T5 DSG/clutch issue??

[RickC]

I have been the very happy with my T5 update Multivan Comfortline,4motion, twin turbo without a problem until now. I am hoping that someone may be able to give me an idea of an issue suspected with my gearbox/clutch in my DSG and what I should do next.

Currently I am sitting at 138000 Km and a week ago I had an increase in revs momentarily on two occasions. Then yesterday afternoon I had the vehicle make a loud/bang/clung/whack as it went into gear at slow speed on 2 occasions within half an hour on my way out and then once more on my way home.

There is also one corner I take into a drop on my way home where it always previously changed gears with a bit of a thud and whack only at certain speed since new but I always viewed it as combination of factors that just occurred in that particular set of conditions. I did get in the habit of pulling it across into manual mode and changing down and back up then back into drive once I was out of the particular corner to avoid it happening.

I love my van but have always been concerned about having a DSG issue and possible cost involved.
The van has never missed a beat till now. For you in the know out there, does this sound like a DSG/clutch issue and do you know if it would be some sort of repair, replacement or just an adjustment required? The DSG did get its mandatory service in the past. Any ideas or suggestions? Also should I keep driving it currently and could I do more damage if I do?

[Sunny43.5]

If its like previous VW trannies there could be an issue with the Mechtronics unit , apparently it controls the gear changes . we had similar clunking in our older T5 with the Tiptronic box . Lumpy up and down shifts from 3 to 4th slipping at times as well the valves become sticky and cause problems . Has it had a second service and filter changed ? as they are supposed to be done at 60000 kay intervals and YOU have to ASK for the filter to be done from what I have read . In ours the filter had become blocked and was stopping the fluid from getting to the clutches etc which caused complete failure , the people who did the rebuild had problems with the Mechtronics unit and it still has a slight lumpy change now in 2nd and 3 rd . This may help understand the way it works scroll down to see the pros and cons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-shift_gearbox

[Tig-uan]

Small consolation: I heard from VW that T5's replacement DSG parts may come down in price somewhat as it becames an older transmissions. Probably get a more than one quote for a new part, and get a quote for one from wreckers too.

[Sunny43.5]

I can add that there is a guy who runs a transmission shop next door to my VW mechanic Jmac at Underwood / Springwood , between him and Jim they seem to be getting on top of the VW trannies .Jim is away at the moment on holiday might be worth a call early August when he is back . Alba European and Auto Trans Tech .

[Rebuild]

Rick, Sunny is talking of the older tiptronic boxes not the DSG, but as he says check your receipt or mechanic to see if filter was changed, as a start.

[Umai Naa!!]

DSG failures in the T5 are still quite remote.

Having said that, if you are experiancing issues with it, get it into the dealer, and have them look at it.

[Sunny43.5]

Thanks rebuild I did not make it quite clear but some of the issues still could be in a DSG and especially the filter needs to be done . From what was posted some time ago the filter is awkward to get to so some dealers will not do it , personally that borders on negligence because why would you for instance change engine oil and not do the filter . The reason our tiptronic failed was exactly that they did not change the filter , which if they had a schedule from VW in the Tiptronic I would not be $8500 poorer . No one in their right mind could lay claim that fluid would not decay even inside the box ours was black with 1 mm thick sludge in the bottom of the sump pan .

[RickC]

mechanic visit today

Thanks for the replies and an update for those interested. Phoned and then dropped into my mechanic who did my DSG service. By the way, the filter was changed last time. Also there where no issues during the 40 minutes of driving beforehand. No faults to do with the gearbox have been logged. A quick inspection however does show that oil has been leaking from the gearbox. It was recommended that I leave it there overnight so it's cool to do a proper oil check in the morning. Apparently a drop in the oil level can cause strange behaviour. Let's hope it is as simple as that. My mechanic is a VW specialist who I am confident in.

[Umai Naa!!]

Often when you remove the filter, residual oil in the housing can spill out into the webbing in the transmission casing. It's difficult to clean, and sometimes looks like an oil leak.

Hopefully with a good clean, it may not appear as though it's leaking.

[RickC]

Another update. My mechanic looked at it and the seal for the filter was leaking oil out. They repaired it at no cost to me as it was a parts failure from the my previous DSG service, and toped up the oil. I have done around 750km since then and the DSG has not faltered. Obviously oil levels in this gearbox are very critical.

[Sunny43.5]

Thank you for the update Rickc nice to see a successful outcome . Any auto or DG will give anyone the shivers when something does not seem normal . Out of interest Tiguan I doubt that as they get older the price drops , I was told by VW that to replace the Tiptronic in 2007 it was around a $12 grand part then add the fitment and setup cost . I also remember back in 2001 I was at a VW dealer and there was a auto tranny out of a then T4 the mechanic told me it was a 10k part then so I cannot see VW dropping the price .