DSG: Problems, Questions, Likes and Dislikes

[MADHUN]

I've just picked up a 2012 2.0Tdi DSG Golf a couple of weeks ago that is in for it's first service. It replaced my Mk5 2.0Tdi DSG Golf which has 273,000k's on it and not a single issue with the DSG.

I've always found the best way to drive a DSG is to bury the foot in the firewall.

I too suffered a brake pad replacement at around 45000k's but the next set was replaced at 120,000 or there abouts

Interestingly I replaced a set of tyres within 30000k's.

I blame the DSG for both.

[MADHUN]

I read in the manual you should never engage N whilst the vehicle is moving, it doesn't lubricate the gearbox or some **** like that, can't remember exactly.

Would depend on how the oil pump is driven, many Auto's shouldn't be put into park or N for extended periods.

[SilvrFoxX]

I would like to clear my good name.. I have never thrown a rubber at another male.. may be waved it at a female once or 5 times but never a male.

Now excuse me while I take my MX5 for a drive

Goddamn CW owners.. don't they know they got gipped on a decent paintjob

[MADHUN]

Don't see why it has to be from APR. Options also available from Custom Code, GIAC and Viezu, plus the more expensive (by that I mean about same price as APR), but longstanding and arguably more proven option from HPA. I myself always recommend Custom Code.


If you can't justify the price of a full DSG upgrade I think Viezu has a "light" DSG tune option that comes with their ECU tunes. Perhaps a tune like this, that would also improve performance, power delivery and possibly economy depending on the type of tune you choose, is more justifiable. Unsure how much of the DSG issues the "light" option would fix though.

WRT car issues, every brand has them. DSG issues are a bit more widespread than they should be, but I doubt owning one Accord Euro without issues means all Hondas are so much more reliable. That said, I would avoid the old 7 speed dry clutch DSG if I were buying a new car. I'm guessing here but the new DQ500 for the Tiguan was probably borrowed from Audi, they have had these for quite some time now without much issue, no idea why VW went ahead and made their own crappier version on the Golfs to begin with.

I blew the Auto 3 times on the Vti Accord which was replaced by the Mk5. I dare say none of them were the gearbox's fault!

[Candyman]

Goddamn CW owners.. don't they know they got gipped on a decent paintjob

See, I figured I got a rubbish gearbox so may as well get a rubbish paint job

[SilvrFoxX]

See, I figured I got a rubbish gearbox so may as well get a rubbish paint job

You left out the rubbish fake cow you have to sit on

Now go invest in a gearbox conversion.. I off to read some WJ posts and figure out how to convert my R to a GTI

[brimway]

The_Hawk has nothing to worry about with you pair of delinquents!

[SilvrFoxX]

I prefer Reprobate

[brimway]

mmm .. just looking for my Funk and Wagnalls

[adouzzy]

5. Buy the DSG tuning software from Harding Performance.

It's quite expensive though. Are you talking about something like APR stage I?

[Ryan_R]

Similar. APR Stage 1 gives more power, Guy_H's DSG tune (software only) fixes the shift points, prevents wear on the components and makes the driving experience much nicer.

[adouzzy]

Interesting thoughts on the DSG and adapting your driving style to suit the transmission.

Everything adouzzy mentioned about driving style in my mind applies to a robotised manual transmission (such as the 'e-gear' or F1 gearbox systems in various Italian cars) rather than a DSG. In those vehicles there is a definite art to driving the car and it's certainly not a matter of treating it like a traditional automatic just because it only has 2 pedals.

My only experience with DSG to date has been VW - our 07 Caddy TDI and 08 Golf TDI. Both of those certainly exhibit some DSG quirks (such as hesitation off the line or difficulty reversing up an incline) but for the most part people just get in and drive them like an automatic with no issues.

That said, if you do consider that a DSG is a robotised (automated) manual then I'm not sure I agree about not shifting into N. On my e-gear car it is encouraged behaviour to shift the transmission into N as you're coming to a standstill and only re-engage 1 when ready to move off, as removes the possibility of the computer trying to slip the clutch at slow speeds to prevent bunny hopping.

This is even more important in stop-start traffic - basically the issue is that a very small lift on the brake pedal whilst still stationary might cause the computer to start feeding in the clutch even though the vehicle is not moving, which obviously is not good for clutch life. I would imagine that the only downside to doing the same in a DSG is needing to physically move the gear lever into N and back into D (the e-gear car does this directly via the paddles) but I can't see how using N would adversely affect the lifespan of the DSG gearbox.

Extremely helpful! That's what I am talking about, and haven't seen much in other DSG threads. Thank you very much!

[prise]

DSG: Problems/Complaints/Dislikes/LoveIt

DSG 7 in the golf is great once moving but having to have a shuddering clutch pack replaced at 45,000 km was worrying and I don't have confidence it won't happen again outside warranty. Combined with the other faults the vehicle has had I will no longer be keeping it as a long termer (10 years). Backing up a steep slope to stop just short of a fixed object can be nerve-wracking and my wife refused to drive the car in those circumstances. Unfortunately it's not the sort of thing you get to do on a test drive and if my wife had attempted the manoeuvre during our test drive it is unlikely we would have purchased the car with DSG.

[ParaBul]

My car was serviced last week, and I had a Jetta loan car. I wasn't too impressed with the 7 speed DSG - it seemed a little aggressive on take-off, and sometimes a bit shuddery, and at the same time it seemed to slip all the way through 1st and into 2nd - although it seemed to change to 2nd VERY early. Once moving, the shifts were generally imperceptible, but I'm not sure I would've bought a DSG based on the experience with that. Maybe the Jetta had a fault, but I'm confident that my 6 speed DSG is noticeably nicer to drive than that Jetta's 7 speed.

Anyway - next topic.

About once a week my DSG ends up with no drive - typically, rounding a corner, the display indicates I'm in 3rd or 4th but there is no drive - engine revs, but no go. Typically, I need to downshift twice before I get drive again.

I reported this to VW, and they found nothing. No error codes, they couldn't fault it, they'd never heard of it. So they want me to tell them how to replicate the fault so they can fix it.

I've read about others having a similar experience, but when I searched I could only find a "false neutral" problem that is different.

Can anybody point me to a few key words, or posts, or a discussion of a problem like this? Sorry, but I don't want to wade through 87 pages...

[Ryan_R]

Don't forget it was a loan car, which may or may not be driven nicely

I think false neutral and no drive are essentially the same thing, I only ever had it once ages ago when in Sport mode, went round a tight uphill bend, went to floor it, it grabbed 2nd and nothing for about a second, off the gas then back on again and it was ok.