7 Speed DSG Problem

[rory]

As Murphy said, if things can go wrong they will do that at the most inconvenient time.
Wife is at Tamworth for the Country Music Festival about 800 ks from home. The nearly 3 year old Jetta has 110,000 ks
and always serviced by VW authorised workshop, with no problems worth mentioning
This morning she started the car, selected reverse and no go witth a warning light on the dash (which one???). Shut down and repeated attempt trying "D" as well but alas, nothing.
To their credit, VW assist organised (NRMA) to come out 15 ks from town within the hour.
Now waiting to hear whats happening

[poyta]

Yeah same thing happened to my father in law - I bought him and his wife as a Christmas present a trip to Kangaroo Island and wouldn't you believe it as soon as they get off the Ferry on the island the same thing happens, goes to select a gear but no go, wont allow it and dashboards lights on. He had to get a hire car to enjoy the rest of the week and then it cost him about $900 in towing fees to get it back on the ferry and then back to Adelaide. Turned out it was the Mechatronics - was repaired under good will as the car was out of warranty already - thank god too because its apparently a $4500 part!!! Damn DSG's, hearing too many horror stories about them.

[rory]

Spot on poyta. It was the mechatronics unit. $4850 + GST; and that doesn't include the labour.
Interestingly there was no warning of this about to happen. Been swapping cogs (often) happily and beautifully for over 100,000ks.
I think its been "normal". The sometimes tricky "snatching" of the clutch bite when under light throttle whilst trying to park on a hill
is part of the course?
Lucky for me its still under warranty by 2 months and VW assist have given my wife a car to run around in whilst in Tamworth.
What to do? Too spoilt and lazy to go back to changing cogs manually. Seems I'll be lucky if I can pick it up in less than a week.

[Guy_H]

Send us an email re new mech, we can supply a new unit considerably cheaper including the latest software: info@hp.net.au

[jessv3]

Spot on poyta. It was the mechatronics unit. $4850 + GST;

Arrgh, this is why I bought a Manual GTI.

[poyta]

arrgh, this is why i bought a manual gti.

here here!!!!

[rory]

So anyone out there know "why" the mechatronic unit seems to have a high rate of failure or habits that are associated with failed "mechatronics" ? My Jetta was driven fairly sedately for 110 000ks. Being a 1.6 TDI it might have made more gearchanges than a 2.o TDI ?

[rory]

Whoa!
Seems I'm out of warranty as my 2009 model is limited to 100,000ks (I have 110,000). The workshop phoned and claimed it was also out of warranty by time (3 years). I checked with the dealer I got it from and they confirmed 3 years after it was first registered is July this year. Hope we can clear this point first.
I thought pointing out this dicrepancy may influence VW in the offer of "GoodwillAssistance" in covering the $4800 +GST and labour needed to get my Jetta on the road again with a new mechatronic unit for the 7 speed DSG: which at this time is still forthcoming.
Anyone tell me if it easy to connect the auto engine stop at the lights on the newer model VW s? (with manual gearboxes)

[poyta]

Like I said my father in laws was also out of warranty and they covered it under GoodwillAssistance. Hope it work out for you.

[rory]

Volkswagen came to the party and covered all costs. 5.5 hours labour. Apparently some mechatronic units are inside the gearbox and some are outside the gearbox. Sounds like this one (7 speed dry clutch DSG) might be on the outside? Anyone confirm this?
Hoping to get the car on the back of a truck at my place in 10 days time.

[Fatherless One]

Great result !!!

[rory]

Anyone know who does DSG to Manual gearbox conversions????

[gavs]

All mechatronic units are external of the gearbox.

The reason they fail (and you think the ones that make it onto cars have a high attrition rate!) is because as usual VW have released technology that they don't have right yet and then just use the community as their test platform.

I have spoken with a tech at one of the DSG assembly plants in Poland and he said that when the DSG makes it to the test bench, they have something like an 80% reject rate purely based on the mechatronics units. Porsche with their PDK dual clutch transmission took over 40 years to get right before putting it in a road going car.
That being said, I don't hear as many horror stories about the newest 7spd WET CLUTCH DSG yet the older design DQ200 and DQ250 boxes (mostly the DQ200) have a lot of issues with mech units and clutches in the DQ200.

[anders]

Looks like I may be the latest DSG victim - Driving home and was fortunately just a couple of blocks from home when the power died to the wheels, engine warning light glowed and all gear selection lights are flashing. gears can no longer be selected.

Pushed the car home with 4 year old in the back seat in 40C temp and I am fuming - just had the car serviced a week or so ago, no warnings - it has now done just over 50,000km ran out of warranty last September and quite frankly have lost all respect for VW.

I know they wont fix it under good will (although I will try and see)

They replaced the 118TSI motor at 16,000 when it crapped itself, replaced 2 clutches under warranty because st was changing with a shudder at 34,000km have had minor other issues and always been concerned about the "road noise"from continental tyres.

I quite frankly can not afford to fix this and am very concerned that this is the straw that breaks the camels back

Any thoughts or pearls of wisdom any one can share to make be feel better?

[rory]

You're only 15% over the time and done only 50% of the k's. Would think this might be a good reason for a bit of good will. Good luck .