Hello,

 

I have a 17 plate ŠKODA Fabia 1.2 TSI SE DSG, how can I determine if it has a wet or dry clutch 7 speed gearbox please? I have read repeatedly that the wet clutch version is more robust than the dry clutch version. All working fine now but would still like to know.

 

Separately but related I am trying to determine what is the best approach to pulling up in traffic or in traffic lights (massive can of worms I know!). If this has been covered in another thread for the dry clutch version (which I think my Fabia probably has) then please accept my apologies and point me in its direction.

 

The start/stop functionality (which I think is a good idea) only functions if I keep the foot brake pressed, if I instead use the handbrake the engine restarts (which I think is a bad idea). Same happens if the car is in neutral with just the handbrake on. As I see it I have three options,

 

1. Leave it in drive, press the foot brake and have the engine stop but possibly cause issues for drivers behind with the brake lights.
2. Leave it in drive, put the handbrake on and put up with the engine restarting.
3. Switch into neutral, put the handbrake on and put up with the engine restarting.

 

General consensus seems to be that with the wet clutch it is better to leave it in drive rather than switching to neutral each time as the change actually causes more wear on the system. Dry clutch advice seems more split. Polite driving sense would suggest that once the vehicle behind you has stopped then turning off the brake lights is sensible (especially in the wet or at night). The manual says "The selector lever position N does not have to be selected when stopping for a short time (e.g. at a crossroads). However, the brake pedal should be de-pressed, in order to prevent the vehicle from rolling." but does not say beyond that what a short time would be. I'm guessing briefly at a junction, while waiting for a car to turn or at short cycle traffic lights it's fine but in longer duration traffic lights or a more severe hold up then switching to neutral and putting the handbrake on would be better (even though the engine then kicks back in annoyingly).

 

Alec

6 Speed wet clutch, 7 speed dry clutch.

@AlecEdworthy  Fourth option.  Put in in Park, put the handbrake on, release foot brake.  The engine will remain stopped with the brake lights out.   When the traffic  lights change, press foot brake, put it in Drive, release handbrake and you are back to square one.

^^^  In traffic that has shifter going through reverse and the reverse light flash. (that can surprise some behind you.)

Hill hold control is a wonderful thing, and then cars with Auto Hold now, which can be switched off, as can Stop / Start.

Manual hand brakes / Parking Brakes are still nice to have sometimes, or while you still can have them IMO.

 

 

Who really cares about the general consensus, drive them.

 

Personally i have both a Wet Clutch DSG and a Dry Clutch DSG and the Dry is with a petrol engine and the wet with a Diesel but with less power than the Petrol with the DQ200.

Had others in the past, driven them all in different cars before Stop / Start. before Electric Parking Brakes and before Auto Hold.

 

They are what they are, and as it is Skoda build 2,200 DQ200 DSG a day and they are used in 48 different applications.

None of it is rocker science.

Pity that over a decade of the DQ200's that still there are issues with some even brand new.  Burning out the clutch packs by driving / sitting in traffic is not an issue, VW / SKoda sourcing crap Clutch Packs and Software has been, and using the 'Wrong Transmission Fluid' (synthetic ) in the DQ200's and then the internal corrosion issue resulting in a World Wide recall excluding Europe, then the next issue after using Mineral Transmission Fluid and the Heat /Pressure issue,

now the slipping clutch issue with some DQ200's.

 

But then it is a shame the Wet Clutch DSG be that 6 or the 7 speeds need Oil Changes at 40,000 miles,  38,000 if a S-Tronic according to Audi.

Edited 28 July, 20188 yr by Offski

Alec, understandbly you want to look after your DSG. But don't worry...it's not a fragile thing! Don't overthink it. I've had Skoda autos for near 7 years...a 6 spd tiptronic conventional auto box and two 7 spd DSG's. They are lovely to drive as you know. 

 

I tend to turn off my stop/start when I'm in very heavy traffic at peak times (arguably not the right thing to do) because I don't want my engine re-starting 30+ times during the course of driving just a mile. I leave it on at all other times. In traffic or at junctions I wait with mine in gear (D) for up to 10 seconds or so with enough pressure on the brake pedal to disengage the clutches so I'm not heating anything up and wearing the clutch out. After that I pop here into neutral which is a sensible thing to do and I think most folks do that. I don't worry about the stop/start, what it's doing etc. It's either on or off and mostly it's on for me unless as I said earlier, I'm in heavy traffic. I am concious of brake light dazzle for other drivers behind (although few others seem to be), especially at night and in the wet so going to neutral is what I do whenever I can.

 

Regarding robustness of wet over dry clutches, it's not really a straightforward arguement as to which one is best.  Wet clutches are generally used in vehicles with greater power outputs. This is because they can handle much higher heat  and pressure over longer periods. However, they are more complex and need servicing more often with oil changes as they dirty the oil they run in and this also increases wear. Dry clutches are simpler and just as robust if used correctly and they cost less.  As Offski says...just drive it and don't worry too much, the DSG will be fine. 

