DSG: Problems, Questions, Likes and Dislikes

[Alok]

Thanks for the responses guys. I was thinking that because the DSG has 2 clutches, each clutch should experience half the wear and tear of a conventional single clutch gear box.

[hentaiboy]

From the Volkswagen New Vehicle Warranty:

The Volkswagen New Vehicle Warranty does not cover the costs of routine maintenance service to your vehicle. You must pay for:

• clutch linings

Does this also include DSG clutches???

[GTiNewby]

My experience with my GTi DSG 07 is mostly good. The shifts can become more abrupt as the thing gets older but all in all it's an awesome version of a manual transmission. It really makes the box on the Mitsubishi Ralliart look amateurish and feel like you're driving a Hyundai 96 excel. D for general driving is as you would expect smooth, except for standing start(could be it's age and K's) a little jerky, but through the remaining shifts absolutely awesome. In SPORT it's the best I've seen. All in all would I buy again? Yes, but only on the complete package of the car not just the DSG. Baring in mind the developing DSG technology will only get better. Once I'm out of warranty my little red 3DR GTi with Vienna Leather upgrade will not be coming home with me and our little affair will be over.

[Alok]

I think the DSG clutch will eventually need to be replaced. But considering these to points:

• There are 2 clutches

• The clutches are controlled by the computer, which should prevent unnecessary wear and tear by unrecommended clutch use by drivers

I would have thought the clutches should last at least 100,000km....

[bigdave260]

My first car was an old carolla, sent it to the wreckers at 350,000km's with the original clutch still in working condition with no slip. Come to think of it the engine was fine too was just the rest of the car fell apart around it but definately still driveable. My lady has a 99 Corolla (Auto) with 250,000k's on it and no gearbox work aside from oil changes. The numbers you guys are talking about are offensively low!

[Guy_H]

The entire DSG clutch assembly (including the basket & seals) fully assembled & ready to drop in to the 6 speed box is ~$1200 - cheaper than most manual, dry clutches - Also the flywheel does not wear - so when it comes to replacing clutches (whenever it needs it) you are probably thousands better off with the DSG.

[cme2c]

My first car was an old carolla, sent it to the wreckers at 350,000km's with the original clutch still in working condition with no slip. Come to think of it the engine was fine too was just the rest of the car fell apart around it but definately still driveable. My lady has a 99 Corolla (Auto) with 250,000k's on it and no gearbox work aside from oil changes. The numbers you guys are talking about are offensively low!

Clutches vary a lot. We had a 1986 Honda Accord that would only get 60,000 out of a clutch, also had a Volvo 740 manual where the clutch was fine after 200,000. Of course we lived in Sydney when we had the Honda, and in country SA with the Volvo. Also had a Volvo 240 that never had a clutch plate problem and that was in the city. Oh, and no clutch problems with either a Corolla or Corona. Havent had the DSG VW long enough to comment specifically.

[JPanDAX]

I had an 88 corolla twin cam 16 valve 5spd man some 20 years ago. The thing was considered a bit of a rocket as standard back then and boy could it rev freely. I flogged it for a couple of years and one final overloaded ski trip with 5 onboard finally did the clutch in. I think I got some 60k before a replacement was required. I also had a 93 model pulsar SSS and it could go with a 2 liter very torquey motor. The clutch in it died by 60k. I also drove it hard and did lots of city driving, sitting at lights etc. That was when I was much younger and sillier, I recon if I drove them like I do now I would get three times the use out of a set of plates in those same cars

I guess the moral is if you push them hard they won't last as long. Country drives, freeway etc is going to last longer too.

I guess if you flog the DSG it won't last as long either. But with reasonable sports driving ie not flogging it to red line all the time, launching lots etc you would expect a car like a GTI or an R to be built to drive a bit harder than a Mazda 2.....

But as this who race anything with an engine in it know - it's a costly sport as you have to rebuild, replace and repair lots on top of the upgrade costs to be competitive. If you wanna race your car then things are going to fail earlier if your car is just a road car.

But in saying this surely VW techs can tell how a car has been treated by looking at parts, wear etc and the onboard computer. So they could perhaps be able to judge weather failure is due to normal conditions or not.

But I would imagine from a relatively expensive vehicle with a good reputation that you would get well over 100k from the clutches in the DSG under normal sporty, spirited driving conditions.... 40k sounds a joke! Maybe if you flogged the he'll out of the car you could expect this.... Not saying anyone here has done that!

Just my perception of the situation..

Cheers

JP


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- Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[hentaiboy]

40k sounds a joke! Maybe if you flogged the he'll out of the car you could expect this....

My guess is that the affected cars are being driven a lot in stop/start traffic where the clutch is more likely to slip during low throttle starts (just a theory).

Has anyone heard if there's a 7-speed DSG remap available yet that moves the shift points to higher RPMs?

[Vaku]

happened again.. just now, roll to a set of lights in 3rd about to downshift (M Mode) lights go green, put foot down.. nothing.. nothing.. revving.. had to put on hazards and switch to the left lane (cars behind me so quite dangerous) , put it back in auto mode and it went back into gear - no clunks or anything.

second time it has happened in just under 15k really a potential for disaster if your in the wrong place (say turning right with oncoming traffic etc..)

DSG always seems 'dodgy' to me at traffic lights when your slowing down and the lights change, occasionally it feels a bit akward etc.

anyway il mention it at the service, they will say a software test has been done and we could not replicate the problem, and it will probably happen again.. hope not though! scary..

[Corey_R]

You're the first person to describe having to pull over and change to auto.... everyone else just takes their foot off the accerator, and reapply and it goes into gear.

I haven't really had these issues, but then I drive it like a manual anyway... after you've been "coasting", feed the accelerator in slowly until the clutch has engaged before pushing down more. It's much smoother in that way, and I haven't had any of these free revving issues...
(only had it once within the first few hundred km, but it was in a situation where I just stomped on the accelerator...)

[Vaku]

im sure I took my foot off the accelerator but cant be certain as I was more concerned with the cars coming up from behind (this all happened mid intersection) I remember trying 3 times and it would not engage gear, when I moved over and put it back to auto it went into gear after another second or so.

[ozgti]

You're the first person to describe having to pull over and change to auto.... everyone else just takes their foot off the accerator, and reapply and it goes into gear.

I haven't really had these issues, but then I drive it like a manual anyway... after you've been "coasting", feed the accelerator in slowly until the clutch has engaged before pushing down more. It's much smoother in that way, and I haven't had any of these free revving issues...
(only had it once within the first few hundred km, but it was in a situation where I just stomped on the accelerator...)

I had to restart it twice on the 4 times it's happened. Wouldn't work when i put into neutral the back to D, even though it happened in D originally.

[Corey_R]

Let me rephrase that then... no one else with a 6sp.
There are several people with the 7sp who have to do as you describe, switch it to neutral then back to D.

[ozgti]

Let me rephrase that then... no one else with a 6sp.
There are several people with the 7sp who have to do as you describe, switch it to neutral then back to D.

yeah. But having to restart the car inorder to get the car to move is down right dangerous. Especially when I have a dog trailer smoking it's tyres trying to stop!