I bought a 2012 Estate late last year - 140 DSG remapped (i believe) to around 180hp. Used to pull our 1200kg caravan around for the most part. When towing during this last week I noticed on many occasions a 'hesitation' when pulling away, happens in 2nd just before the box changes to 3rd. Not aggressive acceleration. It feels like the clutch is slipping/juddering. I've not noticed without the caravan on the back.

Earlier in the year pulling the van we were stuck in 45 mins of crawling motorway traffic on an uphill motorway section - might this have caused a problem?

Thanks

Fats

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When was did your DSG get an OIl change service?

DSG oil change was done as i bought it last October. Car was exactly 5 years old with 28K miles on it. Had engine oil and filter done at the same time.

How many miles done now?

You are going to have to have it checked out then. 

Can those that did the DSG oil change be trusted that it was done?

I've only added 3500 miles to it - now on 32k. Servicing was done by an independant VAG specialist where my daughter worked as service receptionist, so confident about that. A problem is that garage is in the North East of UK where I bought the car, I have imported it into SW France where I live......now on French plates.

I have VCDS - will any DSG problems show up in that?

Thanks

Fats

I would say too early for the clutch to be worn out, since it is likely the DQ250 model, I would start with basic settings and verify that oil level in the DSG is right. Some had issues if they were low on oil.

Can I check the oil level? Straightforward? How to?

Thanks

As you have VCDS check to see what codes if any there are.

Re the remap, & maybe to around 180 bhp.

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Was that done before you got the car, and remapped by whom?

Remap......the car does 0-60 in around 8.2 secs, standard 140cr is 10.3 ish, so I believe it has been remapped...it's servicing before i got it was all at a Cumbrian place called Chip It Performance. However my emails to them asking if they did in fact remap it have not been answered, so it's just my assumption.

Fats

http://www.evosoft.dk/diagrams/dsg-repair.pdf

 

page 157 shows the level check screw... But I highly recommend that a trained person does this, it is not so easy as it seems...

You are best off just replacing the fluid at a trusted service center...

Bloody VCDS decided to stop working...something about interface unknown or such...

 

My problem is down here in France I do not know of any reliable, competent garage. The local lad has looked after my old Peugeot 406, but I'm not sure i'd trust him with the Superb. After that it's the chains similar to Halfords etc. And do not want to give it to Skoda / VW dealer as I have already had two letters from Skoda advising me to get the fix done...

 

Maybe I'll just wing it and get it looked at back in the UK when we go up later in the year...

 

Thanks for the help,

 

Fats

 

 

The dsg adapts to your driving style, it would seem logical therefore that as it does not normally tow such weight that it would take some time to adapt to doing so.

 

Just a thought.

^^^ The engineers never designed in'now towing a caravan' lets play up while we learn to change gear after 6 years.

 

& a 1,200 kg van, so not that much of a stretch unless heavily loaded and towing over mountain passes in high temperatures.

Edited 10 May, 20188 yr by Offski

14 hours ago, Offski said:

^^^ The engineers never designed in'now towing a caravan' lets play up while we learn to change gear after 6 years.

 

& a 1,200 kg van, so not that much of a stretch unless heavily loaded and towing over mountain passes in high temperatures.

I thought they did, isn't that why the towing hitch has to be programmed and that connecting something to the tow ball changes braking etc?

37 minutes ago, superbdreams said:

I thought they did, isn't that why the towing hitch has to be programmed and that connecting something to the tow ball changes braking etc?

 

It's mostly for changes like rear fog lights and alarm on unplug.  If the car has ESP, you'll also get 'trailer ESP' too...

 

The car will certainly know when the trailer is attached so it may alter shift points but it's not something I've heard mentioned previously.

Our Superb MK2 DSG did know when the trailer was attached, and did slightly alter the gear change shift points.  It seemed to know that when the trailer was full to keep lower gears for a little longer before upshifting.  It obviously learned that after pulling for 10mins or so.  It would be a bit hesitant immediately after disconnecting trailer but only for 5-10mins again - I always took that as its time to adapt.

 

Never towed a proper Caravan so the effect wasn't that dramatic - and a 1200KG van isn't much really.

Basically the engine load was much higher and that is why the gearbox holds the gear for longer... no other magic here...

Lets say we instead of towing a caravan, we drive up a steeper hill, the gearbox acts basically the same, in both cases it holds a gear for longer... hence the load theory... and if you are consistent enough and provide same patterns to the gearbox, it will act totally the same each time.

Edited 11 May, 20188 yr by krigl

reset the throttle ign on hold the accel down for at least 12 seconds release turn of and restart.

 

Re the "fix" you dont have to have it done its optional personally i would look to have the DSG service done at a dealers just to be sure its been done properly

On 5/11/2018 at 09:02, langers2k said:

 

It's mostly for changes like rear fog lights and alarm on unplug.  If the car has ESP, you'll also get 'trailer ESP' too...

 

The car will certainly know when the trailer is attached so it may alter shift points but it's not something I've heard mentioned previously.

Engine ECU also needs to be coded to set up towing, so it's certainly possible that it alters what it's doing and what information it's sending to DSG controller when a trailer is hooked up.

Maybe the OP can come back and say what he had done with the car when the tow bar was fitted.

Reading the OP it is not quite clear, did it tow OK previously, then in the past week seemed to hesitate.

So was it towing fine before, and now not so well?

 

New issue that was not there before!

Edited 15 May, 20188 yr by Offski

The tow bar was already fitted when i bought the car. The codes in the hand book show the car was delivered without the towbar 'kit'. So it is an aftermarket fitting. I have no idea if the software was updated as the towbar was installed. Maybe that could be the problem.

We 1st towed with it down to Spain in March (about 300 miles from here in the Charente Maritime). Fine on the way, no problems, but on the way back we had 45 mins on an uphill motorway stretch in stop/start conditions. The car had a couple of 'strange' moments afterwards when the revs seemed to increase but drive didn't..but soon seemed to resovle itself. Rest of journey seemed ok.

This last outing was when i noticed the 'shudder/judder'.

Fats

 

Edited 15 May, 20188 yr by fatscoleymo
Spelling

Hello again,

 

Just pulled the caravan again 200 kms and I have the same problem...when pulling away from a junction or uphill the box shudders for a second or so and revs increase by 50- 100rpm. Happens every 3 seconds or so in 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Timed in on long uphill pulls. Once into 5th and on the flat all seems fine....any ideas? Try the reset thingy? Dont have my vcds lead with me...