DSG Clutch Replacement?

[Slaine]

Hi everyone, after replacing the dual mass flywheel on my 2017 MY18 1.6 TDI DSG Superb 10k miles ago it seems that the clutch now needs replaced at a mileage of 74k. I have noticed slipping on acceleration on gears 1,3,5 and 7. The even number gears are currently fine.  
My question is: would there be any chance that such a mechanical issue as this could be down to something software related? My experience says no but wanted to check with you guys before going down the expensive clutch replacement route.
Even finding someone here in Northern Ireland with the right tools for dsg replacement is not straightforward, my trusted mechanics have not had to do any yet and I am reluctant to pay dealer prices just yet. 

I will be changing the car to either a Sportline estate  or Audi A6 avant next June but I doubt the clutch will last that long as I am a taxi driver and will probably have done another 15k miles or more by then. 
These 7 speed dry dsg clutches don’t seem tough enough to handle all the start stop type of driving I mostly do, even though I am not aggressive in any way with my driving. 
Any info would be appreciated. 

[SurreyJohn]

Seems to me you have two options, change car now instead of June (problem becomes someone else’s, or have it fixed.

 

Might be worth finding an automatic transmission specialist and getting them to change the transmission fluid (even though on paper it is for lifetime), might just fix the problem (or reduce it).  Otherwise it does sound like one clutch pack is going.

 

Sorry don’t know if auto transmission specialists are common in Northern Ireland, obviously they are in SW London (where about 90% of cars are sold as autos), but even some main dealers won’t have disassembled these so you will need to check who can do the job.

 

[UndertheRadar]

I’m not sure if telling you exactly where to take it breaks any forum rules reference advertising or not. So, Take it to the industrial estate behind castlereagh tech. If you go down Alanbrooke road, you’ll find a garage facing the staff car park for Thales. The bloke who owns it has the same name as the start of the road you’ll be on. So does his business. Knows the boxes inside out and repairs them on a daily basis. 

[Slaine]

1 hour ago, SurreyJohn said:

Seems to me you have two options, change car now instead of June (problem becomes someone else’s, or have it fixed.

 

Might be worth finding an automatic transmission specialist and getting them to change the transmission fluid (even though on paper it is for lifetime), might just fix the problem (or reduce it).  Otherwise it does sound like one clutch pack is going.

 

Sorry don’t know if auto transmission specialists are common in Northern Ireland, obviously they are in SW London (where about 90% of cars are sold as autos), but even some main dealers won’t have disassembled these so you will need to check who can do the job.

 

Hi John,

I have to wait until the car has passed the 2.5 year mark on the finance before I can change it without having to hand over a load of cash ( more than the repair would cost )

it being a dry clutch set up I’m not sure if an oil change would help. I also believe it is a pressurised box and requires specialist re sealing. 

52 minutes ago, UndertheRadar said:

I’m not sure if telling you exactly where to take it breaks any forum rules reference advertising or not. So, Take it to the industrial estate behind castlereagh tech. If you go down Alanbrooke road, you’ll find a garage facing the staff car park for Thales. The bloke who owns it has the same name as the start of the road you’ll be on. So does his business. Knows the boxes inside out and repairs them on a daily basis. 

Hi,

I will look into who that is and give them a call to see what they reckon. Thanks

[UndertheRadar]

Sent you a PM

[Phil-E]

I didn't even realise the 7 speed DSG had a dual mass flywheel.

 

Or is it a diesel thing?

[100andthirty]

Phil-E - the flywheel is part of the engine, not the gearbox and yes, dual mass is a diesel thing.

[Phil-E]

Ah ok. Interesting. So it's not like a conventional DMF that's inside the gearbox.

 

As for the clutch issue. Do you have access to VCDS? Would be interesting to read out the clutch adjustment values in there and see if it's due to a worn clutch or not.

 

There can also be an issue where the motor in the mechatronics can burn out. Or where insufficient hydraulic pressure is produced. It's powered by an electric motor that powers up on demand (unlike older automatics that use a mechanically driven hydraulic pump).

[Slaine]

12 hours ago, Phil-E said:

Ah ok. Interesting. So it's not like a conventional DMF that's inside the gearbox.

 

As for the clutch issue. Do you have access to VCDS? Would be interesting to read out the clutch adjustment values in there and see if it's due to a worn clutch or not.

 

There can also be an issue where the motor in the mechatronics can burn out. Or where insufficient hydraulic pressure is produced. It's powered by an electric motor that powers up on demand (unlike older automatics that use a mechanically driven hydraulic pump).

The dual mass flywheel just bolts onto the engine as it does on other cars, then the clutch and gear box over that. 
If it was an issue to do with hydraulic pressure or similar I would imagine that it would be both clutches that would be causing problems. My 2nd,4th and 6th gears are fine which leads me to think it’s something to do with the clutch that controls the odd numbered gears. 
It could be worth getting plugged in to check anyway though. 

[Phil-E]

Yeah there is a measuring block in VCDS that shows how much wear is on the clutches or rather how much adjustment has been made in order to maintain biting pressure.

[Slaine]

23 hours ago, Phil-E said:

Yeah there is a measuring block in VCDS that shows how much wear is on the clutches or rather how much adjustment has been made in order to maintain biting pressure.

Can adjustments then be made using VCDS or would this just be an indicator of actual clutch wear? 

[Phil-E]

The adjustments are made automatically. But running a basic settings wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

This forces the gearbox to run a full recalibration of the clutch pressures and biting points etc.

[jonty1960]

Hi, I have the same issue.

 

Did you  ever get this resolved?

[Slaine]

Hi, had to replace the twin clutch packs. It ended up costing around £900 including labour.  I have since handed the car back to the finance company as it was starting to have more gearbox issues, this time with the mechatronic unit starting to go and couldn’t justify spending anymore on it. I think the 130 odd miles a day of mostly town and some motorway driving was too tough on it. 

[jonty1960]

Thanks Slaine - think that's the way I'm heading too.  But you'ld think Skoda would be up to 130 miles a day. My last manual clutch did 120000.

[Slaine]

I believe that the 2.0 wet clutch dsg is a bit more robust but definitely from my experience and that of other people that I have spoke to the 1.6 dry clutch 7 speed is best avoided if doing a bit more than average work with it. 

[jonty1960]

Hi, I have the same issue.

 

Did you  ever get this resolved?

[jonty1960]

I have the 6 speedd (wet/dry?.)

Just trying g to get Skodw to even consider the clutch is an issue - insisting on doing a DSG oil service first (£220 plus  AT) even though i just had it done!

[Slaine]

Other than issues with the 7 speed transmission I had zero problems in the 100k miles I covered in it so at least that was something though. 

[Ootohere]

@jonty1960

When was that DSG's latest Oil Change,

what miles, and what is it at now.    ???? Were you charged £220 plus VAT then?

 

*The issue might well be what was done last'. *  Maybe an incompetent doing the DSG oil change.*

The first 30 minutes of a Diagnostic is £60 including VAT.  

 

The Main Sealer Fixed Price Service & Maintenance price at Participating Dealers is £215 including VAT. 

So not £220 plus VAT.

 

They are maybe a pith taking dealership.

 

Edited 9 November, 2021 by roottoot

[jonty1960]

Oh, right,  Very useful sheet, thank you- I( hadI just assumed the plus VAT ) - unfortunately the service ((5 weeks /2000 mles ago)  wasn't done by a main dealer, hence Skoda wanting to do their own.

That said the scurfing noise was there before the service, so if it had been from the DSG they would have found filings /debris in the old oil??