Is my DSG normal, jerky at low speed?

[fruitytingles]

Hi All,

Im new to the Skoda / DSG family and would like to know if my DSG is normal as it is no where near as smooth as a normal auto gear box.

From takeoff if i put my foot down to fast the box seems to jerk into gear unless i take my foot of the brake and let it roll a little and then i can seem to ease it on smoother. My wife has a 2007 Jetta TFSI and the smoothness of the DSG in it is far better than the Skoda VRS.

Any advice would be good as i have recently purchased the 2009 Skoda VRS and its new car warantee runs out shortly.

Can the smoothness of the change be an ECU issue?

[dArK5HaD0w]

not normal.
mine is smooth on takeoff, and smooth when coming to a stop.

doubt its an ecu issue.
either there is something wrong with the switch on the brake pedal, or faulty mechatronics.

[RSOK]

Darkshadow I disagree. Plenty of chats on plenty of forums worldwide (and by motoring journos) about the 'hesitation' of DSG boxes from standstill.

I find that is the case especially when starting from cold (it gets smoother once the transmission oil is warm) but if you don't allow a split second between brake release and throttle application the DSG box can jerk...and no matter how many times I've tried to 'teach' the missus she still doesn't get it lol.

You can easily adapt to this though and for me it doesn't detract from the benefits of the box in terms of lightning quick and ultra smooth gear changes on the go.

[ausspace87]

Our 90TSI Octavia with a 7 speed DSG is A LOT less smooth compared my car. The best way of taking off as smoothly as possible is to "feel" the clutch engage and then accelerate.

People need to remember a DSG is technically a robotised manual transmission. My friend who works for VW contantly says that people who can't drive manuals never seem to be able to drive a DSG properly or they think there is something wrong with the car. Whereas people coming from manual transmissions love DSG's.

With a manual transmission if you let the clutch out extremely fast and stomp on the accelerator you will either give yourself a pain in the neck or stall the car. Same applies to a DSG; you need to let the clutch engage for the split second before you accelerate. It's all about "feeling" and somewhat controlling what the transmission is doing - same as in a manual...

[DkN]

It probably just needs a DSG reset, or a good spirited drive in sport mode. Hesitation alone wouldn't be enough to point to a DSG fault.

[cbay]

I'd have to agree with ausspace, my 90tsi 7spd DSG is definitely a lot less smooth (at low speeds only) than my brother's mkV Gti with the 6 spd DSG. This might just mean I require a DSG7 update that i've been reading about with the golf mkVI's.

It did take me a little bit of 'learning' to 'catch' it right though (coming from an old Tiptronic A4).

[dArK5HaD0w]

Darkshadow I disagree. Plenty of chats on plenty of forums worldwide (and by motoring journos) about the 'hesitation' of DSG boxes from standstill.

I find that is the case especially when starting from cold (it gets smoother once the transmission oil is warm) but if you don't allow a split second between brake release and throttle application the DSG box can jerk...and no matter how many times I've tried to 'teach' the missus she still doesn't get it lol.

You can easily adapt to this though and for me it doesn't detract from the benefits of the box in terms of lightning quick and ultra smooth gear changes on the go.

maybe mine is "defective" - because cold or warm, regardless, its smooth when taking off.
the many below zero (temps) here in canberra ensures the cold starts.

like u, i don't race from lifting of the brake pedal to stomping onto the accelarator pedal. like u said, the clutch needs to time engage initially, so i give it a sec or two between pedals.

my previous car (holden astra) used to automatically go in "neutral" when stationary & brakes applied. so when talking off, i had to wait 1-2 secs before applying throttle.
so i'm used to this behaviour.


DSG-7 has always been known to be more jerky than the DSG-6.

[candy_wagon]

I have mentioned on here before that my VRS TSI DSG wagon can seem quite jerky in its general operation, particularly at low speeds.

But, as the K's have risen (nearing 8000km now) it has gotten noticeably better, but still not perfect.

I too have experienced the abrupt BANG after an eager throttle tip in from standstill, but quickly realised that's just simply not what I should be doing! The first time I did it I thought I had been tapped from behind!

As far as a fault, I'm not sure. As a possible design flaw - maybe.

[bobski]

People need to remember a DSG is technically a robotised manual transmission. My friend who works for VW contantly says that people who can't drive manuals never seem to be able to drive a DSG properly or they think there is something wrong with the car. Whereas people coming from manual transmissions love DSG's.

Agree with you there. It is just not an auto, you need to treat it like you know how a manual works, let it slip into gear before nailing it etc. I do hear the occasional clunk, but I heard that all the time from the auto in my Falcon XR6T

[zei20t]

maybe mine is "defective" - because cold or warm, regardless, its smooth when taking off.

looks like mine might also be broken

perhaps tell us what year and model year your car is. mines a 2011 MY12 with the DQ250. its very smooth, even if i stomp on the throttle from the brake.

[Fireside]

You can solve the problem by getting a DSG tune. Most good tuners should offer it.
No more jerks, smoother from 1-2-3rd and faster up and down shifts.

[fruitytingles]

Thanks guys, the more I read it seems that what i am experiencing is not that unusual. It still amazes me how smooth the Jetta is in comparison.

Fireside: any idea how much a DSG tune is? that sounds like the go.

I have to say the Skoda RS (MY10) is far more responsive than the Jetta so maybe it is just how the mark 5 and mark 6 engines deliver their power that makes for a more jerky takeoff.

[zei20t]

its possible your vRS has the revised mechatrnoic unit where your Jetta did not

[Fireside]

Fireside: any idea how much a DSG tune is? that sounds like the go.

Yeah mate, last time I checked it was about 1K, but that was when it first came out a couple of years back, so I'm guessing the price has dropped since then. Call Christian at Evolve Technik for a quote, I know they have partners up your way that can do the remap, or log onto their site and call the QLD partner directly.

Hope this helps mate, good luck with it all.

[DkN]

If you're in Brisbane I'd highly recommend Gavin from Optimum Code. He's the Australian Custom Code dealer, they do some amazing work and Gavin's service is second to none.

DSG stage one price from Gavin should be around $800 these days. Won't get much better than that anywhere.