Is this normal?

[skoobysGTI]

Hey All

Have never driven a car with dsg before so not really sure how a dsg gearbox works...

When I'm driving in "D" mode, the screen on the dash shows D1..D2...D3...D4...D5...D6...and then D7 which is obviously normal to me

However, while in D7, if I switch the mode to "S", is it normal for the gear to drop to S4??! And if so, when I change up a gear clicking "+" on the paddle shift, the gear changes to 5 (not S5) and then 6 (not S6)..etc

Shouldn't it show s5...s6...s7 on the screen and not just 5...6....7?

Also if I stop the car at the lights and switch to the "S" mode on the dsg...it first shows S1...but then instead of showing s2...s3...etc when I change gears, it just shows a single number 2...3....4...5...and then 6.

Finally, I could be in "6th" gear in "S" mode and if I click "-" on the paddle shift, it suddenly jumps from 6 to S2 and the revs immediately jumps over 5,000rpms!!!! I would expect that if it was in 6th gear, it would just drop a single to 5th and not skip 3 gears to 2nd gear!

Really not sure if this is all normal or not or is this yet another problem with my car with only 300kms on the clock?? There is no problems at all when I drive in "D" mode...just in "S" mode.

Thanks in advance
Scott

[jayc29u]

S mode is sports mode, so it uses higher revs and uses gears for longer so you can go faster.

So to answer your question, yes its meant to be like that. Correct me if im wrong someone please.

[ill0gitech]

When driving in D or S the gears will move prefaced with D1-7 or S1-7 like above. The second you change out of those, it will display 1-7. To remind you that you're in "control." I say that with "" as you're never fully in control. Most noticed in Sports, which holds higher revs. If you switch from S3 to 4, depending on your rev range and speed, you may find yourself back to S3 very soon.

Sports holds gears longer, hence your experience with jumping back into S2@5k

[Bassik]

Hey All

Have never driven a car with dsg before so not really sure how a dsg gearbox works...

When I'm driving in "D" mode, the screen on the dash shows D1..D2...D3...D4...D5...D6...and then D7 which is obviously normal to me

However, while in D7, if I switch the mode to "S", is it normal for the gear to drop to S4??! And if so, when I change up a gear clicking "+" on the paddle shift, the gear changes to 5 (not S5) and then 6 (not S6)..etc

Shouldn't it show s5...s6...s7 on the screen and not just 5...6....7?

Also if I stop the car at the lights and switch to the "S" mode on the dsg...it first shows S1...but then instead of showing s2...s3...etc when I change gears, it just shows a single number 2...3....4...5...and then 6.

Finally, I could be in "6th" gear in "S" mode and if I click "-" on the paddle shift, it suddenly jumps from 6 to S2 and the revs immediately jumps over 5,000rpms!!!! I would expect that if it was in 6th gear, it would just drop a single to 5th and not skip 3 gears to 2nd gear!

Really not sure if this is all normal or not or is this yet another problem with my car with only 300kms on the clock?? There is no problems at all when I drive in "D" mode...just in "S" mode.

Thanks in advance
Scott

Think of it as "Sports Mode" and "Drive Mode" are automatics and the "Manual Mode" is the mode your in control. As soon as you change the paddle shifts you engage "Manual Mode" temporarily and at any given chance (like at lights) the car will go back to whatever automatic mode you have selected.

Try and stay in manual mode when your using "Manual Mode" and leave it in "Sports/Drive Mode" when in those modes to. It might take some time to get used to it but you will. Also note that when in any automatic mode if you plant your foot down on the accelerator all the way down you will drop down 2-3 gears as well. It's for those over taking moments on the HWY.

[gavs]

Try and stay in manual mode when your using "Manual Mode" and leave it in "Sports/Drive Mode" when in those modes to.

You don't need to worry about this. Yes it is completely normal and yes, it is perfectly fine to hit the paddles the change down or up gears when in D or S. for example, if you are running down a hill and the car wants to keep dropping back in D but you don't want it to, change up manually and after a little while it will revert back to auto mode. Or the opposite, your rolling down a hill and you want to be in 5th rather than 7th to stop the car running on and use the engine braking, just drop back a couple of gears.

