DSG Vulnerabilities?

[Talk-torque]

Had my first DSG car for 4 months now, so pretty comfortable with it, but just a couple of questions.

The only thing that still catches me out, now, is the kick down in manual. So, I want a lower gear to accelerate hard, flip the LH paddle, to select the next gear down, and find myself 2 gears down with silly revs and much less speed than expected.  Is there a workaround, or do I just need to give it a little more time?

Secondly, is there anything that will cause damage to the DSG 'box? I am thinking of things like prolonged waits, ticking over with the 'box in D. I am conscious that this gearbox does not have the best history of reliability.

[monkeyhanger]

When you put your foot down, the DSG will rev the nuts off the lowest gear possible, one of the reasons I don't like it.

[Booth11]

Had my first DSG car for 4 months now, so pretty comfortable with it, but just a couple of questions.

The only thing that still catches me out, now, is the kick down in manual. So, I want a lower gear to accelerate hard, flip the LH paddle, to select the next gear down, and find myself 2 gears down with silly revs and much less speed than expected.  Is there a workaround, or do I just need to give it a little more time?

Secondly, is there anything that will cause damage to the DSG 'box? I am thinking of things like prolonged waits, ticking over with the 'box in D. I am conscious that this gearbox does not have the best history of reliability.

Regarding hitting the kickdown switch in manual, and dropping 2 gears instead of one, just learn not to mash the pedal all the way down, over time you can train yourself to stop just short of clicking the kickdown switch.  Just takes practice and patience and becomes second nature.

Never had any issues with idling in D (or S) with DSG in 8 years of DSG cars.  That said it isn't common practice for me to sit there with the engine idling/ticking over for long periods. Just switch engine off.  Never once had any issues with DSG box.

[monkeyhanger]

If you're going to have bother with a DSG box it'll happen early on in it's life - usually the mechatronics unit - all covered by warranty and indicative of a manufacturing defect rather than general fragility. My Dad has done almost 300k miles between 3 TDI DSG Golfs and not had any bother.

[Talk-torque]

Regarding hitting the kickdown switch in manual, and dropping 2 gears instead of one, just learn not to mash the pedal all the way down, over time you can train yourself to stop just short of clicking the kickdown switch.  Just takes practice and patience and becomes second nature.

Ah, thanks Rebecca, so is it the switch at the bottom of the throttle pedal travel that causes the kickdown? In that case, as you say, it can be managed.

Have to say that my TT throttle used to give a very reassuring "slap", as the pedal hit the metal, which I still miss. 

[Talk-torque]

If you're going to have bother with a DSG box it'll happen early on in it's life - usually the mechatronics unit - all covered by warranty and indicative of a manufacturing defect rather than general fragility. My Dad has done almost 300k miles between 3 TDI DSG Golfs and not had any bother.

Yes, that makes sense. They also seem to have improved over the years. All the same, I don't intend to get into the position of not being covered by any sort of warranty.

[Booth11]

Regarding hitting the kickdown switch in manual, and dropping 2 gears instead of one, just learn not to mash the pedal all the way down, over time you can train yourself to stop just short of clicking the kickdown switch.  Just takes practice and patience and becomes second nature.

Ah, thanks Rebecca, so is it the switch at the bottom of the throttle pedal travel that causes the kickdown? In that case, as you say, it can be managed.

Have to say that my TT throttle used to give a very reassuring "slap", as the pedal hit the metal, which I still miss. 

Yes, a switch right at bottom of the throttle.  Sit in your car, ignition off and press accelerator slowly down and when it reaches the floor and you get resistance, press further and you will feel the switch and hear a dull click. That's the kickdown switch.  Useful in some scenarios but not in others, so learn to stop just short of it and no double drop down of gears. 

[paj]

My Scirocco DSG had an expensive oil leak at 50K and then needed a new mechatronics at 80K so I think they can fail at any mileage.  Fortunately both were covered by the extended warranty.  That said it was the first option I ticked on my current Golf GTI as I think it is brilliant bit of kit and would not consider a car without it.

[Mark V GTD]

So, I want a lower gear to accelerate hard, flip the LH paddle, to select the next gear down, and find myself 2 gears down with silly revs and much less speed than expected.  Is there a workaround, or do I just need to give it a little more time?

Don't bother with the paddle, just flick the shifter back in to sport mode...

[ajmoir36]

Agreed sport mode is certainly the fastest easy to shift down.