S-tronic vibration problems

[altecdell]

Ok. So after a week in this car, I can attest that it is fine at high speeds and under heavy throttle. But the car is a nightmare in heavy or slow traffic. The stalling feeling is still there and the gear shifts are very choppy when you only advance a short distance in heavy traffic. Also, I am starting to hear abnormal transmission noises during these slow movements. Again, no issues once I step on it. Going to bring it into the dealer. Anybody else experience this?

[Blarg]

When I test drove one with 40 some miles it was pretty clunky under slow-to-normal driving but fast and precise under heavier throttle. Maybe they'll have an update to the shifting settings to smooth it out?

[L0U]

regular auto is better in stop and go for smoothness. It is the one drawback to performance in the other areas. I bet the shop finds it is normal. It did take some getting used to in my 6 speed dsg a3, as far as noises, clunkyness when slow.

[stewie]

I haven't experienced the problem yet in my S4 but I haven't driven it in real stop and go traffic, but will keep you posted as I get more experience. However I can say that I have driven the DCT in the E90 M3 in stop and go traffic and it was very jerky......violently jerky. It may be just the nature of DCT.

[JTurbo]

I haven't experienced the problem yet in my S4 but I haven't driven it in real stop and go traffic, but will keep you posted as I get more experience. However I can say that I have driven the DCT in the E90 M3 in stop and go traffic and it was very jerky......violently jerky. It may be just the nature of DCT.

My RS4 is manual obviously, but I also have a 09 Nissan GTR (which has a DSG like transmission in it) ... its fairly clunky when driven in stop and go conditions. The best way to drive it (in those conditions) is manual mode. Part of the problem the GTR always has is, it wants to shift to 1st right as you get to about 1200 rpm, but if you then get on the gas right as it shifts, it has to finish the shift to 1st, then go ... if you are on / off / on / off the gas like stop and go traffic causes, it gets angry. This holds true for 2nd/3rd gear as well. By driving it in manual mode, I shift it when I want it to, not when it wants to. After a while, clicking the paddles will become second nature and you wont even notice your doing it :)

As for noise, I wouldnt worry about it. It is a manual transmission afterall. You likely will hear the computer engaging and disengaging the clutches, and moving the gears. The GTR is noisy and grindy as hell, but they all do it. I got used to it after a few months.

[ranch]

If you have the sport diff and/or drive select, try putting the car in "comfort" mode while in stop and go traffic. The combination of relaxed throttle input and relaxed shifting makes the car much easier to drive in stop and go traffic.

[altecdell]

My RS4 is manual obviously, but I also have a 09 Nissan GTR (which has a DSG like transmission in it) ... its fairly clunky when driven in stop and go conditions. The best way to drive it (in those conditions) is manual mode. Part of the problem the GTR always has is, it wants to shift to 1st right as you get to about 1200 rpm, but if you then get on the gas right as it shifts, it has to finish the shift to 1st, then go ... if you are on / off / on / off the gas like stop and go traffic causes, it gets angry. This holds true for 2nd/3rd gear as well. By driving it in manual mode, I shift it when I want it to, not when it wants to. After a while, clicking the paddles will become second nature and you wont even notice your doing it :)

As for noise, I wouldnt worry about it. It is a manual transmission afterall. You likely will hear the computer engaging and disengaging the clutches, and moving the gears. The GTR is noisy and grindy as hell, but they all do it. I got used to it after a few months.

Thanks. This is very helpful. I'm starting to learn more about this transmission and am understanding what it really is and how it differs from conventional slushboxes. I'll try your suggestion

[Deep Sea S4]

I'm totally living this issue right now. Car is really rough and dare I say confused down low when you are not giving a lot of gas from a stop.

I have been trying to find ways to make this less of an issue.

How do I keep it from going in auto mode when i have it in the "S" setting.

I want to be able to get into first gear in manual mode and keep it in there.

I can not seem to get it to stay there, if I do not give it enough gas it quicky wants to jump into 2nd and then I need to hit the left paddle to take it back into 1st and that often causes a problem.

Am I missing something here?

Any tips from people who have been driving this gearbox a little more?

I do not have Audi Drive Select

[thebishman]

I'm totally living this issue right now. Car is really rough and dare I say confused down low when you are not giving a lot of gas from a stop.

I have been trying to find ways to make this less of an issue.

How do I keep it from going in auto mode when i have it in the "S" setting.

I want to be able to get into first gear in manual mode and keep it in there.

I can not seem to get it to stay there, if I do not give it enough gas it quicky wants to jump into 2nd and then I need to hit the left paddle to take it back into 1st and that often causes a problem.

Am I missing something here?

Any tips from people who have been driving this gearbox a little more?

I do not have Audi Drive Select

I am thinking that with the ADS, if you place the car in Dynamic mode then switch to manual gear changes, it would be the most likely way to get the car to hold max revs in a gear. I'll try this tomorrow.
Bish

[L0U]

I'm totally living this issue right now. Car is really rough and dare I say confused down low when you are not giving a lot of gas from a stop.

I have been trying to find ways to make this less of an issue.

How do I keep it from going in auto mode when i have it in the "S" setting.

I want to be able to get into first gear in manual mode and keep it in there.

I can not seem to get it to stay there, if I do not give it enough gas it quicky wants to jump into 2nd and then I need to hit the left paddle to take it back into 1st and that often causes a problem.

Am I missing something here?

Any tips from people who have been driving this gearbox a little more?

I do not have Audi Drive Select

d and s are both auto shift. push the stick at 90 dergrees into the + - gates, then use the paddles. It will stay in the selected gear unless it downshifts due to too low revs, or upshifts at redline, or downshifts due to kickdown passing logic on full throtle.

[73kingstonroad]

Ok. So after a week in this car, I can attest that it is fine at high speeds and under heavy throttle. But the car is a nightmare in heavy or slow traffic. The stalling feeling is still there and the gear shifts are very choppy when you only advance a short distance in heavy traffic. Also, I am starting to hear abnormal transmission noises during these slow movements. Again, no issues once I step on it. Going to bring it into the dealer. Anybody else experience this?

That's a problem with the S tronic at low speeds and low revs...
I have the same issue in my 2.0T Quattro, jolty and harsh to change up mainly in the lower gears. As you say when pushed to around the 3000 RPM and beyond it's fine, fast and smooth.
I'm having my car in at the dealers on Monday to have a program run through it which aligns and re adapts the clutch's. I'm hoping this should fix or at least smooth out this issue.

Martin

[Deep Sea S4]

That's a problem with the S tronic at low speeds and low revs...
I have the same issue in my 2.0T Quattro, jolty and harsh to change up mainly in the lower gears. As you say when pushed to around the 3000 RPM and beyond it's fine, fast and smooth.
I'm having my car in at the dealers on Monday to have a program run through it which aligns and re adapts the clutch's. I'm hoping this should fix or at least smooth out this issue.

Martin

Intresting, can you advise what they find and how it turns out.

[crsvoboda]

My 2010 S4 has the same issue. It's EXTREMELY clunky for any shifts under 2000 RPM, but when you push her, its smooth as silk. Putting her under comfort does help a bit, but there is some sweet spot around 1600 RPM that gives the most brutal shifts. Also, when slowly coming to a stop, the tranny will downshift and kind jolt the car around. I've been popping her in neutral when I see a red light ahead and I know I'm stopping. Overall, I am happy with my car, but coming from an A43.0 with a MT6 and going into the STronic takes some getting used to.

[zillmc]

Isn't there a TSB out for this? The mandatory one issued by Audi awhile back? I don't have the S-Tronic but I saw similar threads like this like a month back and people got a new software version that helped with these issues.

It may be awhile till Audi works out all the kinks of the S-Tronic, similar things happened in some other cars like the VW and BMW SMG box.

[NWS4Guy]

Isn't there a TSB out for this? The mandatory one issued by Audi awhile back? I don't have the S-Tronic but I saw similar threads like this like a month back and people got a new software version that helped with these issues.

It may be awhile till Audi works out all the kinks of the S-Tronic, similar things happened in some other cars like the VW and BMW SMG box.

Yes, there is a MANDITORY update for the DSG transmisssion that any dealer will (and has to) perform that addresses just this complaint - the hard shifting and problems at low speeds. Every person who had the complaint about this and got the software update said the problems went away.

[Eggplant Wizard]

I had this problem at first. Dealership did the transmission update, now it's much better.

[mr_coo168]

searched this thread, i think im having this problem. did anyone get this fix?

[Wah]

I definitely agree with the topic of this thread; my Stronic is extremely jerky in heavy traffic.

However, as JTurbo mentioned, the best way to avoid the jerkiness is to drive the car in manual mode or even S mode depending on the intensity of traffic.
FYI, this is the only drawback of having the DSG. Otherwise, super smooth shifts and lightning faaaaasst!

[kapikog]

Yes, there is a MANDITORY update for the DSG transmisssion that any dealer will (and has to) perform that addresses just this complaint - the hard shifting and problems at low speeds. Every person who had the complaint about this and got the software update said the problems went away.

Well, I had mine in for the 8000 km service a while back and complained about shift quality. Ironically, they gave me an A3 loaner with DSG. What a world of difference that was (i.e. much better shift quality!).

When I picked up the car, they of course said that it was fine. They said that they 'recalibrated it', blah blah. It shifted better on the way home, and then went back to normal.

More recent issues are, after I start it in the morning (<0°C), you need to give it some throttle to get going, the first time. When you do this, it jerks forward, like you dropped the clutch.

There is also an annoying resonance/vibration at 1100 RPM; especially noticeable when coasting to a stop (in comfort mode). This could be an accessory drive resonance though...

[Leo]

There is also an annoying resonance/vibration at 1100 RPM; especially noticeable when coasting to a stop (in comfort mode). This could be an accessory drive resonance though...

Try replicating this in neutral, without engaging the transmission. Mine was at dealer last week for this exact issue (at 1050 rpm). They have ordered an engine mount, as they saw the problem was excessive engine movement causing exhaust pipes to rattle.

[kapikog]

Try replicating this in neutral, without engaging the transmission. Mine was at dealer last week for this exact issue (at 1050 rpm). They have ordered an engine mount, as they saw the problem was excessive engine movement causing exhaust pipes to rattle.

Thanks - I checked it out again at lunch; the noise/vibration is definitely still there (in neutral), and you're right in that it is most noticeable at 1050 RPM. I guess that I had rounded up to 1100RPM :o.

FYI, there is a very likely chance that this could be an accessory drive resonance issue, as opposed to an engine mount. So, I'm very curious to hear how things go for you at the dealer.

[jeffc31337]

Coming from the 6 speed DSG in my TT the 7 speed is extremely refined comparatively at slow speeds.

That being said after three years with the clunkier 6 speed I always throw the car into manual in traffic.....

[Leo]

Thanks - I checked it out again at lunch; the noise/vibration is definitely still there (in neutral), and you're right in that it is most noticeable at 1050 RPM. I guess that I had rounded up to 1100RPM :o.

FYI, there is a very likely chance that this could be an accessory drive resonance issue, as opposed to an engine mount. So, I'm very curious to hear how things go for you at the dealer.

Part is on back order. Will re-post when work gets done (in about 2-3 weeks).

[ChrisMT79]

I can attest to the DCT in the e90 m3. At low speeds that thing drove me nuts.

