DSG woes in The Age

[VW_Perceptions]

In some parts of the world motoring magazines do a long tem test of vehicles and itemize all servicing details.
They report periodically, issues that are found with the vehicle and itemize all costs.
After 50,000 km the vehicles are then completely stripped down by mechanics. A list of all parts that show signs of wear or require replacement is compiled.
In those countries, some car buyers won't consider a model until the results of the 50k stripdown are published. This is of no concern to those that want the latest model ASAP.

In Australia coverage is limited to road tests of newly released vehicles. Sometimes they do an extended road test, such as the VF Commodore appearing in Drive at the moment.
Then the only thing that appears are used reviews, after cars start hitting the used car lots in numbers; usually two or three years after the model is first released.

[Blackdakdak]

Tried an experiment this morning. I'm originally a manual driver but have had autos for 12 years up to the Tiguan. Drove it only in manual mode today and drove it like i would have done a normal manual rather than i have been, using manual mode like a sporty tiptronic auto. So change gears, hand back on wheel, change gears again etc. Same at roundabouts, intersections etc.

Did 85km, freeway and suburbs. Once i got the hang of it and figured i only needed 1 to 4 around the burbs (+5 at times), i found it very smooth. The fact it changes itself back down to 1 when you stop is a bonus. Yes there was the odd overrevving caused by me changing down too soon, but overall a pleasant experience.

So it was partly in my head - thinking of it as a real manual worked well.

BUT!!!!

I bought it as a high tech auto. I dont want to have to change gears manually to get a smooth ride. So why cant VBlastedW program the thing to give me a smooth ride in D and S modes???? S mode I can understand with the throttle blipping and high revving, but D mode in the low gears is freakin awful - and doesnt need to be. If i can drive between 1 and 2 smoothly, surely the software manglers at VW can program it that way. Oh and use a reliable mechatronics unit as well. Helpful tip there vw!

[wai]

In Australia coverage is limited to road tests of newly released vehicles. Sometimes they do an extended road test, such as the VF Commodore appearing in Drive at the moment.

When I worked for the DMT, one of my tasks was to read every motor magazine in Australia (cars, bikes, trucks and buses). One of the things I noticed was the remarkable similarity of the various reviews. The structure was the same, and huge blocks of text were identical.

The PR departments of the various car makers/importers would provide prepared copy to the magazines, and depending on the amount of that supplied text that was used determined how far up the list you went for the next model release drive day. Yes, some magazines did have completely original text, however the overall thrust of the article had to be the same as the provided copy. It was much easier to just use huge blocks of the supplied copy.

Mind you, this was when we had many more general motoring magazines. Now with a reduced number of print magazines, the public would find it hard to work out what was the magazine's original work and what was supplied by the provider of the vehicle.

This extends to the photographs used as well.

[Blackdakdak]

Sorry, the basic message from my experiment above was that i was thinking about what i was doing, like a manual driver, listening to revs and changing gears by feel, rather than rely on the car.

[wai]

Tried an experiment this morning. I'm originally a manual driver but have had autos for 12 years up to the Tiguan. Drove it only in manual mode today and drove it like i would have done a normal manual rather than i have been, using manual mode like a sporty tiptronic auto. So change gears, hand back on wheel, change gears again etc. Same at roundabouts, intersections etc....

That is how you have to look at it.

The problem is that it is not normal driving that has caused this issue. It is very, very slow driving that causes it to overheat. The type of traffic crawl where you might just take the brake pressure off and let it creep forward a metre or so. This causes a lot of clutch slip and so heating.

What I find amazing is that they did not provide a proper oil cooler, or even have provision for the owner to add an aftermarket one. This was realised in the TCG boxes and you were able to buy and fit aftermarket transmission oil coolers.

It was a risk that VW took, but when it backfired, their response was simply not appropriate. You just have to look at how the "noise" has died down since the announcement.

Last night I received a recall notice for Masarati. The toe link for the rear suspension had insufficient paint on it that could lead to premature corrosion. No news item.

The other day there was a recall notice on some Mercedes Benz cars where the dashboard moulding could cause the air bag to deploy incorrectly. No news item

Then a few weeks back there was an issue with Jeeps. Again, no news item. Jeep are still able to run their TV commercial where people unexpectedly bought a Jeep.

How long before you think VW will be able to run their commercial "just like a Golf"? I can see the competition who were being panned in that ad coming out with one where they sell on the basis of "nothing like a Golf".

That is how damage the VW brand is.

As for there being a programming fix? This is not a programming issue, but a poor design issue. You have transmission fluid that overheats and causes corrosion that leads to a a short and blows a fuse that disengages both clutches.

On change points, the programming is already there in the cruise control setting. Turn off CC and you see the gearbox hunting up and down. Turn CC on, and the car pulls away strongly in the highest gear.

[Rawcpoppa]

I live in manual mode 95% of the time. Like others have said D mode is too lethargic and sport mode too aggressive unless driving flat out. Manual mode I can mix the two and it even works out well with cruise control. Once VW sorts out the mechatronic issue this DSG will be brilliant.

