2012 Diesel Wagon Gearbox Shuddering

[JBlyth]

My VW Diesel with the 6 speed DSG gearbox has just started shuddering for a second or so after changing gears. Not immediately after the gear change, but about mid-way between the gear change and moving to the next gear. The car has only done 62,000km!

It seems to be happening when in second or forth gear, and in both normal and Sports mode. I fear it is something rather expensive! I noticed it yesterday after driving south 900km......

Any ideas?????

Many thanks
John in Sunny Carnarvon - Western Australia

[Umai Naa!!]

Has the DSG been serviced yet?

[JBlyth]

Has the DSG been serviced yet?

Thanks for the reply.... It has had the normal annual services, and the Service Book says it had the DSG oil and filter changed at 48,000km almost 2 years ago.

(I must admit that I am presuming it is a gearbox shudder. I can't think what else would cause such a transient sensation)

[JBlyth]

Well, John Hughes in Perth have had the car for 3 days and tried resetting the gearbox which didn't resolve the issues. Now waiting, and waiting, and waiting for VW to make some suggestions....

I will be asking VW some very strong questions about their reliability and what they intend to do about resolving the issue. A gearbox should last more than 62,000km in a $50,000 car.

I off overseas for 2 months on Tuesday and I am not happy that my wife will be stuck 1000km from home without transport or a solution.

I will continue to post here with updates until we get a solution.......

I really like my Passat Diesel Wagon, and I had intended to keep it for a number of years yet, which is why I went down the diesel path. I am now feeling very dubious about going to a VW. Hopefully we will have a happy ending. If not, it will be a very noisy and vocal one

[Umai Naa!!]

The 6-speeds in these are usually pretty reliable.

Hoepfully they come to the party and sort it out.

[JBlyth]

John Hughes in Perth have been very helpful and are trying hard to find a fix.....

They have sent all the info to Germany, and now we wait for a response. At least the car is drivable without any safety issues, so my wife will drive back 1000km to the north at the end of the week, but with all fingers and toes crossed.

To be continued.......

[JBlyth]

UPDATE:-
I have now returned from 2 months in Japan, and the response from Germany was that the Passatt 6 speed gearbox had no record of failures. They have recommended the car be left with the dealer for further testing, which is fair enough. I will leave it with John Hughes VW for a week next time I am in Perth in December.

I am hoping that someone on this forum can suggest what could be happening if I describe the shudder/vibration a little more carefully.

1. Get the engine and gearbox warm by driving more than 10km.
2. Find a very smooth section of road.
3. From a standstill, accelerate smoothly at a medium pace.
4. AFTER the gearbox changes to SECOND gear, and before it changes to THIRD gear (perhaps 25-50% of that time period), there is a distinct but subtle shudder/vibration that might last perhaps less than one second.
5. This also happens between FOURTH and FIFTH gear.

My questions are:-

1. What is the gearbox doing between gear changes? I presume it preselecting the next gear? Could it be a clutch not releasing properly??????
2. Is there a clue in the fact that it only seems to happen when in SECOND and FOURTH gear - ? same gear clusters involved?
3. If there is no gearbox activity between gear changes, what could cause this very reproducible shudder/vibration.

The John Hughes senior mechanic could detect the issue, but couldn’t confirm if it was the gear box or explain it…..

Many thanks for any suggestions!
John in Sunny Carnarvon – Western Australia

[MgDerek]

Any news from dealer?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JBlyth]

Hello MgDerek,

I will be taking the car back to the dealer next month when I go down to Perth....

[Guest001]

Direct-shift gearbox - Wikipedia

The clutches work like this One does even no gear other does odd ones so if its doing it from 1st to 2nd and 3rd to 4th it could be the odd one not releasing properly. or it could be the even one not engaging properly.. I know that doesnt really help but is a possibility to be explored. does it do it in manual mode or when changing down

[JBlyth]

Hi Hillbilly,

It does it in both manual and auto selection.... Thanks for the info!

Cheers
John

[JBlyth]

UPDATE:-

I left my Passat with John Hughes in Perth for a week while I went to Bali two weeks ago. The shuddering is much worse, and is now extremely noticeable, particularly in 4th gear, but also in 2nd and 6th.

They did extensive road tests and are able to reproduce the issue quite easily. VW Australia has all the data, but they haven't decided if it is a gearbox or perhaps an injector problem - which doesn't gel with the fact it only happens in the 2,4, and 6th gears.....

I did suggest that they checked the gearbox oil for metal particles or other abnormalities, but they didn't do that.

I will be returning the vehicle to John Hughes VW in January, and they can have the blasted thing for two months while I am away again. The shuddering is now so obvious as to make the car unsalable, so I am requiring a permanent fix with VW paying for it, or I will be approaching the ACCC.

WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!!!

[sn809]

I was watching the space but it seems too empty

[JBlyth]

UPDATE - 4th January 2019

Earlier in January I left my Passat Diesel Wagon with John Hughes VW in Perth for two months while I am away again.

Volkswagen Australia thought the testing done in December might have indicated that the shuddering/vibration may have been coming from a faulty fuel injector, although that seemed strange as it only seems to happen with 2nd, fourth, and occasionally sixth gears.

Today I had a call from John Hughes VW. Volkswagen Australia now think that after further testing (and I presume changing a fuel injector) that the gear box does need replacing. I am waiting to hear about the financial side of things, but VW Australia seem to be supportive of a courtesy payment of some unknown amount. I would be expecting 100%!

I must say that John Hughes VW in Perth have been very helpful to date, and I am firmly hoping that VW Australia will be similarly supportive of their product, as the vehicle hasn't even done 70,000km yet. The 6 speed DSG gearbox in the Diesel Passat has a reputation as being bullet-proof, but I can appreciate that any fine piece of engineering can have a dud component on rare occasions.

Watch this space for the next hopefully happy and final instalment!

[sn809]

We will be watching