DSG Problem, dealer can't find it

[MaccaTSI]

Hi Guys,

I'm after some advice on how I should proceed with this. I've got a problem with my DSG in that it doesn't change gears properly intermittently. It mostly happens in sport and manual mode where it sticks when it changes down a gear, upshifts can be a bit rough too but the real problem is in the downshifts.

It really sticks and I get thrown forward in the car a little sometimes because the car decelerates and it takes 2 seconds for it to go back into gear. It's like it's not actually in a gear for 2 seconds.

I've had it at the dealer for the past 2 days but they haven't been able to fault it. They said I can take it back to them in 8 weeks and get a loan car and they'll just drive mine until they fault it.

Problem is, my wife is due to have our first baby in 8 weeks so we need our own car and baby seat fitted etc.

The dealer said they have to inform VW but that they will just say 'have you found a fault?' and it's pointless. I said I want them to do it anyway.

I understand that there isn't much that the dealer can do if they haven't found the fault, but I need to get this fixed.

Can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks!!

[Corey_R]

If you had a VCDS cable and laptop, I'd suggest having that plugged in as you drive around so that you can capture the logs of the gearbox and a few other key parameters whilst they occur. You could then provide the logs to the dealer to demonstrate that the issue is occuring. Other than that, I don't see what other choice you have than leaving them with the car so they can find the fault. Intermittent issues suck.

[MaccaTSI]

That's a good idea....

I know it's unlikely but the service rep did mention that they have 'portable diagnostic equipment' that they used on the car... maybe they'd leave that with me for the weekend... doubt it, but it's worth asking.

Yeah it sucks, it was actually occurring more often, then the day before I took it in and the day of it seemed perfect, typical. I just know it's going to happen on my way home from the dealer as well...

[Syd118TSI]

Take a note of exactly where it happens (road condition, slope etc) and exactly what you're doing at the time, that may help in being able to reproduce it.

This sounds quite similar to my experience going up a steep driveway, part of the way up the driveway it downshifts in order to maintain speed against the gradient of the hill. Once back on flat ground I experienced very similar behaviour where it almost feels like you're free-revving.

If you can try to find somewhere with a steep incline that will induce a down shift from the DSG then see how it behaves when you're no longer on the incline.

I may be off the money, but thought I would mention it anyway because it does sound quite similar. I'm going to test it out myself on my parents driveway where I have experienced the issues 2 out of 2 times (only once was I driving). If the dealer is driving the car around on flat ground they may never experience the issue, as the only time it has occurred has been under those circumstances. I haven't even given M or S a run as yet.

[MaccaTSI]

Yeah I might go for a drive near the service centre and see if I can reproduce it on any roads nearby before taking it back, it's not my local dealer so different roads to my usual drives. It does happen on inclines, I mentioned that to them. Most of the time on an incline it will downshift, but smoothly, not like these rough shifts.

I've booked it in for next month when a loan car is available.

[Syd118TSI]

For me the downshift on the incline is fine, it's after an incline when back on flat ground that it has behaved oddly.