Transporter DSG slipping

[Snelens]

Hi.
A mates T5 Transporter has approx 280K km on it.

The transmission slips occasionally while up-changing. His local mechanic (who is a Euro specialist) tells him to not get the transmission serviced as it will hasten the transmission to fail. (!) That seems odd to me but I thought I would confirm with the experts on here.

Should he have the full transmission service done?

Thanks all.

[Sunny43.5]

More specifics please what year is the van ?

[Umai Naa!!]

DSGs generally don't slip.

The old autos in the early T5s do.

If they're not going to service the box, at least get a decent oil sample, and maybe see how much sludge is in the pan.

Burnt oil, with glitter in it, and a metalic film in the pan will meant the box is most likely stuffed.

The good news is, rebuilds on them are a lot cheaper than they used to be. To the point where you wouldn't bother risking a used replacement.

[Snelens]

More specifics please what year is the van ?

Its an 08 T5. No idea on month etc but I could probably get a vin no photo.

The owner has no idea on car stuff....

[Tornado T5]

In that case it's a six speed Aisin conventional torque converter auto not a dsg. Most likely the transmissions valve body is the culprit. The original service manuals had no servicing of the transmission at all, this meant metal fragments eventually cause abrasion and eventual damage.

I should add that my transmission started flaring after servicing, which I requested thinking it's the best way of preventative maintenance. Only problem is I did so too late once I discovered problems occurring overseas so I can understand the mechanics advice. My own van started flaring badly after it's last transmission service and it has settled down to the point it might not flare at all in a full days driving (touch wood!!).

I've just been waiting for T6 to be released to choose between Vito and Transporter.

[Sunny43.5]

I can shed some light on this one as well as a victim of VW's stupidity in design and servicing procedure . When ours failed it was also slipping from time to time and had a lumpy gear change between 3rd and 4 th . In 2012 VW changed the procedure on servicing these auto's . They gave the dealers special bits to allow them to "allegedly" service the auto by just draining the fluid from a bolt hole at the base of the box , then they would refill with fresh fluid via another bolt further up the auto . In our case the dealer did this and stuffed it up completely , you see inside the box is a filter which because the box in VW dealers eyes was not allowed to be opened this becomes blocked and will starve clutches etc from fluid which will destroy the parts . Ours was partially blocked causing the slipping but after they refilled it that flushed out even more debris and every time you took off it would lose drive and just sit there revving . As Tornado says after servicing ours was ten times worse all because those lazy stupid B***ds at VW would not do the simple job of removing the sump pan 15 bolts and replacing the filter $45 and gasket $15 which ended up costing $8500 in repairs . When mine was removed I could actually write my name in the sludge which was in the bottom of the sump pan as it remained after draining and as you can imagine mixed with the lovely new fluid which instantly ruined the whole thing .

[Sunny43.5]

I can shed some light on this one as well as a victim of VW's stupidity in design and servicing procedure . When ours failed it was also slipping from time to time and had a lumpy gear change between 3rd and 4 th . In 2012 VW changed the procedure on servicing these auto's . They gave the dealers special bits to allow them to "allegedly" service the auto by just draining the fluid from a bolt hole at the base of the box , then they would refill with fresh fluid via another bolt further up the auto . In our case the dealer did this and stuffed it up completely , you see inside the box is a filter which because the box in VW dealers eyes was not allowed to be opened this becomes blocked and will starve clutches etc from fluid which will destroy the parts . Ours was partially blocked causing the slipping but after they refilled it that flushed out even more debris and every time you took off it would lose drive and just sit there revving . As Tornado says after servicing ours was ten times worse all because those lazy stupid B***ds at VW would not do the simple job of removing the sump pan 15 bolts and replacing the filter $45 and gasket $15 which ended up costing $8500 in repairs . When mine was removed I could actually write my name in the sludge which was in the bottom of the sump pan as it remained after draining and as you can imagine mixed with the lovely new fluid which instantly ruined the whole thing . If you look at this you can see the areas where the fluid is supposed to pass through all blocked the clear areas are where the filter is supported in the housing so no fluid goes past that part .

[Tornado T5]

I actually almost sourced a rebuilt valve body from China that had toughened components where known failures occur. From memory it was going to cost $800 vs the $2500 local VW dealer wanted for sourcing new one from VW Singapore as nothing showed up locally.

[Mybigtank]

hi i have a t5 lwb 128kw with the dsg in it, ive only just bought it its got no issues with the box, but ive just pulled the the sump to change the transmission oil and cant find a replace filter, it looks the same as the one in the picture above from sunny. does anyone know where i can get hold of one, my local bullseye store cant find a listing for it either.

[Sunny43.5]

Are you sure its a DSG ? what year 128kw engines are the 5 pot job with Tiptronic , the Tiptronic has the filter inside the sump like mine . On the DSG the filter from reports is on the outside !! . Seems VW learnt from the early ones and put the filter where it could be accessed BUT from some reports YOU have to ask for the filter to be changed as someone reported its a bugger to replace due to placement in the engine bay .Someone correct me if I am wrong . I will still maintain that due to VW's engineers failure to recognise our climate extremes lack of fluid change will be the leading cause of some of its problems .