is it ll be needing a new gearbox. Unbelievable for 3k miles and 3months old.
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