Hi all

 

Hope you don't mind my asking here as, on behalf of a friend of mine, I have a couple of questions around the DSG box.  He has his eye on a 65 plate 2.0 TDi SE L with the DSG box fitted.  FSH and low miles.

 

I have read some horror stories about DSG box failures and, sorry if this has been done to death, but how real are these apocalyptic stories?  Is there a widespread issue and how common is it; coupled with whether the box that would be fitted to the car he is looking at would be affected?

 

Again, sorry if this has been asked a million times but guidance on issues with the Yeti would be much appreciated.  He plans to keep the car around 5-7 years so is naturally keen to be ensuring it will be ok.

Those will be about a very different DSG.

There is the 6 Speed wet clutch DSG as in the 2.0TDI is not the same as the 7 Speed Twin Dry Clutch DSG (DQ200) which had a World Wide Recall

(in Europe / Service Campaigns, 34F7 & the latest 34H5)

 

The 6 speed wet clutch DSG he has will require servicing / oil-filter changes as per Service Schedule / guidelines.

 

Edited 6 March, 20179 yr by Awayoffski

Thanks for the reply.  I'd understood that he box fitted was the 7 speed not the 6 but I'll take your greater knowledge on the subject.

 

Assuming it is the 6 speed wet variant what's their reliability like?

As reliable as you can expect from any gearbox, manual, automatic or Automated Manual.

Servicing required obviously, and failures can happen, but they have not the issues that VW have had with the DQ200 7 Speed Twin DRy Clutch DSG's.

(Plenty of those have no issues obviously, but then a World Wide recall was required for safety reasons. They were given no Service Schedule / Guidelines, Sealed for life etc)

Reliability of the DSG gearboxes,  both 7-speed dry as fitted to petrol models and 6-speed wet as fitted to diesels,  is very good.  You will find lots of testimonials to them as you read of the experiences of Yeti drivers....the vast, vast majority found them an absolute delight.  However,  inevitably the occasional one goes wrong....they are extremely complicated devices and the more complex a component the more there is to fail;  and they can be expensive to repair if this happens.  But on forums like this you are much more likely to hear about the odd failure,  than the thousands of perfectly functioning units giving absolute satisfaction.  Reading this forum you might also be put off the Haldex 4x4 system,  the 1.2 TSi engine,  the paint system used on the body work etc. etc. etc.  A few owners have had problems with these,  and naturally can be vocal in their denunciation of their particular car's failings.  But in all honesty the Yeti in its various guises is a delightful motor car,  and most of us on here would recommend one...whatever mix of engine,  transmission,  trim level was chosen.  I can't guarantee any given car won't be a lemon,  but in general reliability of these cars is excellent.  (Incidentally, the recall on the 7 speed DSG's was to change the oil from synthetic to mineral,  which fixed the problem.  later models not affected.)

Edited 6 March, 20179 yr by Zarniwoop

^^^ A small point.  DQ200 7 speed DSG are also fitted to 1.6TDI's so not just to petrols.

 

The Service Campaign was on 7 speed DSG from 2009-2014 that had Synthetic Oil filled from the factory, and to change to mineral and do a software update.

34F7

 

The latest one 34H5 is possibly just on ones manufactured 2013-2015 that have Mineral Oil in, or maybe includes those that had 34F7 carried out.

The latest Service Campaign is a Software Update for the 7 Speed DSG (DQ200)

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/425419-dsg-gearbox 

Recalls require the Recalling of vehicles / contacting Registered Keepers, not just finding out there is a Service Campaign if you get Main Dealer Servicing done or Warranty work.  Recall-Actions are not 'RECALLS'.

http://master.skoda-auto.com/mini-apps/recall-actions 

Edited 6 March, 20179 yr by Awayoffski

Athough it wont affect a one year old car, the wet clutch version (as fitted to the higher torque engines including the 2 litre) is now 7 speed so the old quick way of assuming a 7 speed was a dry clutch (the sealed for life, but which had oil type problems 4 years ago) no longer applies

 

I think the later dry clutch units have been ok, no more problems than anything else, although will still get the odd failure

The 2.0 is definitely the 6 speed.

 

It requires an oil and filter change every 40k miles with no age limit.

Ok so just so I am 100% clear the DSG in the car I mention is the 6 speed, wet clutch, variant with which there have been limited issues as long as the servicing regime os adhered to?

 

Thanks for all the replies - helpful.

Correct! It is definitely a 6 speed wet clutch DQ250 gearbox in the 2.0 TDI Yeti.

 

There have been no service campaigns or recalls etc on the 6 speed DSG. Which speaks volumes as to it's reliability in my eyes.

 

Obviously it can suffer DMF failures like a manual gearbox but this is less common due it the gearbox being a little kinder to the flywheel and drivetrain vs a manual that can suffer abuse.

