Technical 500L 1.3 Diesel Duralogic no drive

[BigStewarty]

Hi All
I had posted a few weeks back Inhad for my sister the 500L we had fumes which were fixed by new injectors seals,
but we also had the check transmission light, the selector oil was fine car still drove faultlessly.
But…… tonight she put car into reverse, there was a lift bang then it said no gear selection, she tuned it off looked but couldn’t see anything obviously, tried to start again, now the check transmission light is out, it selects gear bit just revs?
Any info appreciated, and any independent garages that specialise in Duralogic repairs in scotland ???
thanks again
Stewart

 

[PuntoHowTo]

The bang sounds pretty terminal. There are many faults and issues covered with duologic boxes on this forum but they rarely begin with an audible bang.

If the gear is selecting and the car is not seeing a problem with the gearbox, it could be an issue with the final drive, the drive shafts CV joints, or anything else in between the output of the gearbox and the wheels.

I would probably get under the car in daylight and have a look, make sure there are no new holes in the side of the gearbox or differential.
I may also jack it up, with the wheels off the ground select a gear with the engine running and see if there is any drive at all making it to the wheels. or if the drive shaft(s) are turning but drive isn't getting to the wheels.

 

[BigStewarty]

The bang sounds pretty terminal. There are many faults and issues covered with duologic boxes on this forum but they rarely begin with an audible bang.

If the gear is selecting and the car is not seeing a problem with the gearbox, it could be an issue with the final drive, the drive shafts CV joints, or anything else in between the output of the gearbox and the wheels.

I would probably get under the car in daylight and have a look, make sure there are no new holes in the side of the gearbox or differential.
I may also jack it up, with the wheels off the ground select a gear with the engine running and see if there is any drive at all making it to the wheels. or if the drive shaft(s) are turning but drive isn't getting to the wheels.

Ive looked under the car and in the engine bay no oil splatter nothing looks out of place,
Started the car no warning lights, put car into reverse selected ok slight acceleration but car didn’t move, Tried the same in first gear, again no movement.
Tried again in reverse and had the car pushed slightly to see if there was movement / free, as soon as it moved the car went into Neutral. Same with first gear.
Selected Reverse and accelerated more,
I then heard what my sister described as a bang, the car jumped a bit as if something engaged with a twang.
I’m stumped now, generic code reader shows nothing.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Depending on the code reader it might not be able to read gearbox fault codes, a lot of fiat modules require different adaptors to access different modules fiat the OBD port.

I think you’re going to need to track down someone who knows what they’re looking at. It could still be something internal like the differential or it could be the gear box but it is going to take the right diagnostic kit to read the gearbox, but if that doesn’t think there are any faults then it could need the box taking out and investing on the bench

 

[BigStewarty]

The bang sounds pretty terminal. There are many faults and issues covered with duologic boxes on this forum but they rarely begin with an audible bang.

If the gear is selecting and the car is not seeing a problem with the gearbox, it could be an issue with the final drive, the drive shafts CV joints, or anything else in between the output of the gearbox and the wheels.

I would probably get under the car in daylight and have a look, make sure there are no new holes in the side of the gearbox or differential.
I may also jack it up, with the wheels off the ground select a gear with the engine running and see if there is any drive at all making it to the wheels. or if the drive shaft(s) are turning but drive isn't getting to the wheels.

Ive looked under the car and in the engine bay no oil splatter nothing looks out of place,
Started the car no warning lights, put car into reverse selected ok slight acceleration but car didn’t move, Tried the same in first gear, again no movement.
Tried again in reverse and had the car pushed slightly to see if there was movement / free, as soon as it moved the car went into Neutral. Same with first gear.
Selected Reverse and accelerated more,
I then heard what my sister described as a bang, the car jumped a bit as if something engaged with a twang.
I’m stumped now, generic code reader shows nothing.

Depending on the code reader it might not be able to read gearbox fault codes, a lot of fiat modules require different adaptors to access different modules fiat the OBD port.

