Hello everyone! I've come to this enormously helpful forum several times over the last year but this my first post (albeit in a slightly flustered and worried state).

The Yeti:
1.2 TSI 2010
7-Speed DSG
Petrol

Background:

Over the past six months or so, my beloved Yeti has been juddering when setting off. The judder isn’t prolonged or persistent; it’s more like if one were to switch an automatic car from D to neutral while it’s moving. My understanding was that the judder may be occurring due to the clutch “slipping”.

The judder events have gradually become more frequent when setting off and more intense, too. I believe it occurs exclusively in D1 (including the first gear when using the semi-auto mode) when I take my foot off the brake on press the accelerator pedal, and especially when the car is cold. The yellow warning light comes on as soon as the clutch has slipped, or whatever else the issue is has occurred. The car has continued to run and shift through the gears despite the initial judder, until today. More on that later.

When I first took the car to Skoda in Doncaster earlier in December, they suggested it was the clutches that needed to be replaced. At nearly two thousand pounds, I agreed to it (foolishly?) believing that this would fix the issue. Sadly, the same judder occurred almost immediately after leaving the dealership and the warning light came back on. I took the car right back to them to diagnose and fix the problem. A few days later, they said that the ‘mechatronic’ unit needed to be replaced, and this would cost another two thousand pounds (something that I will struggle to afford). Before spending more than the value of the car in repairs, I thought it'd be wise to tap into the wisdom in this forum.

Today, the judder occurred as it shifted up from first to second, and then it got stuck in D2. Switching the car off and then on again, seems to have reset it so it is shifting though the gears again.

The asks:

(1) What are the chances that the mechatronic unit is indeed the problem?

(2) Advice on whether its worth replacing the mechatronic unit?

(3) If yes to (2), recommendation for a service provider (Skoda/non-Skoda) to get this work done (in either London or Yorkshire/Lincolnshire)?

(4) If not through Skoda directly, how much should I expect the part(s) and labour to cost? (4a) Tips on Ebay Purchase?

(5) Are there any major risks of continuing to drive in its present state?

(6) Could Skoda have detected the mechatronic problem without replacing the clutches first?\


Thank you!

Hope you all have a very merry Christmas!

Welcome.

 

I think you were fleeced.   But you now have some sort of warranty because you paid them, but they want to just replace parts. 

There is an issue here that you are in the hands of them, their Master Technician, or techs or fitters.  Not a good thing sometimes with DSG's.

?

Did Doncaster Skoda even do the job you paid for or contract it out to AN Other? 

( A main dealer is not what is required right now it is an Auto Specialist with the experience and equipment required to work on your DQ200.)

** Can you find a trusted Auto Specialist you can go see and discuss with what has been done, they can plug in, read the Codes or not, road test the car and advise.**

 

You missed saying how many miles covered. 

You might have needed new Clutch Packs.   You might have needed fork selectors you might still need fork selectors.

 

There are risks.

To your pocket and life and others in the car so have it dealt with.   Losing drive on the road, in an outside lane as an example.

 

( Not important now, but i am nosy, so,

Was your DQ200 in since 2014 for Service Campaign '34F7' which was to change the Synthetic Oil to mineral and do a software update?

There should be a sticker in the spare tyre well showing '34F7' and who did it and when.)

 

You might need a MCU, but maybe you can have your MCU refurbished / upgraded if that is the issue. 

New ones are not improved over what is fitted, they are like for like.

 

The issues / faults / failures are the same if a 1.2, 1.4 or 1.8 petrol or a 1.6 TDI, 2009-2012, (then issues 2012-2015. 'Service Campaign' '34H5 applies to them.)

.....................

My pals sad tale. This was a 2012 Dq200 though.  There are similar stories right through the past decade.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/444617-7sp-dq200-dsg-failure

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/470361-mk2-fabia-vrs-gearbox-problems

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/478695-dsg-issues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 22 December, 20223 yr by toot

I love modern cars but hate the technical complicated fault finding and very expensive part swopping approach to fault finding.

DSG boxes need a very good battery. Do you have a good battery, is there any dodgy wiring, loose connections?

Could the judder be a cold engine pick up problem? Do new clutches need bedding in .....

@ApertureSor @varooom might be able to comment.  

There are a lot of questions to be read/answered that I am lacking in time for at the moment.

Sadly without knowing exactly what the dealer has done step-by-step it's hard to say too much, also they won't likely give you the fault codes.

 

There's every chance they just said to replace the clutch plates (I doubt at 56k they would need changing, but they may have been worn out premature due to a long standing fault) because the computer GFF (Guided Fault Finding) went through some tests and declared the fault lies with the plates.  Now they have done more digging (why this was not done at the time...) and now they say the fault is with mechatronics unit.  With GFF, they may have been guided into a few test routines (sometimes poorly written) that said measure the plate thickness, and then tells them to change plates.  Now going through the same test plan they get a new answer when they input the plates are new/ x mm, saying the fault must be in mechatronic.  You and I will never know as they won't tell you what they did, or I find it highly unlikely (data protect guff or secrets destined for the VAG black hole)

 

If you knew the fault code present before clutch replacement, then that would have been brilliant.

Thank you @toot and @gumdrop both for your helpful replies.

 

7 hours ago, toot said:

You missed saying how many miles covered.

 

The milage is around 96,000.

 

7 hours ago, toot said:

Was your DQ200 in since 2014 for Service Campaign '34F7' which was to change the Synthetic Oil to mineral and do a software update?

