Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope

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Thu 17 Nov 2011 15:55
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - dieseldogg

I have been informed by Skoda UK, via our Dealer that the mechatronic unit will disengage drive to prevent the clutch pack from overheating, this when attempting to move off slowly uphill, i.e. manouvering out of a tight parking space on a slope or sitting in heavy traffic on a slope.

Sensors at work etc etc

Quite unsatisfactory in my opinion, especially since 1st in the dry 7 speed VW box is supposedly super low geared to deal with just (as I understood) such situations.

cheers (not)

M

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Thu 17 Nov 2011 17:03
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - mwahahaha

Does make you wonder why VAG insist on only offering DSG as an automatic option. Why not allow a choice between a manual, standard auto and DSG with DSG offering the advantage of dual clutch and flappy padle shift.

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Thu 17 Nov 2011 17:26
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - RT

Basic economics - having two entirely different automatics for the customer to choose just halves the sales of each.

Paddle shift can be applied to both types of automatic - not that I think paddle shift has any place on a road car.

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Thu 17 Nov 2011 21:39
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - Avant

I've never heard of this - but my Octavia has the 6-speed 'wet clutch' transmission, which seems to be an older design but in every way superior to the 7-speed. It depends on which engine you have: I believe the 7-speed goes with the 1.4 TSI.

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Fri 18 Nov 2011 08:44
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - dieseldogg

I have the 1.6 CR diesel, with which I am pleased, & Parsiminious (but lapsed) Presbyterian that I am I had also been pleased when the dry DSG was introduced, as due to the lack of dragging fluids it offered better fuel economy, and indeed it does, averaging 52.5mpg (-3%) over the last 20 hours mixed driving.

Anyway that aside, how do I proceed or what pressure can I put on Skoda UK?

I was more than a little surprised at the rapidity of the response of Skoda UK to my enquiry, i.e. in about 2 hours?, from the timings of the dealer Ph calls.

However, I, from the Briskoda forum, know that I am not the only one experiencing these idosyncracies in the operation of the DSG gearbox, in particular a not uncommon complaint is that it is practically impossible to reverse uphill, without excessive revs and therefore speed.

At least for forward movment one has better visibility.

So, what is my next step?

Marcus

PS

I shall see if Honest John will consider publishing a letter in his column about this issue.

Edited by dieseldogg on 18/11/2011 at 08:47

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Fri 18 Nov 2011 14:14
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - daveyjp

'Riding' the clutches on these gearboxes is very easy and something the lazy are likely to do (despite the handbook advising to put in N and use the handbrake). Simply leave the car in 'D', apply a little gas and no handbrake required - great, until it all goes bang.

The auto shut off means in a few months/years time you don't get a bill for £5,000 for a new clutch pack and mechtronic unit.

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Fri 18 Nov 2011 14:36
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - brum
However, I, from the Briskoda forum, know that I am not the only one

I'm surprised that the Briskoda lot havent already assured you that you are imagining things and that the DSG concept is the best thing since sliced bread. And that YOU are to blame.

Dry clutches are the weak point of the DSG design.

Poor software is to blame and I doubt you will change anything as "germans are always right"

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Fri 18 Nov 2011 16:37
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - gordonbennet

Manoeuvering problems are the same on every single automated clutch system i've ever had the misfortune to drive, and i've had the displeasure of putting thousands of them of all makes at angles forwards and backwards on the truck in my previous job, driving car transporters.

Some automanual boxes are better than others, but not one of them is any good at close work, and if it involves high loads such as a steep incline needing steady minute control forget it.

Some limit the power so much during clutch engangement that the vehicle will actually stop or indeed fail to move in the first place if the incline is steep enough (though this helps for all normal manoeuvers), Aygo of all badges and Fiat 500 spring to mind but there are others, and i could tell an amusing tale of how we ended up loading the 5, others engage full power quickly just at turbo spool revs which is great for performance figures but not good if you don't want to ram an object 6" away.

Compared to a decent torque converter and other designs, notably hybrids which are a delight and should be experienced, they are little better than a burnt out on/off switch at minute control IMO, poncing about adjusting this and that to try to make a silk purse isn't going to disguise the sows ear, i wouldn't have one of these things if it was the only gearbox on the planet.

If you need to close manoeuver regularly in confined inclined spaces, eg a steep drive at home, then this type of box is not a good choice in my humble.

Edited by gordonbennet on 18/11/2011 at 16:40

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Sat 19 Nov 2011 16:13
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - mustangman

I have a mk6 1.4 tsi Golf, with 7 speed dsg.

I've commented in this forum before about the unpredictable nature of the system when pulling away from rest. It's very much all or nothing. I have had the car close to 3 years, & I still cannot tell what it will do. Below about 15 mph it is hopeless, as I've said its "pause, snatch & go"

I think the nub of the problem is that the dry clutch cannot be allowed to slip as much as the wet one(s) can, otherwise the service life would be poor. After that I think it's the software that just cannot engage the clutch as a human would.

As I've said before, I would never have another one!

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Mon 21 Nov 2011 08:40
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - dieseldogg
After I get another 200,000 miles out of this one....neither will I!
Though in conscience in 23,000 miles the issue has only occured a few times, mostly due to the type of driving, N Ireland being reasonably flat, especially where we live.
Cheers
M
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Tue 21 May 2013 17:42
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - dieseldogg

bump

Any furthur developments in the VW/Skoda DSG saga.

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Sat 8 Jun 2013 09:43
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - dieseldogg

Bump again!

Things appear to be "hotting up" in Australia vis-a-vis DSG issues.

Marcus

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Sat 8 Jun 2013 19:17
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - Avant

There are some comments on a couple of other threads which might be of interest to you.

The 6-speed wet clutch DSG, as on my Octavia vRS petrol, doesn't have the problems mentioned abovre and elsewhere - but the caf is only 2 years old so I can't vouch for the DSG's longevity.

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Wed 7 Aug 2013 17:46
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - dieseldogg

I finally arranged to get an Independent Motor Engineers report.

He substantiated exactly what I had stated.

with photographic evidence of relevent intermittent faults being logged.

So now taking Skoda UK to court.

Wish me luck

cheers

M

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Wed 7 Aug 2013 22:13
Skoda Octavia - VW DSG gearbox, misbehaving when on a slope - Cyd

Luck!

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