2007/8 2.5 TDI multicom auto box issue

[Kiels3927]

I'm the knucklehead who complained about my fuel consumption after I fitted 18" rims just about 15000k ago. The consensus was that the increased rolling resistance etc was the cause. I should have recognized that the issue also coincided with a service that included a change of gearbox oil.

If I didn't drive off my GPS which is hung high beside the rear view mirror, I maybe would have realised that the box is changing gears randomly when I'm running at 110 on the cruse control. In the past, that happens occasionally when on a steep pinch & it chooses 5th for a short burst & back to 6th, something it wouldn't do if I drove off the throttle, but that was fine & not an issue.

Anyway, yesterday, for the first time during my recent 4000 k trip I wasn't running in heavy wind & rain & I could take the opportunity to gaze at the dash. The bloody thing was occasionally dropping down to 4th & holding until I went to manual control. I have issues seeing those gear numbers because I had cataracts removed & my near vision point is beyond the dash, but the tacho going ape was a pretty large clue.

As an immediate action, I've reset the gearbox & I hope to find a friendly dealer or who might tale a look at the log to see if it can give a clue today. In that regard, does any member know somebody round Brisbane with pre-DSG auto box smarts who might hold my hand. I have a schedule of driving for the weekend & need to know where I stand.

John

[Sunny43.5]

I think sometime back I mentioned a company in Slacks Creek just near Jmac's shop .Trans Tech in Monte St , I used them to give me report on our T5 auto some years back . We had already had the box reconditioned by another company in Loganholme but to be quite honest I was not overly happy with the job , I took the van to trans Tech for a presale report and they serviced it a seond time and reported some micrscopic metal particles in the fluid . Now they could have been a result of new parts bedding in as after it was serviced the second time it went very well with smoother changes and the guy who bought the van from us is still driving it today nearly 7 years on with no further issues

[Kiels3927]

Thanks, Sunny.

As it stands, considering the consumption issue occurred immediately after the last service, I may have to talk to that company first.

John

[Sunny43.5]

From memory, our T5 also changed up and down on the highway frequently depending on the terrain , mostly it would stay in top gear but even just a tap or two to increase speed with the cruise control would make it change down at least two gears . I just got used to it but it was not a bad thing .

[Rebuild]

When mine's on cruise it will change back to 5th very readily, even at a slight incline, at 100-110 km/h. If i want it to stay in 6th regardless, i just flick it over to manual mode

[Kiels3927]

It behaved impeccably today with the service mechanic driving on the Coast 110 section. Prior to that, they found that at some occasion, the oil was hot according to the readout, but that doesn't explain changing from 6 to 4.

Anyway, it gets serviced next Wednesday & I might ask for an oil change in the gearbox for the heck of it.

[Sunny43.5]

I would suggest maybe adding an oil cooler to the transmission , the guy who did the rebuild told me they all should have one to help the oil stay in good condition .

[Rebuild]

Anyway, it gets serviced next Wednesday & I might ask for an oil change in the gearbox for the heck of it.

And a new filter

[Kiels3927]

And a new filter

Come with the deal where I get my service.

[Kiels3927]

OK, I wasn't convinced that all was well despite a clean error log and recent 170k service, so I took the bus to Trans Tech today for a gearbox oil change as a first step to diagnosing the problem. Tell me, what's the price of scrap iron filings, much filings?

I had already looked at bailing out of this T5 for a T6, but the pressed wheels on the base model, the $5000 trade in offer & the $53000 price couldn't add up to what I would be prepared to spend on mine to keep it for another 10 years - if I'm still in the saddle then. It took me less than half the trip between Monte Street & Kuraby station to give Gary the go ahead to do the rebuild for me.

If I set up a cloud funding, will you guys toss in the $8K for me.

• The excessive fuel consumption occurred straight after the 155k service. Was that the cause? Unlikely, they're reputable & anyway the gearbox oil change component of a service doesn't blow up a box.
• Consumption coincided with fitting the 18" wheels. Maybe that tipped the scale a bit, but others on this forum have not had adverse reactions.
• Should I buy a big scratchie right now? Not with my current run of luck.

[Syncrotek]

I would suggest maybe adding an oil cooler to the transmission , the guy who did the rebuild told me they all should have one to help the oil stay in good condition .

Did he mean an additional cooler ? they do have one.

[Kiels3927]

Actually I spoke to them about a cooler yesterday. Apparently my auto box has a large heat sink on it and it's about impossible to fit an additional cooler, but then again, that was before we found the box had chewed out. Maybe it's possible once the box is ripped out of the car.

[Syncrotek]

The hose connections might be accessible with the front in service position. Maybe worth having the auto fluid temp.
range tested by VCDS or one of those bluetooth apps. so you have an idea if you really need another cooler.

[Rebuild]

just had my auto repaired, 160K, and had an air cooler fitted at the front low down.Has vents cut in the underbody protection for airflow.
The trans guy recommended it for these autos(he has a T5), takes longer for the oil to go dark.
And i hardly ever tow.
Replaces the standard oil/water cooler(heater ).

[Sunny43.5]

Yes when ours was rebuilt the guy fitted an extra cooler unit down low at the front as well like Rebuild , as I reported the bloke who bought our old T5 is still driving it and seems happy as we know each other quite well . I have maintained all along that VW never test things in the real world so the idiot who came up with a non service system should have been tortured in the outback so he could understand that no fluid will last in Australia s harsh conditions . Here is the conversation between the boffins at VW "Have you tested the auto in those vans ? yes we drove them around the Mohave desert for 6 weeks and no problems " Meanwhile in the real world it ended up being a REAL torture test that lasts for YEARS not weeks .