DSG woes in The Age

Definitely!!! don't use the handbrake when stopped while its in any driving modes (R,D,S,M). The foot brake has been designed that when it is pushed it disengages the accelerator (and thus the clutches) but when you use the handbrake it doesn't and as a result it will slip the clutch for the entire time you have the brake on which makes them red hot and wears them out real quick.

This is the reason the electronic parking brake and auto hold features has now been implemented on new models - so people can't use the handbrake while its in a driving mode but they can take there foot off the brake with the auto hold feature.

When you are coasting or rolling down a hill you will see that the revs will go up and down. This is the gearbox clutches attempting to engage on a hill to apply engine breaking but because its not pulling the car down the hill (gravity is) it won't damage the clutches excessively. Yes any slipping of the clutch will wear it down and create heat but its the difference between the small force of engaging while rolling downhill or the clutch slipping heaps to pull a 1-2ton car up a hill.

This is where peek hour traffic kills these gearboxes :( sometimes its unavoidable to slip the clutches in traffic but the best practice I try to follow is don't move up unless there is at least 1-2 car spots in front of you. This gives the clutch time to engage fully. The other thing is don't take your foot off the brake, and give it no accelerator. This form of creaping is the worst for the clutches - especially up hills!

Remember this only really applies to the 7sp dry clutch. The 6sp wet clutch you can slip a lot more without a hickup becuase it has a mulitplate clutch (more durable and can take more force than a solid plate clutch) and the clutch is bathed in oil to keep them cool.

This should really be explained when the sales people are selling the cars. Horses for courses!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nomadx38

This should really be explained when the sales people are selling the cars. Horses for courses!

---

If I were the the salesperson, I would not mention that the transmission in a passenger car designed and built in the 21st century cannot deal with heavy slow-moving traffic and will eventually overheat and cause damage, and that the solution to this is to turn off the car and wait in the shoulder/break-down/assistance lane whilst it cools down - or somehow miraculously discover in the middle of peak hour, a route home where there is hardly any traffic in order to keep the transmission from overheating.

If a prospective buyer was told on what is clearly a design flaw and an oversight on part of the manufacturer, who'd buy such a car is this day and age?

"Sir/Madam, it's an automatic, but you need to drive it like a manual, otherwise you'll damage it".

I would think many consumers would find that a ridiculous proposition if they were told beforehand.

If I were told this, I'd have thought I was in a Monty Python sketch! j:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Diesel_vert

If I were the the salesperson, I would not mention that the transmission in a passenger car designed and built in the 21st century cannot deal with heavy slow-moving traffic and will eventually overheat and cause damage, and that the solution to this is to turn off the car and wait in the shoulder/break-down/assistance lane whilst it cools down - or somehow miraculously discover in the middle of peak hour, a route home where there is hardly any traffic in order to keep the transmission from overheating.

If a prospective buyer was told on what is clearly a design flaw and an oversight on part of the manufacturer, who'd buy such a car is this day and age?

"Sir/Madam, it's an automatic, but you need to drive it like a manual, otherwise you'll damage it".

I would think many consumers would find that a ridiculous proposition if they were told beforehand



If I were told this, I'd have thought I was in a Monty Python sketch! j:

---

Late last year, my wife bought an Alfa Mito TCT instead of a Polo GTI (mainly because of the trouble we were experiencing in dealing with VWA in regard to our Jetta) and after nearly 10,000 km I can confirm it's great in slow moving traffic and is an absolute hoot on winding mountain roads and, trust me, there is absolutely no hesitation in regard to what gear it is in in any traffic conditions.

If the Italians can make it work why can't the Germans?

VWs are basically cleverly marketed crap and we all need to face up to that fact and accept that our cars are now
basically worthless.

Thank you Nomad for your info. I wonder how many DSG 7 speed drivers don't know about the hand brake. I have had my car for nearly 2 years and am just finding out how to drive it.

It certainly appears that that is what we should expect, judging from the VWA recall FAQ:

"Q. Will my gearbox warranty be affected?
A. Volkswagen Australia will extend warranty cover for the all DSG transmissions from 3 to 5 years from the date the vehicle’s warranty first commenced (first date of registration and/or when the international warranty commenced)."

And while I don't agree with name calling, there is probably no need for this: :facepalm: or :???: on so many of your posts, either, Mr Transporter. (Go back and see how many times you use them...)

We all understand there are two separate issues - the coroner's case and the DSG issues.

I understand you have a bias, but people here have legitimate gripes (acknowledged by VW WORLDWIDE) that shouldn't be minimized or mocked with a :facepalm:

Most manufactures (bmw, Porsche ,merc, renault,vw, ford) employ a wet clutch design which are "practically" flawless . The problem is that in the need for lowering fuel consumption VW have gone for a dry clutch design - the first of its kind in the world (until recent with gatrag DCT).

It usually takes 5-10 years for new technoligy to work out the kinks and sometimes these things can't be found right away. You have to remember the extensive amount of testing they did on these gearboxes would have been done in Europe where a very hot day is 30 degrees. They sell these cars as a "world car" and its not until they get to places like Australia with its 50 degree summers when the problems show up.

Knowing what I have seen from these gearboxes I would recommend the 7sp dry clutch for country and suburban driving not bumper to bumper traffic - It's just the fact that the country is too hot. In Europe you can get away with it.

It has to be said though the replacement clutches I got since the original started shuddering have been perfect so its all trial and error and testing...VW's biggest problem is their PR. there default answer for everything is "that's normal" even though they know they have problems. Seriously vw we don't care that you have peoblems but if we ask to get it fixed just do it withou us having to beg like dogs!!!

The sales people should explain this (though I know they won't becuase people will ask the question why buy the car then?)...or they should offer the 6 sp for all models in hot climates.

And don't think this are VW specific problems. I have read for a few weeks in a row now of people with the ford DCT dry and wet clutch gearboxes having shuddering and no operation (I would assume the same as the faluse neutral)

Technology isn't always faultless or trouble-free, which is understandable because it takes time to refine & tweak designs and iron out problems, but it was ultimately Volkswagen's decision to release the technology onto the market in its current state of development.

Irrespective of whether that decision was premature or not (I suspect it was), they should take responsibility for their decision and be willing to provide support & backup to the customer without fuss - this IMO was arguably their biggest failing.

Pro tip - "without fuss" does not mean being dragged by the consumer and the media, kicking and screaming, all the way to the government's office for a recall.

There will be people who are prepared to deal with the gearbox's idiosyncrasies, which is fine so long as they understand what they're getting into.

The problem is, Volkswagen (or Ford) isn't the only player on the automotive landscape, so for those who want to purchase a passenger car that can deal with traffic jams or don't want to continually offer sacrifices to the gearbox gods, they'll simply look elsewhere.

Hey have most of you received that email from the CEO? I've got a MY10 R36 and still haven't received anything as yet :confused:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sanchez

Hey have most of you received that email from the CEO? I've got a MY10 R36 and still haven't received anything as yet :confused:

---

If you have issues, probably better to get active and call the hotline - 1800 504 076.

Hey Mark, no issues yet in the 3 years I've had the car. Based off the car list that is affected I just assumed I should have been contacted.