Turn off the rotten stop start with Carista, being old school and had many automatics from many makes I tend to slip it into neutral ASAP.  My Wife has a 64 plate MK3 1.2 DSG SEL with 30k miles it has been faultless, I had a 65 plate Fabia Estate 1.2 DSG had to have the DSG clutches replaced at 20k they started slipping again within 6 weeks had enough of it and ordered a new 110  3 cylinder DSG SEL jobby estate picked it up 4 months ago it is been fine. But once bitten I paid the extra £200 for the extended Skoda warranty (5 yrs) for peace of mind as I may keep this one for a while.

 

Had many company cars all automatics (40+ over 35 years) mostly Fords and Vauxhalls a few shocking Frenchie’s, when I had to start paying for cars I had 3 different Nissans. I turned to Skoda and their DSG they are without doubt the best Automatics to drive

 

My only caveat is the Skoda DSG is the only automatic box that has ever let me down!!

 

My best cars Early Ford Granada 2.8 Ghia X (first aircon car I ever had awful auto box)  Vauxhall Omega 3.2 brilliant until you got to a bend but for pulling away it would have nearly every sports car around at the time (based on the Australian Holden)

 

Car I miss the most my Skoda Yeti (Frogeye lights) a great allrounder but I had ti give it up as the boot wasn't practical (Sob)

 

My Ford Granda 2.8 Ghia X Estate was fantastic, bought cheap because the Auto was gubbed, rebuilt then loved it, same with my Scorpio Ghia 2.9 Auto Ex police car.

Bought with faulty box and rebuilt with new TC and fine until finally i killed it.

Worst was my Transit Durashift 52 plate.  They were Demo models, Semi High Roof, MWB and were recalled and were to be scrapped, the one i bought slipped through the net, a disabled woman had hand controls fitted and windows, spent thousands on modifying, then diagnosing faults, sold to me as faulty, i changed gear by the buttons and mostly it was fine but a few times was dangerous, it cost me over 2 grand for an Accuator so i sold it and the person that bought it got a new gearbox in a crate for £800 and it is still on the road.

I only found out the story of the Lemon Durashift Transits years later on a Ford Forum.  Ford never admitted the issue as far as i know.

Edited 28 July, 20188 yr by Offski

Yes the Omega was just brilliant. I had one as a company car too.  Nice!

 

Interestingly, my DSG cars are the only ones to have let me down too. But it seems quite limited in the number of cars that are affected. My new Citroen C3 which is on its way from the factory uses a conventional torque converter box but it's an advanced and highly refined new design to avoid power wastage. It locks up early.  IT has no known issues and it's been in use for over 2.5 years now.  It can take upto 160bhp. Like any torque converter box it can be left in Drive for extended periods at traffic lights and junctions as there are no clutches to worry about and nothing is wearing out even although the box may want to creep a bit. It's only the oil on the turbine giving it a push. Any heat generated is taken away quickly by the heat exchanger which is in the radiator of the car. Therefore, leaving it in 'D' is much better as it doesn't wear out the selector mechanism or valves by keep going back and forth in and out of gear. In fact, the PSA group jointly designed the gearbox to be extremely tough yet very smooth. I've driven two C3's with this box and it is almost as good as the DSG boxes in operation. Not once did it get confused about what gear to select either.  The PSA group have stated on their website they designed their new torque converter box in preference to going over to the DSG type of box. This was to avoid the DSG problems that other manufacturers are experiencing. Using modern technology and materials, they have done a good job I'd say as it seems extremely frugal on fuel yet allows loads of power to the front wheels.

 

With the DSG boxes and their dry clutches, it's best to go to neutral after a short pause on the brake pedal.

 

 

Edited 28 July, 20188 yr by Estate Man

My Peugeot 504 auto from 1980 was one of the best cars i ever had. 

A Dundee Taxi firm had a fleet and a store full of parts that were seldom needed. 

If good enough for the Taliban they  should be good enough for the rest of us, there are many still going strong around the world.

http://peugeot.co.uk/eat6 

 

I had a Renault Savanna Estate Auto that came with Hand Controls and was OK on the road test and then when they were removed it played up, 

it cost me lots as my mates Auto Shop had not the diagnostics back then and the Renault Main Dealer kept just fitting solenoids until i think it was all 5 replaced.

It was still not reliable and i broke it for parts.

 

Best i think i had was a Citroen CX estate with Servo Clutch. so 2 pedals and you pushed down the gear shifter.

So good that i was made an offer i could not refuse and i sold it as it really was huge and a great tin tent but no city car.

Edited 28 July, 20188 yr by Offski