Golf 7 speed DSG hesitation

[cktsi]

From a standing start you can put your foot on the accelerator expecting some sort of reaction from the car indicating that it's going to accelerate for you. Instead it sits there doing nothing for what feels like forever but is really probably about 2-3 seconds before anything happens,

So, what I want to know is how many 118TSI + DSG owners are having this problem? And how many have a Golf 118TSI DSG that does what their right foot is asking for promtly and consistently?

I have never had to wait for 2 seconds from a standing start. Is this happening on an incline or level gradient?

One tip is to remember it is a clutch gearbox, not a viscous torque converter....so you do need to wait for the mechatronics to take up the friction point for you. If you have not driven a manual, understand that the clutch cannot engage immediately or it will stall the car.

Having said that, my tip at the lights is to ease off the footbrake on a level gradient and wait for the gearbox engage before applying accelerator. It shouldnt be a long wait from standstill using this method. I think hitting the accelerator straight away before friction point is engaged does force the mechatronics to do more calculations in that shirt space of time e.g. Does the driver want a fast take off and do I mash the clutches together quickly or is it a slow takeoff and gentle meshing of the clutches?

I do feel that hitting the acclerator too quickly causes this problem.

On an incline it is better to use the handbrake than rely on hill hold so you can apply accelerator before releasing the handbrake.

Otherwise, it can start ok and do it's rediculously early shift into second at 4km/h and then you can wait a few seconds before the acceleration continues

For crawling starts the car stays in D2 in my car. Take up of the clutches can be slow on occasion. Esp since i had my clutch pack replaced i find it happens more frequently but more like 1 second than 2-3 seconds. So i either switch to manual tiptronic to force kick down to 1st gear or i drive like i did when driving a manual and come to a complete stop i.e. dont crawl forward slowly on friction point. I find the clutch take up in 1st gear is quick when switching to tiptronic.

That is my feedback. Hope it helps

[karmic_flop]

It's been back to the dealership again, they pulled it apart and decided to replace the clutch pack. It's had a new gearbox already and I'm not sure if the clutch pack went with the gearbox or this is still the original. And the clutch pack replacement has been delayed by 2 weeks because the part hadn't arrived but they didn't think to call us to reschedule... thanks Volkswagen.

I've driven manuals, this is the first automatic I've owned. It feels like driving with a learner. The hesitation and snap is generally on flat or slight down inclines but has happened on steeper up inclines too (and confusing the hill start assist).

From what I can tell now that I've sampled so much of the VW range with the many loan cars they've given us is that the wet plate clutch gearboxes are considerably better to drive than the dry plate. No lag, no shudder and really smooth. Whatever effect the dry plates are having on the system (different feedback / response etc) it's not working well. Like the clutch plates being lubricated was hiding all the mistakes in the control system but now they're out on display.

They also refused to change the spark plugs. Supposedly VW haven't officially changed the specified plugs, although I don't think they checked, and didn't seem they wanted to look into it. Just gave me the standard "we've never heard of that so it can't be a problem" answer.

So I guess we'll see if a new clutch pack fixes anything.

[Rob_R]

Well today I've had my first drive of a 7 speed Golf TSI. Hmmm, if I wasn't on the forums I would have sworn the 7 speed was rooted. Very surprised at how vague it was and the shudders I could feel from it had me thinking WTF all the way home. Maybe it's something you get used to but I think long term it would just make me grate my teeth all the time.

[karmic_flop]

Yes, vague, that's exactly what it is. You do get used to it... you get used to waiting for it to do what you're asking it to do

Have you tried any parking, slow driving or traffic? That's when the 7 speed DSG shows it's true colours. Like just when you're almost into your chosen parking space, just before you nose into the wall it decides you're not going fast enough... it's a delight.

[karmic_flop]

We've had some movement today. After sending a letter outlining our issues to the Managing Director which detailed dates and people, magically a clutch pack has turned up and will be installed next week. In a moment of stellar management, the Managing Director passed our letter on to one of the people we mentioned as being a significant blockage in getting the car fixed and will apparently not be getting involved in the resolution of our complaint directly.