[Blackdakdak]

Agree Wai, had an XT Forester before Tig and dealer suggested tranny oil cooler as best option to tick. I dont normally think much of dealer suggestions but that seemed sensible and i had problems with the auto in the non turbo Foz prior to that so i got it and the 4 speed auto was bulletproof......but geez that car used some fuel!

[sVWatt]

Last night I received a recall notice for Masarati. The toe link for the rear suspension had insufficient paint on it that could lead to premature corrosion. No news item.

The other day there was a recall notice on some Mercedes Benz cars where the dashboard moulding could cause the air bag to deploy incorrectly. No news item

Then a few weeks back there was an issue with Jeeps. Again, no news item. Jeep are still able to run their TV commercial where people unexpectedly bought a Jeep.

Agree Wai. This is how it should be. We all accept mistakes happen. If they had reacted quickly and actioned a recall, there would be no media headlines. No resentment, anger and mistrust for a previously well regarded brand. I've got to believe VWA will 'let go' a few dumb decision makers and re focus on what is core. Customers.

[PassatB6]

Tried an experiment this morning. I'm originally a manual driver but have had autos for 12 years up to the Tiguan. Drove it only in manual mode today and drove it like i would have done a normal manual rather than i have been, using manual mode like a sporty tiptronic auto. So change gears, hand back on wheel, change gears again etc. Same at roundabouts, intersections etc.

Did 85km, freeway and suburbs. Once i got the hang of it and figured i only needed 1 to 4 around the burbs (+5 at times), i found it very smooth. The fact it changes itself back down to 1 when you stop is a bonus. Yes there was the odd overrevving caused by me changing down too soon, but overall a pleasant experience.

So it was partly in my head - thinking of it as a real manual worked well.

BUT!!!!

I bought it as a high tech auto. I dont want to have to change gears manually to get a smooth ride. So why cant VBlastedW program the thing to give me a smooth ride in D and S modes???? S mode I can understand with the throttle blipping and high revving, but D mode in the low gears is freakin awful - and doesnt need to be. If i can drive between 1 and 2 smoothly, surely the software manglers at VW can program it that way. Oh and use a reliable mechatronics unit as well. Helpful tip there vw!

Like many other drivers who think they have DSG problems, you are proving that you simply don't like its NORMAL operation.
I suspect there are a lot of people, who don't realise its a self-changing manual gearbox set for economical fuel use, not an automatic. Seeing it as a manual with its own rules for changing would help a lot of drivers understand they don't have a problem other than that they are unfamiliar with the way DSG works expecting it to be the same as an automatic.

[logger]

...You have transmission fluid that overheats and causes corrosion that leads to a a short and blows a fuse that disengages both clutches.

Well no point getting my car repaired then, as new Mechatronics unit clearly wont fix this overheating.
On the other hand If I my car currently has a Mechatronics unit prone to corrosion & shorts due to elements reacting adversely with one another and a new model prevents this corrosion then I reckon I'll get mine replaced.

I don't think an oil cooler for the litre of Mechatronics oil has much to do with the corrosion & shorts. It is seemingly more an issue of incompatible materials. Change the materials to prevent the electrolysis & or widen the circuit paths while you are at it. Remove the potential for shorts circuits. Then this particular problem will be fixed - hopefully.

[markwid]

DSG : Volkswagen UK

Link above is for official VW UK literature of DSG...now where does it say that you have to drive it unlike an automatic???

[davo]

Link above is for official VW UK literature of DSG...now where does it say that you have to drive it unlike an automatic???

Well it does say "it's totally unlike a conventional automatic transmission", which is not quite the same thing. But it doesn't claim anywhere that you can drive it like a conventional automatic either

[markwid]

Well it does say "it's totally unlike a conventional automatic transmission", which is not quite the same thing. But it doesn't claim anywhere that you can drive it like a conventional automatic either

Did you see the headline though?

"DSG - Ease of an automatic with the responsiveness of a manual"

[wai]

Well no point getting my car repaired then, as new Mechatronics unit clearly wont fix this overheating.
On the other hand If I my car currently has a Mechatronics unit prone to corrosion & shorts due to elements reacting adversely with one another and a new model prevents this corrosion then I reckon I'll get mine replaced.

I don't think an oil cooler for the litre of Mechatronics oil has much to do with the corrosion & shorts. It is seemingly more an issue of incompatible materials. Change the materials to prevent the electrolysis & or widen the circuit paths while you are at it. Remove the potential for shorts circuits. Then this particular problem will be fixed - hopefully.

The new mechatronics unit will not solve the overheating. The only thing that will solve this is modifying your driving style. That is, you need to avoid a situation where the clutch slips excessively by not creeping or crawling. Like it or not, that is what it is about the DSG.

An oil cooler will help because the oil is able to react with the mechatronics unit when the oil gets excessively hot thereby causing particles of the metal housing to come free and short the circuit board. It is not an issue until the oil overheats.

Now if VW are silly enough to replace the existing unit that has problems with a unit that is exactly the same, then the problem will arise in the future and they will have to go through the same thing all over again.

[wai]

DSG : Volkswagen UK

Link above is for official VW UK literature of DSG...now where does it say that you have to drive it unlike an automatic???

It doesn't say it because marketing do not want to. They want it to be an alternative to a TCG which it is not. If they said it could not be driven like an automatic, then their market share will drop considerably.