There should be a sticker in the spare tyre well showing '34F7' and who did it and when.)

 

Yes, the service book has an entry for “34F7 Recall” in 2014 and stamped by Simpsons Skoda in Colne. However, I don’t have any details about the works done.

 

The engine was also replaced under extended warranty at around 35,000 miles in 2015.

 

 

7 hours ago, toot said:

Did Doncaster Skoda even do the job you paid for or contract it out to AN Other? 

 

None of the paperwork they provided suggests that the clutch pack replacement was done anywhere other than Heyseldon Doncaster Skoda.

 

2 hours ago, gumdrop said:

DSG boxes need a very good battery. Do you have a good battery, is there any dodgy wiring, loose connections?

 

 

Doncaster Skoda did a battery test showing that it is in good health.

 

 

Having read one of the older posts you, @toothelpfully directed me to, I realised that I forgot to mention the flashing diagonal spanner which appeared on the maxidot display after last evening's judder (see attached image). However, this went away when I restarted the car. 

 

Sounds like getting the Mechatronic unit replaced/refurbished is the next step, but I'm not sure where to get this work done. I've lost a significant amount of faith in the technicians at Doncaster Skoda. They also said that the MCU is in "back order" and they are not sure when they'll have it in stock next. 

 

I need to use the car to visit family over Xmas this weekend but I'm not sure how risky it is to do so now. The dreaded PRNDS light hasn't appeared yet but I sense that it is imminent?

 

Thank you

 

Take care.  The flashing spanner was more an issue with the late 2012 DQ200 that were not part of the 2st Service campaign. And built before those covered by the 2nd one.   Hopefully someone can direct you to a good Auto Specialist.     It is a minefield.  

Thanks, @varooom! That's very insightful.

 

Other than the new clutch pack with a warranty, the only thing I maybe have going for me is that I gave the car in to fix the judder/slippage, which they purported to fix for circa £2,000, and they haven't done that and misdiagnosed the problem - potential breach of contract. Alas, that is a separate battle. 

 

Thoughts on the risks and circumstances that might lead to the car completely losing drive?

 

Also, any recommendations on where I could get the work done? preferably in the north, North Lincolnshire/Yorkshire region?

 

Thank you!

 

5 minutes ago, toot said:

The flashing spanner was more an issue with the late 2012 DQ200 that were not part of the 2st Service campaign. And built before those covered by the 2nd one.

 

That's good knowledge for me and very interesting! Do you know if the flashing spanner equivalent to the "PRNDS" lights that I've been reading about?

 

I cannot answer the DSG questions very well at this point, not a mechanic (unless weekends count)  I do have access to TPI documents, like for example the “34F7 Recall” @toot mentioned, but don't have them all (there are probably in excess of 10,000 easily across the VAG range)

 

But due to my line of work, I do have a few people up and down the Country that might be able to help, but being close to Xmas, they are busy and not responding to messages in a hurry.

Unless your mechatronic completely loses the plot, you should still keep some kind of drive, but for how long that is an unknown sadly.  Without a scan/live data readings of the gearbox it's hard to say what it is going on.

 

Are there any clues on the receipt you got for the clutch packs?

@YodaSk3tilook at the pinned thread stated by me at top of Fabia MK2 section on the DQ200,s.  The last pages especially.  Sorry travelling so only online while charging car.  Happy Christmas to all.  

 

I completely understand the limitations posed by the festive period. 

 

18 minutes ago, varooom said:

Are there any clues on the receipt you got for the clutch packs?

 

The invoice for the initial diagnostic has the following mentioned:

 

"DSG issue, requires a set clutches (price up 2x shims and gear oil) and software update TPI 2050318/10"

 

Is that the kind of clue that you were after @varooom?

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

11 minutes ago, toot said:

@YodaSk3tilook at the pinned thread stated by me at top of Fabia MK2 section on the DQ200,s.  The last pages especially.  Sorry travelling so only online while charging car.  Happy Christmas to all.  

 

Thanks so much @toot,Happy Christmas!

I don't have that TPI in my collection, but probably states needs SW update and clutch pack fix, though the part number seen is handy. (Not in a position to check right now)

 

Not sure of the law of the land, but I think you may have something regarding the bill, and how the repair/fix is worded, as you said, that will be a battle.

Thank you, @varooom! Any further advice and links you can provide, when you are able to, would be highly appreciated. I'm determined to get my Sketi back in shipshape and Bristol fashion. 

 

 

 

 

 

I might make you feel a little sick, as the price for the parts has no discount, and here it is https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/oem/0am198142l?supplier[0]=6

Not my intention, but to show that you have some wiggle room.  As the part fitted could have been discounted, as they make money just to sell the part that LUK/Sachs make.

 

You have a few ways you can play this, take the car back to them once they get the mechatronics, and you should argue for a strong discount due to replacing parts not needed.  I wouldn't blame them too hard for the diagnosis, as they may have had no choice but to follow the GFF sequence that led them to the "replace clutch pack" and the TPI combination.  As you can see the part could be had from elsewhere for much cheaper.

 

If you have had your fill of the main dealers, then I know an independant workshop in Doncaster, a VAG master tech (for Audi) with over 20 years experience, PM if you wish to head down that road.

You were right, @varooom. I do feel sick looking at that difference in price. I doubt I'll get that back from the dealership now since I agreed to it (believing it would fix the problem). Maybe I can settle on getting a couple of free services next year. 

 

I've just PM'd you for details of that independent workshop.

 

Thank you so much.