How long SHOULD a DSG last?
DATE: April 28, 2015
Name: Dan Snyder
Year: 2009
Make: VW
Model: Jetta Sportwagen
Date of auto production: November, 2008
Engine code: CBEA
Transmission Code: 02E
Date of DSG Production: July 22, 2008
Purchased, New or Used: New
Miles when purchased: 18
Current miles: 167,000
Area of country: Central Ohio
Fuel Statistics: Lifetime average is 38.3 mpg
Well, folks, I now know how long a DSG will last. Or, at least, how long the DSG in my JSW DID last. After 6 1/2 years and 164,473 miles, in the middle of Nevada, I was cruising at 70 when the transmission unexpectedly shifted down (to 4th?), and the PRNDS light on the dashboard started flashing, I pulled over, let the engine cool off for a bit, and shut it off. After restarting, I drove maybe 100 feet when the flashing started again. Called AAA. Waited a long time (middle of Nevada, remember?). Took it to Las Vegas for diagnosis. Two hour drive from where we were.
The VW dealer worked his magic, and found three codes (all bad): P2789 ($4B15 / 19221 001) Clutch Adaptive Learning at limit, Upper limit exceeded; P2723 ($4AD3 / 19155 000) Pressure Control Solenoid "E" Performance or Stuck Off, tbd, and; P2711 ($4AC7 / 19143 004) Unexpected Mechanical Gear Disengagement, no signal/communication. Hmm.
Their recommendation was a new DSG, including the Mechatronics unit and clutches. One week and a pile of money later, I left in a car that drove just about the same as it did just before the failure, which was actually very good. I do really like the way that the DSG behaves.
But was this the necessary cure? Would just replacing the clutches have cured the problem, or maybe the Mechatronics unit and the clutches? I find it very upsetting that there seems to be no warning that this was coming, so that I could have had the clutches replaced when the system was, say, at 90% of the limit, rather that waiting for catastrophic failure. And then replace the mechatronics unit too, if need be. If this was primarily a clutch wear issue, is that data available the OBD2 port?