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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: kingbilly on 29 August 2009, 22:23

Title: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: kingbilly on 29 August 2009, 22:23
Pulled out of a junction tonight with gearstick in D mode and GENTLY accelerated on my way...1st...2nd...3rd...4th...5th...then it felt like I had kicked down but hadn't...and the dashboard display showed that I was now in 3rd gear...it also showed that I was in S mode.

The gearstick was also in S mode, and had moved all by itself.  This is the second time recently this has happened.  I ignored the first time as I had a passenger and assumed that he had done it whilst I was watching for traffic at a junction.

The car is 2007 07 with 32k miles.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated, thank you.
Billy
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: Hurdy on 29 August 2009, 23:59
The car is telling you that you aren't driving it hard enough :grin:

Seriously though, I'd take it back to VW as it should still be in warranty :smiley:
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: Ed30DSG on 30 August 2009, 09:37
There is a recall on later DSG cars as a sensor on the g/box is causing it to jump into neutral, maybe yours has something similar?
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 30 August 2009, 21:53
It sounds like the gate for the shift lever is toast.  Does the little lever on the front edge of the gear knob still work?

If you are feeling brave, you can pull up the gaitor base trim - put the shift lever into N, then using two fingers on BOTH hands, gently 'hook' each finger under each corner of the gaitor (you'll need to push the gaitor down) to get under the lip of the hard plastic trim - then just evenly pull up.  The base trim of the gaitor should just pop up, and you can then check the white nylon gear lever 'gate' for any obvious brakages.

HTH
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 30 August 2009, 21:55
There is a recall on later DSG cars as a sensor on the g/box is causing it to jump into neutral, maybe yours has something similar?

But that will be a 'mechatronics' command funtion.  The OPs problem is just the gear lever moving, and has nowt to do with any sensors on the actual gearbox.
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: TeddyKGB on 30 August 2009, 23:21
I didnt think it was possible for the gear lever to move? Maybe the OP is knocking it with their elbow or something? :huh:
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 30 August 2009, 23:27
I didnt think it was possible for the gear lever to move? Maybe the OP is knocking it with their elbow or something? :huh:

What, from D to S?  :huh:  It shouldn't do it of its own free will, but the driver can obviously shift it.  But you have to press the little lever on the front face of the gear knob.
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: TeddyKGB on 30 August 2009, 23:34
What, from D to S?  :huh:
I meant on its own :rolleyes: :laugh:
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: bobotheclown on 31 August 2009, 09:21
here's a tutorial on how to remove the gear lever gator/cover

http://diy.oempl.us/article_info.php?articles_id=23
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: kingbilly on 31 August 2009, 12:20
Many thanks for all the replies.

T_T

Yes, the little lever on the front edge of the gearstick appears to be working as expected...couldn't move from D to S or N to R without applying it.

Took a brave pill this morning and pulled up the gaiter base trim as advised...the white nylon gear lever gate shows no signs of breakage/damage.

I am convinced that the gearstick moved itself...the light on the lettering beside it definitely showed S mode.

Guess I will just need to wait and see if it happens again.

Thanks again,
Billy
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: russs99 on 03 September 2009, 10:59
This happened to me once, and I know for a fact that I started in D mode. There was no one else in the car and I was about a mile up the road and thought it sounded a bit sporty all of a sudden, looked down and the shifter had moved to S. I remember thinking it was very odd. The actions of the shifter are fine (ie. cannot move it to S without pushing button on shifter). Thought nothing more of it and it hasn't happened since.
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: Hairy Porter on 03 September 2009, 15:13
Perhaps your dog chomped at the gear stick by streching out from the back seat.
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 03 September 2009, 20:53
Many thanks for all the replies.

T_T

Yes, the little lever on the front edge of the gearstick appears to be working as expected...couldn't move from D to S or N to R without applying it.

Took a brave pill this morning and pulled up the gaiter base trim as advised...the white nylon gear lever gate shows no signs of breakage/damage.

I am convinced that the gearstick moved itself...the light on the lettering beside it definitely showed S mode.

Guess I will just need to wait and see if it happens again.

Thanks again,
Billy

Are you sure you just didn't inadvertently move the lever all the way back.  Sometimes, if I'm sat stationary in N, and need to hurredly engage D, I occasionally move it all the way to S - maybe you did the same - but just didn't realise.  :undecided:
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: kingbilly on 03 September 2009, 22:12
T_T,

Had been on the go for about 10/15 minutes without the need to completely stop and use N.  Definitely felt the engine revs and noise suddenly increase...computer display definitely now showed S mode...had to physically move gearstick back to D mode.

Strange but true...!!!

Billy
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 03 September 2009, 22:15
Wierd . . . are you sure you don't have a pet leprichaun <sp?> under the seat?  :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: kingbilly on 03 September 2009, 22:27
T_T,

As per my original post this is the second time this has happened in the last six weeks, first time I did have a friend in the car and thought he had done it...just for a laugh...!!!

But second time I was just in the car by myself.  Being from Scotland I keep my pet Nessie firmly locked in the boot.

The car still has 10 months warranty to run, so will wait and see if it becomes more frequent, at which point will pay a visit to my local stealer.

Billy
Title: Re: DSG gearstick moving from D mode to S mode all by itself
Post by: TeddyKGB on 03 September 2009, 22:38
Is there anything in the selector mechanism which would allow automatic movement/shifting of the selector lever?

I was always under the impression that the only way it could move was either human (or dog) operation, or if the gates were f00ked :huh: