Hello everyone,

I recently purchased a certified 2005 3.2 TT DSG with only 18k miles. Ive had the car for about 3 weeks now and have had some problems.

First week the Check Engine light came on. Trip to the dealer revealed a knock sensor issue and an evap system code. The dealer replaced a sensor and cleared the evap code. XD

Second week light back on and Ive begun to realize an issue the car has had since day one, a shudder in power delivery when manouvering at parking lot speeds. It seems to be noticeable when making a slow standing start(especially on an incline), it lasts about 1-3 seconds until the DSG completely engages.

What is somewhat disturbing to me is that both times the engine light has come on the car was being maneuvered at low speed while exhibiting this shuddering.

I have looked around a bit online and have found one instance of GTI owners discussing a similar DSG shuddering effect to no avail.

Am I the only one that experienced this problem? I can't seem to find any information online that may help in my upcoming dealer "battle" over correcting this issue.

I have ready many articles that mention the cars smooth clutch engagement at low speeds.

Sincererely,

H

I just bought a 2005 3.2 DSG as well, with about 15k on it...

I have not experienced what you describe...

What I do notice is that at low speeds, when turning the car, I can hear/feel a sound that, to me, is very reminiscent of the sound/vibration/ the CV joints on my four wheel drive truck makes when the Front axel is engaged.

It almost feels like a drag on the axel....

I have been assuming that what I am feeling is the CV linkage on the front wheel when they are turned sharply... but now that I hear what you say I sure hope it isn't something portending a more serious issue.

I have also noticed that when I first start the car, it is idling high... it usually drops down after 20 seconds or so.. if I start driving while the idle is running initially high, the DSG seems to shift a little inconsistently... but I ascribe this to the engine speed being unusually high for the axel speed... as soon as the idle drops down a little the DSG seems to run normally.


I searched for quite a while for long term test reviews or owner complaints on the DSG before buying... and I could find almost nothing... just one guy who kept going thru clutches....

I took this as a good sign... that the system, albeit relatively new, was pretty solid.

I also choose the 2005 as the second year that had the DSG-- giving Audi a year to correct whatever turned up in the first year.



So, I too am keenly interested in any feedback others have on your issue.




It seems to me that a check engine light is not like complaining to the dealer about a noise... its something the car's diagnositcs are saying is an important issue...
given the warrantee being still in effect... you should not have to fight a battle... they should correct it even if it means giving you an entirely new DSG.

Or am I being naive?

I should clarify...
What I experience can feel like a shuudder in power delivery at low speeds when the wheels are turned pretty well...
I do not ascribe this to the transmission... but to the CV joints because of the vibration I get thru the wheel and the sound it makes....
The power seems inconsistent because the CV joints put significant resistance on the axel when sharply turned-- this, coupled with the relatively low torque below 1500 rpm, and the fact that the DSG shifts between 1st and second AND 3rd at these speeds, radically changing available torque....

At least... this is what I have been telling myself... Anyone who thinks I am way off base please educate me.


But, then, I do not get a check engine light... so I am assuming that what I am feeling is not nearly as pronounced as your experience.


Try this...
does the problem get worse or less noticable if you have the car in Sport mode? In sport mode the engine revs higher, provding more torque....


Also-- I find that is I am in manual shift mode, I simply keep the car in first or second at parking lot speeds and that the power seems to even out.

But do let me know what your dealer says...in case my engine light starts coming on....

Christopher, Thanks for the reply.

I have returned from the dealer now the second time.

Before I get into that, in response to your issues, I have yet to notice and CV joint effects that you described. This is probably due to my shudder distraction whic occurs in a straightened state just as well as during cornering. I will make a point to check out if my car behaves the same way and report here. I also purchased the vehicle for similar reasons which you stated, lack of online problems, model year etc.

Round two:

The check engine light has been triggered by once again the evap system vacuum sensor XD tyvm! and now something new. A vaguely described throttle body software setting error? After asking several times to describe what exactly this meant the best explaination was "Yeah the software needed to be adjusted, err reset."

The solution to the evap code is, I've got a bad evap pump. The part(pump) is on order and they'll install that end of the week. Hmm ok?

On to the real stinker. After explaining the shudder issue to them numerous times. I mentioned that I was cetain the shudder was caused by either a bad DSG clutch that was slipping in some way, or by the fact that the engine is rough at idle between 1k and 2k rpm(something I figured must have been what has caused, or a result of the engine light coming on). After the mechanic and service manager went for another test drive, here's the verdict of the service manager. "Yes I am experiencing the roughness in the engine, and the shudder effect of the DSG. However I need to do some research to determine wether or not this is normal." NORMAL??? "Since I dont have another car to compare it to, I need to look into it." I then pointed out that there was a 2005 3.2 TT DSG in the dealers used car lot. This was the car I eventually decided against because of excessive tire noise and cupped tires in the rear. After discussing the issue, the dealer offered to replace the tires, I opted not, and took a different TT, the car I am now having these problems with.

The plan now is for me to wait until the end of the week(evap pump install) for the service manager to "figure out" if my engine should be shaking at 1k-2k rpm. Unbelievable.

I will update after the next pleasant visit to the dealer which is completely out of my way.

Best,

H

dang...

Seems if the throttle software is screwy, that alone could be the culprit--- there's no cable- its entirely throttle by wire.

I have noticed that at very low speeds that the power seems inconsistent... not really a shudder, though, nothing that dramtic..... If I am driving a little more forcefully, I don't notice it at all... it seems to only happen when the tach is below 1500.

What I have noticed about the DSG is that in D, it will shift all the way into 6th going 35 mph... if I am being real soft on the accelerator...
I think this fuel conservative tendency is how Audi gets the mileage numbers they post... in D the transmission really tries to get the RPMs as low as it can when you are not giving it much throttle.


I suspect that inconsistent power at very low speeds may be the effect of this...after reading your message I took mine for a test drive and tried using the paddle shifters at various very slow speeds, in D, to check what gear the auto shifter had selected.

I found that with very light throttle input the car would actually shift all the way to 3rd at only 5 mph. If I then press the pedal a little harder... it will shift down into 2nd... what feels like nearly no pick up, and then a surge in pickup, is actually a downshift.
At 2 or 3 mph its already in second.

If I let up on the throttle just a little, it will shift back into 3rd.

But again... I have no check engine light on...

I suspect mine is running normally... I just had the 25,000 mile service done on it and the mechaninc test drove it and says its running perfectly.
You know how Automatic tramsissions often have a hard time picking and sticking with a gear going up or down a hill? It seems the DSG's shifting program does something similar at very low speeds. Unlike a normal auto transmission, which has a single gear to take it up to 15 or 20 mph.... the DSG can go thru 3 or 4 gears in this speed range...depending on how you are nudging the throttle.

It really seems optimized for pretty solid acceleration, or deceleration....having a hard time picking the ideal gear for slow speeds when it can't tell if you're speeding up or slowing down....




As a test, I suggest you try driving at slow speeds in manual mode... when I do this the power inconsistency pretty much disappears...( I notice a real surge in torque at 2500 rpm in all gears)

And in fact, when I am cruising a parking lot... I find I generally will hit the paddle shifter to put the car in second and have it stay there.


S mode also will delay upshifts... but it tries to keep engine revs above 2800, even when you are coasting, so that the power band is always on tap.


I would be interested to hear if your shudder seems to be solved by manual shifting.