Supposedly this new clutch pack is a redesigned version which will "resolve all issues" with the current clutch pack. Strange that over the last 9 months we've been treated as though we are the only people anywhere who are complaining about this issue. And after countless attempts to tell us it's "normal behaviour" and "we should be very happy with this car" it turns out someone has been redesigning a part to resolve these issues.

So if this redesigned clutch pack is everything VW Australia is claiming then we may just have a car that does what it's told without all the drama. But I'm not going to hold my breath seeing as how this is the 12th attempt. Very disapointed with the customer service VW have provided to get this far.

[Creniac]

I have never had to wait for 2 seconds from a standing start. Is this happening on an incline or level gradient?

One tip is to remember it is a clutch gearbox, not a viscous torque converter....so you do need to wait for the mechatronics to take up the friction point for you. If you have not driven a manual, understand that the clutch cannot engage immediately or it will stall the car.

Having said that, my tip at the lights is to ease off the footbrake on a level gradient and wait for the gearbox engage before applying accelerator. It shouldnt be a long wait from standstill using this method. I think hitting the accelerator straight away before friction point is engaged does force the mechatronics to do more calculations in that shirt space of time e.g. Does the driver want a fast take off and do I mash the clutches together quickly or is it a slow takeoff and gentle meshing of the clutches?

I do feel that hitting the acclerator too quickly causes this problem.

On an incline it is better to use the handbrake than rely on hill hold so you can apply accelerator before releasing the handbrake.



For crawling starts the car stays in D2 in my car. Take up of the clutches can be slow on occasion. Esp since i had my clutch pack replaced i find it happens more frequently but more like 1 second than 2-3 seconds. So i either switch to manual tiptronic to force kick down to 1st gear or i drive like i did when driving a manual and come to a complete stop i.e. dont crawl forward slowly on friction point. I find the clutch take up in 1st gear is quick when switching to tiptronic.

That is my feedback. Hope it helps

CKTSI,
Spot on mate!! exactly what I had to do with my old 7DSG Jetta..... annoyed me not having full control hence the reason I moved back to a manual!...... and the fact my mechatronics unit sh*t itself in heavy traffic one saturday avo....
I was brought up with manual transmissions in NZ, I tried the Nissan CVT for a couple of years as well then the 7DSG but at the end of the day manual gives me control!!

[Lams]

My Bus is at VW today having clutch issues looked at. I am getting shuddering on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th. The K1 is kaput at 30k. I have the false neutral sometimes and on uphill starts it holds 1st until red line, which is not the way to drive a diesel.
Having said all that, the dealer has been very good, even though it is not fixed yet. The first time they drove it and said they couldn't fault it. The second time they booked me in the next day and checked that it has current software. Today they are taking a proper look plus problems I have with the ignition barrel and a problem with my 3rd row seat. I have not spent a dollar with them but they treat me respectfully and not someone who knows nothing about cars (it is normal, they all do that etc).

---------- Post added 28-03-2012 at 07:33 AM ---------- Previous post was 27-03-2012 at 10:33 AM ----------

new clutch packs ordered - can't wait to have it drive like new again

[Syd118TSI]

Well today I've had my first drive of a 7 speed Golf TSI. Hmmm, if I wasn't on the forums I would have sworn the 7 speed was rooted. Very surprised at how vague it was and the shudders I could feel from it had me thinking WTF all the way home. Maybe it's something you get used to but I think long term it would just make me grate my teeth all the time.

The shudders aren't normal operation. If they are there likely something wrong with the clutch pack.

[ozr]

Add me to the list
The pause is dangerous in my opinion and was hoping there was a software "patch" to overcome the fault.
Maybe a ECU flash. Has anyone looked at that option

[Rob_R]

Yes, vague, that's exactly what it is. You do get used to it... you get used to waiting for it to do what you're asking it to do

Have you tried any parking, slow driving or traffic? That's when the 7 speed DSG shows it's true colours. Like just when you're almost into your chosen parking space, just before you nose into the wall it decides you're not going fast enough... it's a delight.

Well I got to drive the same one a month later and it felt better. Maybe I knew what to expect this time round or it had been driven harder before I got back into it. Only glaring difference was the spongey brakes compared to what I'm used to. And yeh I did notice how it behaves in slow traffic and parking.