T5 Auto Transmission

[pjondeck]

Hi, I am hearing some horror stories, largely unsubstantiated but enough to concern me, about problems with automatic transmissions. It has been suggested to me by an experienced mechanic that I should be getting my MY11 (still under warranty) to a transmission specialist poste haste as it is about to "self destruct". I think it is a bit alarmist but thought it worth asking the question if anyone has had problems or heard similar. The suggestion is that it might be the transmission fluid deteriorating, bit hard to check. I am of the impression that if VW knew there was a problem that could be resolved by changing transmission fluid then they would be crazy not to call at least vehicles under warranty in for a check, it could save them a heap. Any comments appreciated.
Peter

[Silver Caravelle]

Hi, I am hearing some horror stories, largely unsubstantiated but enough to concern me, about problems with automatic transmissions. It has been suggested to me by an experienced mechanic that I should be getting my MY11 (still under warranty) to a transmission specialist poste haste as it is about to "self destruct". I think it is a bit alarmist but thought it worth asking the question if anyone has had problems or heard similar. The suggestion is that it might be the transmission fluid deteriorating, bit hard to check. I am of the impression that if VW knew there was a problem that could be resolved by changing transmission fluid then they would be crazy not to call at least vehicles under warranty in for a check, it could save them a heap. Any comments appreciated.
Peter

One dealer said to me that for the later autos, servicing one with fluid change and filter costs about $800. He said it was much cheaper fluid wise with the T4s. In a competitive market particularly in commercial vehicles, they will look at ways of giving the perception of servicing costs being less than what they are in reality. By having this sealed for life BS is one way of doing this and after a warranty period has expired.

Regards,
Scott

[pjondeck]

Thanks Scott
I am thinking VW must do a risk analysis and decide whether it's cheaper for them to attend the few that fail before end of warrranty vs changing the fluid (if that's in fact the issue) in all vehicles under warranty? Isn't there some provision that if a car manufacturer is aware of a problem and doesn't attend to it that they can be held responsible for rectification of the problem even after warranty has expired. I know that this is the case in the USA, there have been cars recalled over there long after warranty expiration.
cheers, Peter

[mikinoz]

$800 is 1/10 of $8K if it lunches itself. I would be getting it done if my van was newer, but now it is so old and worn new fluid can be as much of a problem as leaving the old in there.

[Silver Caravelle]

$800 is 1/10 of $8K if it lunches itself. I would be getting it done if my van was newer, but now it is so old and worn new fluid can be as much of a problem as leaving the old in there.

Hi Mikinoz, If you add $800 dollars to say a major 60k dealer service cost of around $880, then $1600 plus doesn't look so good in the eyes of the competition. And there are no guarantees changing fluid and filter will guard against all possible things that can go wrong with an auto. But it can't hurt either of course -except for the servicing cost!

Cheers,

Scott

[Silver Caravelle]

Thanks Scott
I am thinking VW must do a risk analysis and decide whether it's cheaper for them to attend the few that fail before end of warrranty vs changing the fluid (if that's in fact the issue) in all vehicles under warranty? Isn't there some provision that if a car manufacturer is aware of a problem and doesn't attend to it that they can be held responsible for rectification of the problem even after warranty has expired. I know that this is the case in the USA, there have been cars recalled over there long after warranty expiration.
cheers, Peter

Hi Peter, even under warranty, the owner would be paying for the auto service (fluid/filter change). There are no lemon laws in Australia, but there may some recourse under statutory legislation which in some cases enables claims beyond the warranty period.

Regards,

Scott

[Sunny43.5]

Please don,t tell me this is a DSG auto if so I can tell you from experience with having to repair our Tiptronic [well documented here } that $8000 to replace a DSG is way out of the ball park from what I have been told the DSG if it fails is around $15000 to replace not sure of a rebuild cost but our Tiptronic cost $11000 to rebuild . As for servicing the auto it would help if VW would at least remove the sump and replace the filter because if you don't then its inviting disaster . I can't see why VW would replace auto fluid only and not change the filter they do it automaticly with an engine oil change .