In terms of driving them I have again read mixed messages.  Do you just drive them like a normal auto or is it wise to place them in neutral when on hills or at lights etc?  The TC boxes could be left in drive but not sure about the DSG's.

 

Thanks again.

You can leave them in D while stopped without any problems. The only consideration is whether you will blind the person behind with your brake lights.

 

They pull slightly due to the clutch dragging but not as strong as a torque converter. As the clutches are lubricated and cooled with oil then there's really nothing the worry about.

 

Phil

It should disengage the clutch if you keep your foot on the brake at standstill.

I cannot speak for the 4x4 version, but don't leave a non 4x4 DSG in D and apply the handbrake it will not sit at idle for short periods like a conventional automatic, it will try to drag it's back end like a dog with worms, the DSG is not like an automatic with a torque converter. Applying the footbrake disengages drive.

I've had two DSG boxes both on 2.0 TDi so six speed wet set up.  The first one I did 45K miles without any issue and the second is running in the current Yeti with only about 7k again without issues.  It's so very smooth to drive, I'd not want to go back to a manual as the manual option can be selected easily.  I've driven an Octavia with DSG and paddles and it's a real joy.

2 hours ago, Paulq said:

In terms of driving them I have again read mixed messages.  Do you just drive them like a normal auto or is it wise to place them in neutral when on hills or at lights etc?  The TC boxes could be left in drive but not sure about the DSG's.

 

Thanks again.

Having driven DSG's for the past 10 years you will quickly get used to it and never want a manual transmission again. Simply put into Drive and go. Shortish stops hold on footbrake, longer stops slip into neutral and apply hand brake. Simpleees.

Incidentally I have had both 6 speed and 7 speed, great gearboxes both.

 

Of course, if it has stop start fitted it should stop the engine anyway. I understand that before you can quickly lift your foot off the brake and onto the accelerator the engine will have restarted. If the engine is in a mode where stop start is not possible at that time, apparently you can slip it into neutral. I am led to believe that whilst your foot is on the brake peadl firmly the clutches are all dissengaged, but perhaps others can confirm that?

 

Should be in neutral or park before applying the handbrake, otherwise clutches will wear.

 

I have selected this for my next Yeti so have been doing some internet researches and there are horror stories out there, but as above it is only those with an issue who will complain.

 

I did read of a taxi somewhere with the wet clutch dsg which had done over 650,000km and the gearbox was perfect; just had routine servicing at the required intervals.

So just maybe 9 oil changes to the DSG.  Lovely.

15 hours ago, kenfowler3966 said:

I am led to believe that whilst your foot is on the brake peadl firmly the clutches are all dissengaged, but perhaps others can confirm that?

 

Yes and no.

 

They are disengaged in the sense that the gearbox is not applying oil pressure to them to engage them but they always remain partially engaged as the plates are always in contact with each other. So it's more that they drag slightly as the plates can't be physically separated like a manual or 7 speed DSG box.

 

Edited 7 March, 20179 yr by Phil-E

Unlike the 7 speed that are more like traditional manual clutches just two of them sandwiched together.

 

14 hours ago, Awayoffski said:

So just maybe 9 oil changes to the DSG.  Lovely.

 

I seem to think he had a new DMF at some point or maybe even two. But was on the original clutch pack and no other problems.

I was googling 650,000 km Skoda Taxi's and found some results,

 but the most interesting to me was 'the BMW M5 Ring Taxi with 650,000 km crashed'

1 hour ago, Phil-E said:

 

Yes and no.

 

They are disengaged in the sense that the gearbox is not applying oil pressure to them to engage them but they always remain partially engaged as the plates are always in contact with each other. So it's more that they drag slightly as the plates can't be physically separated like a manual or 7 speed DSG box.

 

Just to confirm then it seems like the vehicle wants to creep but no wear is happening to the clutch as just fluid friction?

 

How does the clutch handle pulling away from rest? A manual clutch would be slipped slightly until the road speed matches the gear with the engine speed?

Yes the plates are slightly touching but as there is oil flowing through then it's mainly just fluid drag with no wear happening.

 

Fluid pressure is gradually applied to squeeze the plates together. It does the same in that it slips a bit before fully engaging. But as they are lubricated with oil then very minimal wear occurs.

 

What you also find is when creeping in traffic it will indicate 2nd gear on the dash and as you apply the throttle you can feel that the clutch is slipping. So it is actually engaged in 1st and 2nd and slips the clutches to smooth it out to avoid the change feeling jerky etc.

 

It also slips the clutch when maneuvering at slow speeds and up hill. But it can be a bit keen to suddenly disengage the clutch if it's been slipping for too long to avoid the clutches over heating (happened to me once while parking on a steep drive).

I always flick to neutral if stopped for anything more than a few seconds. Whether any wear occurs when in D or not while stationary, I notice the entire drivetrain disengages and settles when flicked from D to N and in my head that can only be a good thing.