Don't worry, after a while you will learn to love the dsg and it's quirks

[skoobysGTI]

Great guys!! Thanks heaps for the replies..I feel a lot better now knowing that its normal...last night when I put it in S mode, it started off at s1 and I drove it a few metres and it did not change to s2 so I changed it manually, hence it jumped to 2..and then 3 and not s2..then s3

So basically your all saying that it just holds the gear longer so if I try again tonight in s mode..it should go from s1..to s2...to s3...etc?
I think I was scared because it didnt change gears straight away..hahaha gotta stop babying it I guess.

Thanks again everyone...much appreciated

[bigfoot]

So basically your all saying that it just holds the gear longer so if I try again tonight in s mode..it should go from s1..to s2...to s3...etc?

precisely - just let it do its thing

[Bassik]

You don't need to worry about this. Yes it is completely normal and yes, it is perfectly fine to hit the paddles the change down or up gears when in D or S. for example, if you are running down a hill and the car wants to keep dropping back in D but you don't want it to, change up manually and after a little while it will revert back to auto mode. Or the opposite, your rolling down a hill and you want to be in 5th rather than 7th to stop the car running on and use the engine braking, just drop back a couple of gears.

Don't worry, after a while you will learn to love the dsg and it's quirks

I say leave it in auto and sport when using those modes because like me when I have used the paddles in either of these modes the DSG has failed on me and I've come very close to a having an accident at set of traffic lights.

[gavs]

That's only when you are confusing the kickdown points of the gearbox when it's trying to change down gears on its own, the same thing happens when in manual, I have successfully been able to replicate this a few times now and have learned to let the gearbox select its own downshift when going into 1st when coming to a stop.

People need to stop treating the dsg like a kid with anger management issues by treating it "softly softly". I have and now I haven't had any "freak outs" for about 6 months.

[Bassik]

That's only when you are confusing the kickdown points of the gearbox when it's trying to change down gears on its own, the same thing happens when in manual, I have successfully been able to replicate this a few times now and have learned to let the gearbox select its own downshift when going into 1st when coming to a stop.

People need to stop treating the dsg like a kid with anger management issues by treating it "softly softly". I have and now I haven't had any "freak outs" for about 6 months.

I tend to leave 2nd to 1st gear alone now when down shifting and just let it do itself however 7-5 or 4-3 I will do manually. I haven't had a fail in a while now maybe that's it. Still I have it booked for next Friday for a series of things... so I'll see what VW say next week.

[skoobysGTI]

Just another thing with the DSG...when in "D" mode and going down a steep hill...the dsg automatically changes to a lower gear and holds it all the way down the hill....is this also normal?

[readerr0r]

Just another thing with the DSG...when in "D" mode and going down a steep hill...the dsg automatically changes to a lower gear and holds it all the way down the hill....is this also normal?

Yep, to save your brakes and fuel. Lots of cars with good autos do it (like my old 325i and the ZF-equipped Falcon).

[skoobysGTI]

Yep, to save your brakes and fuel. Lots of cars with good autos do it (like my old 325i and the ZF-equipped Falcon).

Thanks readerrOr....I love this forum! You guys are very helpful!
Imagine having these issues and not knowing if there's a fault or not and having to bring it into the dealers everytime to get it checked out/tested etc
But for bunnies like me, we just have to go on here and ask the questions and in a blink of an eye, someone will come back with an answer...brilliant!

[gavs]

Just another thing with the DSG...when in "D" mode and going down a steep hill...the dsg automatically changes to a lower gear and holds it all the way down the hill....is this also normal?

Imagine having these issues and not knowing if there's a fault or not and having to bring it into the dealers everytime to get it checked out/tested etc.....

Owners manual......

[pologti18t]

Owners manual......

LOL

I am interested in how people think everything a new car does, that their old car didn't, is "a problem".