[IN2VWS]

The book price for the 60k service is $1200, which includes the DSG service. So, where you guys plucked $1600 from fails me. Alarmist talk again. Cut the crap and stick to facts.

To the OP, I assume you are talking about the DSG, as you have an MY11 Transporter. If there are issues with your DSG, take it to the dealer for warranty service.
Can you be more specific as to what your DSG is doing, and why your trusty mechanic suggested to get it looked at poste haste?

[Silver Caravelle]

The book price for the 60k service is $1200, which includes the DSG service. So, where you guys plucked $1600 from fails me. Alarmist talk again. Cut the crap and stick to facts.

To the OP, I assume you are talking about the DSG, as you have an MY11 Transporter. If there are issues with your DSG, take it to the dealer for warranty service.
Can you be more specific as to what your DSG is doing, and why your trusty mechanic suggested to get it looked at poste haste?

IN2VS, to clarify MY FACTS. A 60K service for my Multivan (2008 auto) was $880 just before Christmas. If I was to add an Auto service (yes a Tiptronic - not a DSG), this would add another $800 in the realm of $1600 plus. This what the dealer indicated - not being alarmist.

You make a good point though; it will be a DSG (being a MY11).

Regards,

Scott

[Rebuild]

How many K's on this "self destructing" gearbox?

Serviced my Tiptronic at 75K, next at 150K
Servicing the earlier 6spd tiptronic
how to change T5 Auto Gearbox Oil - The Brick-yard

genuine VW oil was around $51/L at the time.Lot of gold in it
This is NOT the DSG
empty to full is around 7.5L
service fill 4L (oil stays in the torque converter and pump on a drain and refill only)

[IN2VWS]

IN2VS, to clarify MY FACTS. A 60K service for my Multivan (2008 auto) was $880 just before Christmas. If I was to add an Auto service (yes a Tiptronic - not a DSG), this would add another $800 in the realm of $1600 plus. This what the dealer indicated - not being alarmist.

You make a good point though; it will be a DSG (being a MY11).


Regards,

Scott

Thank you for your clarification........It does get very confusing when tiptronic owners offer advise, comments etc about tiptronics, when the discussion is about DSG's. Nothing to do with the tiptronic. Did you actually pay $1600 for a service which included your tiptronic service? If no, then how can you state that it is a fact that it will cost that much?
As stated earlier, my fact, the service is $1200.

[Silver Caravelle]

Thank you for your clarification........It does get very confusing when tiptronic owners offer advise, comments etc about tiptronics, when the discussion is about DSG's. Nothing to do with the tiptronic.
As stated earlier, my fact, the service is $1200.

No problems. To be fair, The OP mentioned automatics and not specifically DSGs. I obviously picked up after the event it was a MY11.

Perhaps we should have naming conventions; DSG, Tiptronic auto or the like.

Regards,

Scott

[Sunny43.5]

Sorry about my last response I was confused so I deleted it , any way on the DSG as it has been around for a while can long term owners tell me when its serviced at the 60.000 kay mark are VW replacing just the fluid or is there an option to do the filter or is it included ?
PS our Tiptronic was serviced last October and was $600 included some software updates and fluid only change .

[IN2VWS]

My 60k service is coming up. I'm on 58k at the moment. I'll let you know.
I was told by the dealer that it is only an oil change. I can't remember exactly what he did say, but I remember something like there is no filter to change, or you can't get to the filter.

[Sunny43.5]

Please let us all know as it would be interesting about the filter , really though I would not like to think that VW would think a filter would not ever need changing . If its that difficult to get to and they wont do it whats the point of it in the first place if it blocks its going to cause problems . I have said it before there is no such thing as a clean auto the fluid will decay and there will be friction with the inevitable contaminates which will get caught in the filter .