DSG Sports mode issue

[Skitz]

Hi All,

I've had my GTI since december and its been nothing but a pleasure. I'm quite looking forward to a massive audio upgrade in the next couple of weeks.

However, I seem to be experiencing a gear change issue while the car is in sports mode. The shift up through the gears is perfect but the shifts down (usually 3rd to 2nd) results in the car making a sound similar to hitting a huge pot hole. I have only used sports mode three times and it has done it on all three occasions. I initially thought it was something I was doing wrong, ie braking to hard coming into a corner but I tested it last week on a straight road, and the rough change still occured.

I know someone else was experiencing a similar problem, I tried searching but was unable to find the thread.

Anyone have input on this situation, I'm booked in at VW to have it checked on the 8th of june.

Thanks

[Update 9/7/10] VW will be replacing the entire transmission

[Update 16/7/10] Taking the car to vw today for the DSG replacement, lets hope the car gods smile upon me today.

[Update 18/7/10] PROBLEM FIXED!! Gear changes feel much faster, the car now rev-matches on down shift and is much easier to drive fast. Big thanks to Gold Coast VW for the work

[Corey_R]

Yeah - take it to the service centre. It may need the DSG to be reset or the mechatronics unit replaced. Other members have had the issue resolved by one of those two things

[AznGti]

I have the same problem with my S mode as well, but due to work and other things, i havent had the chance to get it checked out. But i will be getting it checked out this week, and i will post the results.





- Azngti

[ryano]

Nothing that sounds as bad but I find mine hangs onto 3rd gear then abruptly jumps into 2nd while in Drive mode. I've had it back to the dealer about how it started to really clunk (to the point where the car would noticeably shudder) into gear from Neutral to Drive and got the usual 'its a manual gear box blah blah' story.

[Skitz]

Update: Dropped my car off at VW Gold Coast, told the service guy the exact problem. Picking it up this afternoon, Hopefully the issue is fixed.

-Skitz

[Maverick]

Update: Dropped my car off at VW Gold Coast, told the service guy the exact problem. Picking it up this afternoon, Hopefully the issue is fixed.

-Skitz

You need to take the foreman out in the car and show them, show them how to replicate it and show them how often it occurs. If you don't do this you're really wasting your time as they will drive differently to you and may not have the problem occur and will dismiss it as a non event or normal operation.

[Skitz]

You need to take the foreman out in the car and show them, show them how to replicate it and show them how often it occurs. If you don't do this you're really wasting your time as they will drive differently to you and may not have the problem occur and will dismiss it as a non event or normal operation.

Yeah, that did cross my mind when I dropped it off. Hopefully they can rectify it first go, if not I'll have to show the foreman like you said.

-Skitz

[Skitz]

Picked up my car 30 minutes ago from the dealer, the service report stated they couldn't find the problem. I took a technician for a test drive and it all seemed fine, the gear changes were smooth through the range and I couldn't replicate the problem. I believe they just re-flashed the ecu or similar.

The person I took for the test drive stated they had seen 10 or more GTI mk5's with a similar issue and required the mechatronic unit replaced. However he had not seem any Mk6's with this issue.

Will give it a good run on the weekend and see if the problem is truly gone.

[AznGti]

Tys for the update, i havent been able to take mine in still cause it finally got fixed this week. (A car reversed into my gti, had to get front bumper change etc etc. waited 3weeks). But the other day i decided to drive in S mode to see how it is. Suprisingly nothing happened, no odd downshifts from 3rd gear to 2nd. But i didnt slam the breaks, i just drove normally. So i think for my car, it's only occurs if i slam the brakes too hard during 3rd gear that it will cause a really loud noise then downshift to 2nd.

[Skitz]

*Sigh*.....my problem seems to have reappeared.
Took the GTI for a drive on the weekend and decided to use sports mode. Had 2 very rough downshifting while slowing down for a round about. I was in 3rd gear approaching a roundabout at ~75km started braking and it shifted 3>2 very very rough. Loud sound with jolting in the cabin. Seems like I need to ring VW. Damn it.

[oshuyi]

the vw dsg seem to have alot of problems. so i guess after 3 years it's best to sell the car

[cameronp]

the vw dsg seem to have alot of problems. so i guess after 3 years it's best to sell the car

Not necessarily. Most of the complaints here seem to be from almost-new DSGs ("infant mortality", perhaps due to poor quality control). Most of them aren't complete failures ("my car is a bit jerky sometimes") and some of them go away with just a software reset. None of this is a good predictor for the failure rates to expect years down the track. If the DSG self-destructed after three years, you would expect the Mk5 forum to be teeming with complaints by now from people who bought the DSG when it first came out, but it isn't.

Other posts have stated that getting the DSG mechatronics replaced out of warranty is about on par with getting a traditional automatic transmission overhauled. Hardly a cost that's terrifyingly greater than any other brand of car.

[Tux]

SNIP

Other posts have stated that getting the DSG mechatronics replaced out of warranty is about on par with getting a traditional automatic transmission overhauled. Hardly a cost that's terrifyingly greater than any other brand of car.

I've been wondering about that lately. It seems that the mechatronics units seem to be the unit that is replaced and not the transmission itself. Is that the case? For peace of mind I'll get extended warranty though..

[G-rig]

the vw dsg seem to have alot of problems. so i guess after 3 years it's best to sell the car

As mentioned most DSG boxes either develop the fault fairly early or they work faultlessly.

Don't forget you can extend the warranty at the end of the 3 years for another 2 years.

[Corey_R]

I've been wondering about that lately. It seems that the mechatronics units seem to be the unit that is replaced and not the transmission itself. Is that the case? For peace of mind I'll get extended warranty though..

Basically the "mechatronics unit" is what has all the "moving parts" (yes, before everyone jumps on this statement, the gears move too... I KNOW). What I mean is, the mechatronics is the combination of both the "electronic brain" AND the parts which actually engage and disengage the clutches AND the parts which change the gears. In other words, the Mechatronics unit replaces the human's brain AND the human's left arm and leg!

On the 6sp wet clutch DSG, there are 12 sensors in the mechatronics unit (there are only 2 sensors in the DSG gearbox which aren't in the mechatronics!). In the electro-hydraulic section of the mechatronics it controls or regulates eight gear actuators via six pressure modulation valves and five selector valve as well as controlling the pressure and flow of the cooling oil for both clutches!

So there is an AWFUL LOT going on in that mechatronics module! Whereas the rest of the DSG is really just a traditional manual gearbox! (Well, two individual traditional manual gearboxes arranged side by side against a common differential - but lets not complicate the explanation!)