Smell of hot clutch fluid getting out of an underground car park, and then car not going above fourth gear....... anything I can do myself to check transmission fluid or anything else? In Spain, and seemingly in trouble. We've been over a month away, so any breakdown cover no longer valid? Does it have to go to a VAG dealer?

Presuming you have the DQ200 seven speed dry clutch DSG, this doesn’t sound good I’m sorry to say.

Impossible to diagnose on a car forum, but it sounds to me like a mechatronic issue, or the accumulator failure (cracked casting) that’s quite common on the DQ200’s from this era.

Better to take to a DSG knowledgeable workshop IMO, but a VAG dealer if needs must.

No signs of leaking transmission fluid? Just to cover the simple stuff.

Sorry to hear of your predicament - good luck with getting it fixed.

Gaz