I think you’re going to need to track down someone who knows what they’re looking at. It could still be something internal like the differential or it could be the gear box but it is going to take the right diagnostic kit to read the gearbox, but if that doesn’t think there are any faults then it could need the box taking out and investing on the bench

I agree, the problem is i don’t know of anyone that specialises in those gearboxes and i’m reluctant to put it somewhere to pay for someone’s trial and error!
Any recommendations would be appreciated, I will take the car on a trailer to the right person.
thanks

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Ive looked under the car and in the engine bay no oil splatter nothing looks out of place,
Started the car no warning lights, put car into reverse selected ok slight acceleration but car didn’t move, Tried the same in first gear, again no movement.
Tried again in reverse and had the car pushed slightly to see if there was movement / free, as soon as it moved the car went into Neutral. Same with first gear.
Selected Reverse and accelerated more,
I then heard what my sister described as a bang, the car jumped a bit as if something engaged with a twang.
I’m stumped now, generic code reader shows nothing.

I agree, the problem is i don’t know of anyone that specialises in those gearboxes and i’m reluctant to put it somewhere to pay for someone’s trial and error!
Any recommendations would be appreciated, I will take the car on a trailer to the right person.
thanks

Even fiat themselves are not seemingly experts on the gear box.

in your situation I might considered calling someone out to plug it in on a piece of more advanced diagnostic kit and see if anything shows up.

If nothing shows up, then I would just get a garage to replace the gearbox, you could probably save some money with a service exchange for the old one, and it would potentially save an awful lot of money in labor.

If something has broken internally, then striping down and rebuilding a gear box is going to be well out of the realm of pretty much any high street garage and at anything between £70-150 labor rate is going to out weigh the cost of a decent box from a scrap yard.
equally if something has gone wrong with the Duologic system, then it could take many many hours to track it down, diagnose it and repair it.

 

[BigStewarty]

Even fiat themselves are not seemingly experts on the gear box.

in your situation I might considered calling someone out to plug it in on a piece of more advanced diagnostic kit and see if anything shows up.

If nothing shows up, then I would just get a garage to replace the gearbox, you could probably save some money with a service exchange for the old one, and it would potentially save an awful lot of money in labor.

If something has broken internally, then striping down and rebuilding a gear box is going to be well out of the realm of pretty much any high street garage and at anything between £70-150 labor rate is going to out weigh the cost of a decent box from a scrap yard.
equally if something has gone wrong with the Duologic system, then it could take many many hours to track it down, diagnose it and repair it.

I think an exchange gearbox would be best as getting a second hand one could work out costly if it also has a fault.
But then i could have the gearbox changed and its the salespeed unit, as you say need diagnostic check first otherwise it could be and expensive trial and error.
Just need a reputable garage experienced in these gearboxes.
Just found out my sister has home start with RAC so will see if they can get a code as i’d image they have better diagnostic equipment.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Just need a reputable garage experienced in these gearboxes.

As I’ve said even fiat technicians can be pretty bad at dealing with faults on their own auto boxes, if there are any specialists they are likely very VERY few and far between and potentially not even in your part of the country, a quick Google search for selec speed specialists will bring up some details, but remember this gearbox has its origins in the Ferrari F355 and in some fiat cars even shares parts with Ferrari meaning repairs can be very costly and very specialist. Hence why I suggested a second hand box which you can get from a breaker with a 3 month warranty

 

[BigStewarty]

As I’ve said even fiat technicians can be pretty bad at dealing with faults on their own auto boxes, if there are any specialists they are likely very VERY few and far between and potentially not even in your part of the country, a quick Google search for selec speed specialists will bring up some details, but remember this gearbox has its origins in the Ferrari F355 and in some fiat cars even shares parts with Ferrari meaning repairs can be very costly and very specialist. Hence why I suggested a second hand box which you can get from a breaker with a 3 month warranty

I can’t find any specialist anywhere on google! Doubt there will be many if any in Scotland!

 

[2000peanut]

I can’t find any specialist anywhere on google! Doubt there will be many if any in Scotland!

did you find out what was wrong with you gearbox as mine has done the exact same find coughed farted and now dead no drive

 

[BigStewarty]

did you find out what was wrong with you gearbox as mine has done the exact same find coughed farted and now dead no drive

Yes needed rebuilt as a part inside destroyed other parts. £1100 it was done by CD motors in Staffordshire Fiat Specialist, great guys.

 

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[BigStewarty]

did you find out what was wrong with you gearbox as mine has done the exact same find coughed farted and now dead no drive

i should have mentioned the car wouldn’t move at all, it was front end in to house so got a mate to push it a bit while i had it in reverse a it would automatically go back i it neutral.
i got a car trailer to take it to be repaired it was pushed out of the drive onto the road then i winched it onto the trailer, when I got to the garage it reversed off and drove forward!
the garage said the bit onsite that becomes dislodged would have moved they see it all the time!