DSG: Problems, Questions, Likes and Dislikes

[cs3110]

I love the GTI. its great in the city. small quick. The DSG takes a little to get used to it but the only thing i dont care for is the extremely touchy brake.

[Vaku]

yeah I would agree with that it takes a bit to get used to , my takeoffs are quite slow? maybe im not giving it enough gas but once im going .. woah

anyway all new to me so taking my time getting used to it

I tried sport mode yesterday, I think il save that for when I have no one else around me lol.

[hooba]

I came across this on the interwebz - American based and nothing new, but a good summary of the issues nonetheless.


One common problem was the car putting itself into neutral while in motion and then the gear indicator flashing. It turns out the car was putting itself into fail safe mode because the car thought the transmission was overheating. It turns out a temperature sensor was making poor contact.

The other problem people were facing was the transmission refusing to engage. Someone would try to merge into traffic, for example, and all of a sudden the car would lurch or stall instead of moving. Eventually the car would engage and get going, but not before owners soiled themselves.

Other problems involved rough or banging shifts.

The last I checked these problems were tied to failing solenoids. But what would happen in some cases is that the mechatronics unit, which controlled shifting, would cause improper shifts which would then damage the actual transmission. Dealers would replace that unit and the car would continue to have problems. In some cases they probably just got yet another bad mechatronics unit.

The interesting thing is that the problems only arose after 2007. 2006 and earlier models were generally problem free. And these problems arose very early in the car's life. So the speculation was that VW started cutting costs after 07 and that's what introduced these problems.

I do think in some cases the issue was driving habits. Anyone coming from an automatic and expecting a DSG to operate like one is going run into trouble. If you know how to use a manual the quirks in a DSG are obvious and easy to mitigate.

[Jayray]

I do think in some cases the issue was driving habits. Anyone coming from an automatic and expecting a DSG to operate like one is going run into trouble. If you know how to use a manual the quirks in a DSG are obvious and easy to mitigate.

Having driven a manual in Sydney for the last 20+ years it was a tough decision to go for the DSG, but after taking a DSG through the paces during a few test drives I ponied up for a DSG GTI. Having driven it all of it a minor 100+ k's in traffic in Sydney I would agree with this comment. if you want to accelerate quickly and change lanes... change down gears first. You want to get the revs loaded first before doing a quick lane take or similar taxi manouver.

[VW Convert]

Having driven a manual in Sydney for the last 20+ years it was a tough decision to go for the DSG, but after taking a DSG through the paces during a few test drives I ponied up for a DSG GTI. Having driven it all of it a minor 100+ k's in traffic in Sydney I would agree with this comment. if you want to accelerate quickly and change lanes... change down gears first. You want to get the revs loaded first before doing a quick lane take or similar taxi manouver.

This is not a DSG characteristic, it is a turbocharged engine characteristic. There is no turbocharged engine (perhaps other than twincharger engines) that does not demonstrate some lag at low revs therefore requiring some revs to deliver the quick acceleration needed in this situation.

[johnw]

My experience is actually in that order, Problems/Complaints/Dislikes/LoveIt [when it was fixed]

I got the Passat about 3 weeks ago and during the test drive it was all fine (not fully warm up), stupid me didn't test drive again before I decided to buy. The first day I got the car it was all jerky and thumping on takeoff and being the first DSG I've driven, I thought it was the way DSG was suppose to be. After more driving I thought this is not right, it's got problems.

Then I complained to the dealer the next day and they say they'll look at it. And during the week or so that it took to diagnose and fix it [turned out to be mechatronic replacement] I started to dislike DSG thinking that it's not what I expected and i might have got a lemon etc.

But since it's been fixed, I REALLY love it. Coming from driving slush box and manual, I really think that DSG is the perfect inbetween. I drive it with the mind set of a manual and there's no complaints [don't expected it to behave like a slush box, be more careful with the thottle etc].

The only one concern I have is, how long will THIS mechatronic unit last..........

[Jayray]

This is not a DSG characteristic.

I think you may have misunderstood my comments in relation to hooba's article reference. One of brilliant things about DSG (when it works, and I must admit that I am yet to experience it not working) is that you can down change with a finger flick and have the engine ready and loaded (in turbo rev range or not) for a lane change. Only on the rarest of occasions (after 7 odd years of DSG manufacture) can I believe a solenoid is responsible for a lurch or a stall when trying to put pedal to the medal. It does stand to reason (my reasoning, take it or leave it) that "perceived" DSG Problems are due to consumers expecting standard auto behavior. As johnw states...

My experience...I drive it with the mind set of a manual and there's no complaints [don't expected it to behave like a slush box, be more careful with the thottle etc].

[hooba]

Having driven a manual in Sydney for the last 20+ years it was a tough decision to go for the DSG, but after taking a DSG through the paces during a few test drives I ponied up for a DSG GTI. Having driven it all of it a minor 100+ k's in traffic in Sydney I would agree with this comment. if you want to accelerate quickly and change lanes... change down gears first. You want to get the revs loaded first before doing a quick lane take or similar taxi manouver.

I can understand why you're a convert. Maybe next time for me, in the meantime I'll console myself with a [spin taken from the same article] "rugged and durable design which offers unparalleled levels of tactile feedback and driver engagement to create a truly invigorating driving experience."

[Rockman]

Well, its been an interesting weekend.
My wifes 2009 Golf TSI broke down. The engine starts, and revs normally, but no matter what gear you place it in, the car does not move.
We tried turning the car off and on, and still nothing. VW assist sent out the repair man - who shock his head and said "it will have to go back to the dealer", so they sent a tow truck to pick it up.

The car had a new clutch fitted at 12 months, and a replacement engine at 18 months. And of course there is still the turbo/supercharger/squeal.

It will be interesting to see what VW says tomorrow.

[ian]

As stated before ive had my Golf back to Barlo 2 times after it was serviced at Camden GTI where Bea told me the Metrotronic unit was in need of replacement,i had the cars soft ware upgraded no help and VWA and VW Germany didn't know how to fix it ,
So i wrote a letter to VWA explaining the circumstances of the cars troubled gearbox,
Yesterday VWA rang me for further information and told me she would look into it for me ,well today VWA rand and told me new parts have now been delivered to Barlo to fix my car but couldn't say what the parts were , just hoping its a new metrotronic unit ?

Barlo just rang and its a metrotronic unit being installed on the 30/31 march and there giving me a loan car ,unheard of .