Hi. I appreciate this question has probably been asked before however I need some help! I have just bought a 2011 Octavia Vrs CR tdi DSG.  It has 20,000 miles on the clock and 2 Skoda dealer stamps in the book. It has every conceiveble extra and I absolutely love the car, BUT, I fear my DSG may be a bit of a lemon....I have driven one before, albeit, not for very long and it was great. I never actually got much of a test drive for the one I bought due to the fact it was the other end of the country, but somewhat stupidly was so smitten due to the kit it had on that I did the deal anyway. I have read people singing the praises of DSG for it's silky smoothness, but I can shift gears much smoother than this thing which is really starting to take the shine off the ownership. It seems to have a mind of its own, changing down to go up a hill, but then shifting straight back up and feeling like it is labouring the engine. When approaching roundabouts there appears to be almost too much engine braking when it drops down to the 2nd gear and seamless it ain't! Around town I feel it quite embarrasing, as it wants to be in third gear at just over 1250 rpm. I pulled out of a junction today and it hung onto 1st for ages before selecting 4th! I sold my Golf Gti  (much to the wifes horror) to buy one of these as I wanted greater space and a more relaxed drive, I've got the space, but not the relaxed ride. The engine feels great, but why am I considering selling already, just becuase of the gearbox? ! I guess what I am trying to say is do you think the gearbox is actually faulty, or are my memories / expectations simply too high. I drive a BMW 530d at work at high speed and also just pootling around. I appreciate that vehicle is £40k quids worth, but the gearbox is in a different league....advice please :( Thanks in advance

I'm guessing that your car is still under warrenty since it was made in 2011 and has under 60000 miles on the clock so just take it to your local dealer and get them to take it out for a test drive and if they claim that it is fine ask to take the technician out in the car with you while you drive and demonstrate the fault. If its as bad as you make out it is then you shouldn't have to do this last bit but as a last resort you could ask to go out in a car the same as your's or at least with the same gearbox if you can't get the same model and then get the technician to drive them back to back and see what he makes of it then.

Turn on the ignition and press the accelerator pedal for 20 seconds.

This will reset the dsg memory.

Not sure if I can be of any help, I,be driven 200k in a 1.9 105 bhp over the the last 4/5 years.

Very pleased with overall dsg box it is not a perfect bit of kit but very close.what you describe is

Nothing like correct operation. I had a customer with similar problems.The fix was to book his car in

To skoda dealer for software reset and update.After which his car was transformed and has remained

So for 30k. Both our cars have 6 speed wet box, later box is 7 speed dry system. Sounds like you need

Expert dealer attention, you won,t be able put up with what you have described for very long.

Best of luck

Changing from 1st to 4th........it's definitely got a fault. There are no circumstances that a DSG should ever do that. 

 

Although it is hard to say with any degree of certainty it sounds a bit like the beginnings of a Mechatronics failure, which will be covered by warranty.  

Thank you guys. I've got car booked in for next week, i really hope it addresses the issues because bar the disappointing gearbox experience, the rest is great. Heard some real horror stories about DSG since reading up so hope it is not the start of something awful. I'll keep you posted, in the meantime I'll try the reset thing as suggested by Gadgetman?

I'll keep you posted, in the meantime I'll try the reset thing as suggested by Gadgetman?

 

It's worth a try. 

Another option is pulling the battery for 30 minutes.

Hope you get it sorted.

Thanks guys. Well i tried what gadgetman suggested, ignition on, then pressed accelerator down for 20 seconds and well, i don't know if you're winding me up that it works or if just coincidence but car seemed to run smoother with better gear choices. Will it stay like that? If it was this mechatronic thing, would it improve like that or stay the same?

At risk of saying something rude, it sounds like the symptoms of a heavy right foot. I can make mine behave like you describe (holding a lower gear before changing up in bunches) if I keep a heavy foot on the throttle and then back off. If I'm smooth and progressive, it works through the gears nicely.

 

That heavy foot might not be yours, it might be the DSG 'adapting' to a certain driving style and as the new owner you're suffering the consequences.

 

The bit about engine braking is the same with mine though; you can really feel it dropping through the gears as you slow down. My advice would be learn to love it, you do have to adapt your driving style somewhat for DSG anyway and IMO this is a part of it.

Edited 27 November, 201312 yr by RobM83

Lol, No offence taken Rob I hear ehat you mean but no, i was driving with an incredibly disciplined right foot, which again may also be part of the problem and cause it to upshift too early in my opinion, most if the time? Like i say, ride home today was great. Not sure if i even did reset right, how much u supposed to push throttle in for the 20 seconds and is that a deffo reset technique? I understand i must try and adapt to it whilst it gets used to me too. Touch wood it will grow on me more..........

there's no way it's you. It's almost

impossible to drive my 1.8tsi DSG other than smoothly with nothing other than seemless flicking up and down the box as the control unit dictates. You shouldn't have to put up with the problems you describe if it was working properly.

^^ +1.

 

DSG is the best thing about my car - smooth, progressive, responsive when you want to boot it, and an effortless, pleasurable seamless drive.  Don't accept less!    

Thanks for your input. Does it make much difference as to whether or not it's a diesel with regards to how smooth they are, i would have thought not. Sometimes on down changes it feels as though it's effectively in neutral when swapping gears and as result almost freewheels prior to the lower gear being selected? I have a feeling that like many others it would seem, garage will say 'no faults found, it's fine' ? Guess gonna have to badger them a bit. Want to ensure any possible Gremlins are addressed whilst still under warranty !!!

