Jolting in SportsMode Downshift

[obiwan]

Hi Guys,

Have a new 3 door GTI DSG. When in sports mode about 1 in every 10 or 15 downshifts, usually second to first, it jolts like crazy, as though you've hit a pothole, tyres screech and everybody in the street looks at you, and all I'm doing is trying to turn into my driveway.

Do others have this problem? Dealer says it will go away as it learns how I drive, but this is such a violent jolt, your body is thrown forward and every passenger I've had instinctively says "WTF was that!!!"

Should I be more persistent with the dealer. I emailed them, then phoned them, then physically went in there yesterday as my personal plates had arrived, but at each communication with them they assure this is perfectly normal behaviour in sports mode when new. They even did the free service yesterday as I'd done the 1000k's, but they didn't road test it.

I know you probably shouldn't have it in sports mode with suburban driving, but I've taken it up 2 winding mountains over xmas, and on some of those twisty corners going up hill, off it goes with its crazy jolting scaring the bejeezus out of everyone.


Thanks for any replies.

[Corey_R]

When you say 'sports mode', do you mean that you have it in S and THE CAR shifts to 1st itself?
Or do you mean you have it in 'manual mode' and YOU shift it from 2nd to 1st?

If it's the former then take it out of S and put it into D before going so slow as to pull into a driveway.

If it's the latter and you're changing into 1st, then don't! Even a manual would do what you are describing. The GTI has plenty of power and torque even at low revs, so 2nd is fine. If you go so slow that it has to shift into 1st to prevent stalling, then it will do it itself without having the issue you describe.

Hope that helps :)

[obiwan]

In D and manual, its all fine. Only happens in "S". But not just second to first, sometimes 3rd to 2nd as well. If you're driving up and down a winding mountain it happens too, so not just going slow into a driveway.

The first weekend I got it, a friend (who's an advanced driver trainer) had it happen to him at least 10 times as he tossed it around the corners, in the end he just changed to manual because well 1., it was just so frustrating and 2. didn't think it was good for the car. It is quite a yelp it lets out when it happens.

[Nath]

Havent had the problem, so issue with S mode and downshifting here, touch wood.

[obiwan]

Why can't my GTI be like yours Nath?

Guess I have no choice but to give it a few more weeks and see if it improves. I don't know what more I can do, I've told them 3 times and its like they know that this is a problem with them when new, and 3 different people from the dealership have told me the same story so far.

[Maverick]

Why can't my GTI be like yours Nath?

Guess I have no choice but to give it a few more weeks and see if it improves. I don't know what more I can do, I've told them 3 times and its like they know that this is a problem with them when new, and 3 different people from the dealership have told me the same story so far.

Are you taking it to the dealership at Newstead?

[obiwan]

Yeah, they're who I bought it thru. They only saw it yesterday though (as the plates and 1000 k service was done), so I'll give it a bit longer, mind you, a 1000k's hasn't solved the problem so far, will another 1000?

[Corey_R]

Yeah - it shouldn't really be doing it from 3rd to 2nd, unless you're taking your foot off the accelerator at the same time it's changing....

[Maverick]

Yeah, they're who I bought it thru. They only saw it yesterday though (as the plates and 1000 k service was done), so I'll give it a bit longer, mind you, a 1000k's hasn't solved the problem so far, will another 1000?

If you want to avoid wasting time ring Highway Auto up and talk to their service area and organise a time to take the car down and take the workshop foreman out for a drive. Ensure you can replicate the problem for him multiple times and they'll fix it.

You can try the same with Austral but you'll just be beating your head against the wall. Highway are also substantially cheaper for servicing.

[obiwan]

I wouldn't have thought Highway Auto would want to take on another dealers problem. I'll go say another couple of weeks, see if it gets better, if not give Austral one last chance, then try Highway Auto.

Funnily enough, the friend I took along with me for the initial test drive when I bought the car was asked to come back in for a job interview, he did, and he was offered the job and accepted the position, starts there in a couple of weeks, so maybe he can get it sorted for me.

[Brendan_A]

Doesn't matter where you bought it from! You can take it to any VW dealership in Australia and they are meant to help you out. If the problem is as bad as you are saying, I wouldn't wait a few more weeks. Go get it looked at ASAP!!

[gregozedobe]

I wouldn't have thought Highway Auto would want to take on another dealers problem.

Warranty work isn't a "problem", it is an opportunity to get paid for doing work (perhaps not quite as lucrative as normal servicing, but paid work neverthless).

It is your choice where to go, as VWA pay regardless of which dealer does it. If I thought I would get better results at a particular dealer, then that's where I'd go, regardless of where I purchased the vehicle.

[Maverick]

I wouldn't have thought Highway Auto would want to take on another dealers problem. I'll go say another couple of weeks, see if it gets better, if not give Austral one last chance, then try Highway Auto.

Up to you but it's not normal and it may cause abnormal wear to the parts of the transmission not to mention your tyres.

Austral have such a bad reputation for a reason.

Highway would be more than happy to pick up a new customer even if it's just for servicing and you'll save a heap of money as well.

There's also the dealers north as well but they're only new and I'd stick with the places that have been around especially for a DSG problem, plus the prices on the northside for servicing aren't that competitive from what I've seen so far.


Funnily enough, the friend I took along with me for the initial test drive when I bought the car was asked to come back in for a job interview, he did, and he was offered the job and accepted the position, starts there in a couple of weeks, so maybe he can get it sorted for me.

High staff turnover is normal at Austral so he shouldn't make any plans long term around employment there.

[obiwan]

Didn't realise Austral had a bad reputation. Should have found this site before I bought the car. All my initial internet searches came up with reviews. Wasn't till after I got the car I then decided to search "gti dsg problems" that I stumbled on these other sites. You live and learn.

[obiwan]

Well I just took my mother for a drive to have lunch up the mountains at O'Reilly's. Popped it in sports at the base of the mountain, and it only jolted three times going up and three times coming down. But you could feel it getting better. Left it in sports all the way back to New Farm and no bad downshifts at all. Stopping at lights, turning corners, all AOK. Have I cured it by taking it on such a long drive in sports? Hope so, but maybe I'm being optimistic. We'll see.

[obiwan]

Just got back from skiing in Japan, almost as much fun as driving the GTI :)

Anyway, my friend who just started at Austral said they are going to get my car fixed. I told him it was improving, jolting far less frequently, maybe once every couple of days instead of once on every drive, but he says no matter, bring it in and they'll give it a good going over.