Category: Blog

Dieselgate

Not only did I buy DSG7-gate car, now it has the Dieselgate features. Thanks for shit Volkswagen!

Can’t wait to see, what solution they come up with, in solving this. Will they, just limit engine to limit emissions, or will they automagically do something technical that will improve emissions.

Judging from previous solutions and excuses, they will probably choose cheapest solution possible, and screw once again their customers.

Got a phone call yesterday…

Yesterday, I got a phone call from the “Appeals board for cars” (in Danish, “Ankenævn for biler”) but was unable to take the phone. This is the board where I exactly one year ago today, placed a complaint on problems with my car.

Will try to get in touch with them today, and see what is going to happen next. Today might be the day, where my complaints get answers and a conclusion.

I can’t stop but wonder if this phone call has anything to do with VW DK offering ex gratia repairs on DSG7 …

Possible ex gratia rumour for DSG7 owners in Denmark

Few days ago, I’ve been notified about some reports that VW Denmark has issued ex gratia on DSG7 gearboxes. According to the rumours, which I was not able to confirm just yet, it will cover DSG7 gearboxes not older than 6 years, or 200.000 kilometers.

Al though it is not warranty, this could be positive in reassuring confidence in VW DSG7 gearboxes, that were hit with massive global problems on almost all markets except European.

Must point out that this rumour has not been confirmed, only something I’ve read on a Danish VAGcars.dk forums. According to posters of the rumour, they are either working in Volkswagen Service Partner or know someone who does. Which is of course positive, but I will need to have some written documentation, before I can take it as granted. Too many times I’ve been burnt by oral agreement and later on, they forgot all about it. So, for now, this is only to be considered as a rumour, and nothing else but that.

What does “ex gratia” means?

It means that Volkswagen covers partial costs of parts, and only, parts or repairs/replacements of parts, out of the goodwill/kindness. You will still have to pay hourly rate your service partner charges.

Audi A1: help, save my Audi!

Audi Germany, offers extended warranty to an owner of an Audi A1, with S-tronic. S-tronic is Audi term for the same gearbox that Volkswagen calls DSG7.

“Annoyance of the week”

 

Mr. Hennecke: My Audi A1 Sportback 1.6 TDI S-tronic factory apparently wrong Software to obtain control of engine and transmission. Before my dealer the mistake he has known, he tried several times to fix the car. From the factory, even the complete gearbox-clutch unit has been replaced. But also by itself has nothing veined: The vehicle is not reasonably mobile. It bucks, and from, gears are outrageous noises when I shift or slow driving.

Audi: In the context of the present complaint, a especial optimization software was developed. It is the Audi partners in
Germany recently available. Of course, we are
Mr. Hennecke convey an appointment with his Audi dealer to have them play for free software.

Magazine Editor: Even the software update has not improved the situation of Mr. Hennecke. The A1 Sportback goes not always trouble-free. As compensation, Audi has now offered him an extended warranty.

 

Help, save my Audi!
Help, save my Audi!

 

 

VW in China recalls imported cars as well

Some more news from China, about DSG7 (DQ200) gearboxes. VW in China is issuing recall on imported cars as well. That is, VW cars with DSG7, not manufactured in China. Which was the fundamental excuse for Volkswagen’s claim for not recognising the same problem in the rest of the world. Even thou symptoms and problems are 100% identical to those in China. Volkswagen, so far, is still refusing to acknowledge existence of the problem in Europe and elsewhere.

With this latest recall, one could conclude following;

  • VW is well aware of the issue with their DQ200 gearboxes and is trying to hide the extend of the problem.
  • All DQ200 gearboxes are manufactured in China, contrary to what VW wants us to believe.

To recap, for less informed readers on recall

Across Europe and world as well, VW is claiming that only Chinese manufactured gearboxes are defective and therefore, no other markets are affected by this problem with their DSG7 (DQ200) gearboxes. But this new recall, that is actually recalling imported cars (non-Chinese manufactured) with DSG7. Which throws out of the window VW theories/reasons for defective gearboxes. On all continents there are customers with DSG7 gearboxes, with same problems. Only difference there is, how Volkswagen is “forced” to react. Everything else about this problem is actually identical.

  • Power loss
  • Slipping clutches
  • Noise

Read the original article :: http://english.cri.cn/6826/2013/07/04/2702s773954.htm

VW Denmark is not budging in DSG7 problems

In the last few months, some major media, here in Denmark, reported on DSG7 problems, and had interviews with PR-reps from VW Denmark. VW Denmark is not budging in DSG7 problems. Journalists were mostly asking same questions, and getting the same answers. Or, perhaps VW Denmark only answered on selected questions.

But, common theme in the articles were mostly asking, if VW thinks they have general problems with DSG7 transmission (internally known as DQ200). They of course answered with “no”. Volkswagen is claiming that they know about very few cases with problems, and that these were taken care of, either under warranty or ex-gratia, where consumers were asked to pay a part of the repair.