Does it make much difference as to whether or not it's a diesel with regards to how smooth they are

 

Not at all. In fact when driving around gently you can't really feel the gear changes they are so slick. 

Just a thought - is the car mapped? The previous owner may have had the car mapped by a "cheap" company that has not put the best of maps onto the car (I am not wishing to cause any offence to anyone with this comment). Thus a bad map may make the gear change somewhat jerky and make the car change gear different than what is originally intended. I might be talking rubbish though, as I've not experienced driving a car which has been mapped badly.

Perhaps i am just being uber sensitive, perhaps not. Will have to see what the garage says...Ref last reply. I don't think there is a remap. Just don't think it was 'that type of driver' if you know what i mean

Worth noting that as smooth as a dsg is, it is nowhere near as smooth as an old fashioned torque converter auto. If your BMW was one then the dsg will likely feel a little lumpy.

That said they are still great autos and shouldn't behave like you originally mentioned. Hopefully a full reset at the dealer will sort it.

Hi goatboy. The BMW 530d is an 8 speed auto but with paddles, is that not a DSG equivalent, as opposed to what you talk about? Forgive me i am not technically minded at all, just know how to drive well The BMW is the smoothest vehicle i have EVER driven and highlights the DSG's imperfections somewhat, The Vrs should have whatever the BM does!!!! Guess i should try another Skoda DSG and compare it to mine in order to give it a fair trial. Thanks for your input mate

Hi goatboy. The BMW 530d is an 8 speed auto but with paddles, is that not a DSG equivalent, as opposed to what you talk about? Forgive me i am not technically minded at all, just know how to drive well The BMW is the smoothest vehicle i have EVER driven and highlights the DSG's imperfections somewhat, The Vrs should have whatever the BM does!!!! Guess i should try another Skoda DSG and compare it to mine in order to give it a fair trial. Thanks for your input mate

The 8 speed auto in BMW's is a torque converter job, but is really quick to lock up and gives a very quick and smooth change. I believe the gearbox was the 'gearbox of the year' last year and it is made by zf and is found in everything from Bentley to Land Rover (who are getting a 9 speed box)

I have the 8 speed zf in my BMW M135i and it really is a great box, much better than a dsg 6 at low speeds, also as it has more ratio's it always seems to be in the correct gear.

Thanks for your input. Does it make much difference as to whether or not it's a diesel with regards to how smooth they are, i would have thought not. Sometimes on down changes it feels as though it's effectively in neutral when swapping gears and as result almost freewheels prior to the lower gear being selected? I have a feeling that like many others it would seem, garage will say 'no faults found, it's fine' ? Guess gonna have to badger them a bit. Want to ensure any possible Gremlins are addressed whilst still under warranty !!!

I have a March 2012 vRS TDi DSG so pretty close to yours in age and the gear changes are certainly smooth and (mostly) logical selections are made.  As you stated my car will also change right down through the gears to 2nd if I reduce speed by lifting off the accelerator and lightly applying the brakes.

 

On a light throttle mine will change into 4th at 28mph, 5th at 32 and 6th at 38.  That's what happens when manufacturers are forced to publish mpg figures from standardised tests - they favour low fuel consumption over drivability.    However, as my car has the paddles it is easy to do a quick change down if one is required.  If I was driving it manually I would be at least one gear (sometimes two) lower when driving at these speeds.  As an IAM observer I would expect drivers of manual cars to use 3rd below 30 and 4th below 40.

 

The only major quibble is if the car hasn't been used for a while (particularly if the weather is cold) and the first movement is in reverse then it needs too much throttle to get the clutch to engage and the car suddenly moves.  I overcome this by moving forward a few inches before selecting reverse and then all is well.  Does your car do this?

Mine is same age as philbes. In town at 20, 30 or 40mph poodling along it changes into highest gear possible to run about at 1250rpm,

 

I often change down a gear with flappy paddles to get above 1500rpm as engine is a lot smoother then.

 

It runs quite coarsely at 1200-1500rpm and the airfilter assembly, which is attached to the engine, was shaking around and it's vibration could be heard in the car.  This was sorted yesterday by dealer under warranty but car still feels coarse at these rpm. It would be interesting to hear other members observations.

 

I also park on a slope and similarly reversing up is a bit delicate as can grab suddenly, can't go forward too far as will be driving thro garage door . 

 

I've also been caught out by DSG when in traffic and want to make a quick getaway at mini roundabouts when it takes a second or so to engage, this is it's worse attribute for me.

 

Generally a smooth change up and down the box but I often overrride it in town.

Just like to say thanks to all for your replies and observations. Interesting to hear the spiel about the BMW box, that certainly answers my questions about that and does indeed reiterate how good the zf unit is. The observations from Philbe and Boneman describe pretty much identical characteristics of my vehicle so based on that i would suggest there is no major issue. I too get a vibration, perhaps from the same item, at the same rpm. Gear change times are identical so at least i know the gearbox is not doing anything it shouldn't, based on your experiences. Reverse and forward from stationary takes a bit of mastering like you too. Have to feather the brake to avoid shooting away at speed ! Think i will mention the vibration, the slightly wobbly speedo needle, the sometimes rough nature when slowing to a stop (v slight jolt) and ask for a dealer reset. Then I will just learn to enjoy what is undoubtedly a good car (just wish i didn't drive the BMW daily to which i find myself comparing!). Thanks again to all........

I thought all torque converter boxes had gone the way of the dinasours due to weight, and the consequent effect on fuel consumption.

Even if they were more reliable and easier to use especially hill starts, I suppose the question should be how does the vag unit compare to other makes, I would guess quite well, anybody know any different.?