09 Auto 128kw T5 transmisson isn't as smooth :(

[Sunny43.5]

I sometimes wonder if VW were bought up in front of the consumer watchdog because they sell the gearbox as "sealed "for life" so what is life no one has ever given a definitive answer only interpretations . I asked VW Australia and was just given the old run around without an answer . I am sure if the number of autos that have failed or given problems were known in numbers then there would be some action against VW as it seems that certainly quite a few of contributors on this Forum have had problems . Then there are the people who have also had problems that are NOT members of this forum and probaly have just copped it , this idea would be born out of the fact that every single auto transmission specialist that I have contacted knows about these autos and their failings .

[bluefin321]

Sunny, i too contacted VW Australia after my failure, and received no explanation whatsoever.

[toolman]

touch wood!!

I had the same issues with my 2005 T5 auto but can say that it is now as close to perfect as it can be. I purchased the van second hand with about 110,000 km and it was sweet until about around 175k and then it started to clunck into reverse and when down shifting from 3rd, 2nd and 1st. The cluck when going into reverse was so bad that I thought it was going to break something inside the box. In fact I did find eventually a broken front engine mount but after 3 oil changes in the box, new filter and replacing the little orange filler pipe it was better but still not 100%. After much research on this forum, the Brickwork, and the UK T5 forum I found a thread that described the procedure for resetting the transmission memory. In desperation I tried it and the effect was immediate and truly breathtaking. The van just transformed. This happened about 190k and since then has done lots of city work and has been to Goulburn and back with the racecar on the trailer and it has not missed a beat. Currently 210k and going strong.

Learnings from all this are 1: no box is filled for life as oils just are not that good. I will change my ATF every 60,000k from now on. 2: I used a ATF from Imparts which is VW approved and cost a lot less than buying from VW. I'll find my invoice and post info for those interested.
3: The electronic boxes have a memory and it pays to reset it every now and then. I have reset it once since the first time which is when I did my last engine oil change, every 8,000km.

I'll see if I can find the reset procedure and post this also.

[Rebuild]

Re the oil dilemma, when i did my change at 75K with Penrite DXVI how to change T5 Auto Gearbox Oil - The Brick-yard , the tech specs at the time listed G055 compatibilty.I also emailed Penrite and questioned this.

Now their DXVI specs show no such listing

http://www.penriteoil.com.au/pis_pdfs/ATF%20DX-VI%20June%202012.pdf

BTW, 4 litres is the drain and refill amount

I am still going to use the Penrite oil on the next change at 150K.Now at 130K.
And i did sometimes get little clunks in the lower gears, however after resetting the TCM around 120K, none since
TCM reset,midway down this page

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/forums/f136/how-do-32769.html#post368688

[Transporter]

I know that it's better when you use the same oil it the transmission, since the incompatibility can be an issue. So I understand your reasoning behind. But, better check with the Penrite that the formulation of their ATF didn't change from the last oil you bought. If they say that it had changed, then I would be switching to the ATF that has the right specs.

[Rebuild]

Ok i have emailed Penrite.
This is the gist of their reply.

The oil formulation for DXVI has not changed.They revised their recommendations somewhere between '06 and '08
"Sometimes different specifications are not contradictory and a given fluid will work well regardless of stated specs. ATF DX6 is, after all, a high quality fully synthetic automatic transmission fluid."

They did also recommend their ATF FS

I have 4L of DXVI spare from 2008 so will use that at 150K.
And use 4L of DXVI around 225K, if the trans gets that far