Another common theme in the VW answers were, indirect blame of the consumer for the problems. Declining to acknowledge the problems and responsibility, VW is automatically blaming consumer for the problems. They even used numbers to deflect the blame, and informed  journalists they sold 8.500 cars with DSG7 transmission, out of those VW claimed “only” 311 had problems. This is a 3,66% error margin, if we are just to take look at their numbers. Which I am not completely confident that the numbers are true. Even if the numbers are true, there is a question about what models it was sold with.

There are some models and engines more suitable for DSG7 specifications, and others are less suitable. Eg. engine torque, and the size/weight of the car.

An example to illustrate the issue

Another example of this (bad engine combinations) could be following;

DSG7 is rated at max. output of 250 Nm of torque.

  • Polo 1.2 TSI 90-105 BHP has about 160 – 175 Nm of torque
  • Touran 1.6 TDI with 105 BHP has 250 Nm of torque.

As you can see… Touran with TDI engines is riding on the limits of the DSG7 gearbox specifications. And this is only asking for troubles. That VW went anyway with this combination of engine and gearbox is beyond my understanding.

And consumers are to be blamed and pay for their design/manufacturing flaws?

So, now if I could only get VW of publicising the numbers of sold Polo’s and other models well within limitations of the DSG7 gearbox, and deduct that number from those 8.500, I am pretty sure error rate will be a lot higher, than 3.66%.

DSG7 failure – Numbers do not add up…

We have new information about problems with DSG7 gearbox.

According to figures from VW DK, there are about sold 8.500 cars with DSG7 in Denmark. And only 311 of them would have had problems with the gearbox. It is about 3.7% of cars with DSG7 …
We do not know what the overall margin of error is on the cars, but 3.7% may not sound like much … Or?

At the same time when you read articles from the German DSG7 problems, they also have “several hundred cars” …
The same “numbers” found in the article linked to below.

If one were to stick to statistics, so Germany should have a greater share of problems, since there are more who bought the car with DSG7. But funny enough, the figure is more or less “the same” as in Denmark.

At the same time, there will be in this article from Jylland-Posten (http://epn.dk/privat/biler/ECE5429249/vw-kunder-klager-over-gearkasse/), said of the VW DK, the number of customers in Germany the problem is more significant.Reasoned, with the Danish tax and other geography, and higher speeds and longer distance driven.

So, who is creative with numbers here? Who are they trying to mislead? The Germans or the Danes?
And who buys these explanations?

When one thinks of “several hundred” what figure do they have in mind?
We would say about 200-300 …

In Sweden, VW deprecated Taxi companies in buying cars with DSG7 as there are too many start-stop situations. As a means to DSG7 obviously not suitable for short trips.
In Germany it is too long trips, too many hills. In Sweden, too short trips. In Denmark it is too little hills and low speeds, maybe even danish tax system, which evidently is causing the problem?

Many unanswered questions … Maybe it is the journalists who ask the right questions of the critical nature.

Comparing the components…

So I got a hold of a component ID’s from a Golf 2013 model, and compared it to my car logs from 08/2011.

My VW Touran 1.6TDI DSG7 2011

Styreenhed 02: Automatik Forklaringsfil: NEZAM-300-04x.clb
Styreenhedsnr. SW: 0AM 300 049 K HW: 0AM 927 769 D
Komponent : GSG DSG AG7 411 2101
Revision: 00041014 Serienummer: 00001103260311
Kodning : 0000020Forhandler : WSC 04940 001 00001
VCID: 39735D3C09C9
Ingen fejlkoder fundet.

 

VW Golf TDI DSG7 2013

Adress 02: Automatväxel Labels: 0AM-300-04x.lbl
Artikelnr SW: 0AM 300 054 E HW: 0AM 927 769 D
Komponent: GSG DSG AG7 431 3630
Revision: 00043014 Serienummer: CU50120500000
Kodning: 0000020 Verkstad #: WSC 01357 011 00200
VCID: 2F552CEABEB8F760886
Ingen felkod funnen.

Bold = identical
Red = older
Green = newer

Both gearboxes are identical, as they have the same hardware ID. Software is only minor revision compared to mine. Revision line is different but I am not sure what is this covering. Maybe somebody else can shine some light on this.

So all in all, if VW is claiming that they have built new revised gearbox, I don’t see it here, as the Hardware should have changed as well? I think they just adjusted the software to make the shifting a bit faster, and at higher RPM’s. Which results in higher fuel consumption, than advertised. And yes, I know that fuel consumption is already lower than advertised, I mean, even lower… And they still can’t provide definitive proof that this even works. Because it does not work on my gearbox.

Dear Volkswagen, stop lying to your customers!

 

DSG DQ200 0AM – Problems and thoughts

Was sent this few days ago. It’s a document that dwells a bit more into problems of VAG 7-speed DSG gearbox. In a bit more detail, than I was able to do and found before.

DSG DQ200 0AM – Problems and thoughts

There is one interesting thing here, that I was not aware of before, and it is the knowledge of the problem. According to this document, VAG/VW knew about the problem, at the time I bought the car. They did not acknowledge this, when I was ordering my car. I asked them specifically about any problems with this gearbox, and they told me in a way, that it is “the best they made”.