[mr_coo168]

I've been driving the car in D mode i feel the power is not balance around 1 to 1.7 rpm kind of a weird feeling like it looses power for 1 sec. when it climes back up at 2 and above its crazy that's where the car keeps pulling and pulling with power =). Is this normal? This is my first audi never driven one or how there transmission works (pretty much a newbie lol). Post #15 nws4guy said there's a software update, does that fix the problem? mine is 2011 and this thread is a year old does that mean mines already updated?
Going to call the dealership probably next week and see how it goes.

p.s Is the engine suppose to be quiet when idle? i can hear like a spinning sound when im next to it. I remember last year when i went to the dealer to test one out and it was very quiet at idle

[kapikog]

I've been driving the car in D mode i feel the power is not balance around 1 to 1.7 rpm kind of a weird feeling like it looses power for 1 sec. when it climes back up at 2 and above its crazy that's where the car keeps pulling and pulling with power =). Is this normal? This is my first audi never driven one or how there transmission works (pretty much a newbie lol). Post #15 nws4guy said there's a software update, does that fix the problem? mine is 2011 and this thread is a year old does that mean mines already updated?
Going to call the dealership probably next week and see how it goes.

p.s Is the engine suppose to be quiet when idle? i can hear like a spinning sound when im next to it. I remember last year when i went to the dealer to test one out and it was very quiet at idle

I've heard about the software update repeatedly as well. When I had mine in they 'checked' for any relevant updates and said that there weren't any. They basically just reset it. So, it was better for the drive home and that was it. The latest glitch is, as I had mentioned, after first starting on sub zero °C day, after putting it in D (on level garage floor), it will not creept forward as is normally the case. So, in order to get it going, I need to step on the throttle a little, and then it jerks forward, like someone learning stick for the first time.

FTR, I've found the transverse VAG 6 spd DSGs WAY better (i.e. MV Jetta/GTI/A3). It's like they've gone two steps back with their latest trans. :-(

[blumango]

I'm having problems too but only when I'm downshifting in manual mode. On the S5 , I have discovered something rather odd with the gear shift when I'm in manual mode. Upshifting is very smooth and slick but sometimes when I downshift, the gear shift produces some resistance and when I use a little more force it will produce a clunking sound when downshifting. I tried experimenting a little and realized that this happens all the time at low speed. For example, when I'm driving in 3rd gear at about 30km/hr and then tries to downshift when approaching a hump, the gear shift will produce the resistance and then "clunk" into 2nd gear. It feels a little "stuck" if you know what I mean. Does anyone with a S5 sportback face this?

Also, my right pedal shift makes a clicking noise whenever I touched it. So if I upshifting with it, it makes a click noise as if it's loose and then clicks again when it actually engages a gear. Anyone has the same problem?

[KRPP]

Hi guys, looking for advise or similar experiences to prove I'm not going nuts.....
took my 2010 A4 2T Quattro in for it's 2nd attempt to improve the gear shifts, the first one was the mandatory update which apparently fixed a jerky start - never experienced that my self - but that update introduced an apparent 'old man' mode where the car ALWAYS goes into the next highest gear than I would like; Yes its a Turbo so loads of torque but the car labours at 1500 in all gears at all normal speeds, it upshifts at 1800 in normal driving, then immediately drops back into 1500 and throbs there until the next attempt at accelerating.....if I paddle shift it down so the revs are at 2000, the throttle performance is much better and the car does not shudder. And if I push the pedal harder, it jumps down a gear, for 0.5 secs, then back up a gear to get the revs down...unless I mash the pedal when it then rears up, whinnies and shoots into the car in front. Not a pleasent drive at all. Any one seeing this ??

2nd issue is when coming to rest: unless it comes to a complete stop - not even 1kmh - the box stays in 2nd and launches in 2nd when throttled, meaning I get classic slow release clutch affect, smooth but utterly dangerous when trying to enter traffic at roundabouts or corners, or creeping along in traffic. The paddles don't work for a 2nd to 1st shift at 10km or so it seems, so I have to jerk to a hlt and then creep. Any thoughts ??

The Audi tech noticed both of these on my demo drive and agreed they were issues, says he later fixed them with help from the Audi senior engineer, and it seemed better on he drive home but its now back to crap. Is this the so called 'learning' mode overiding the factory settings ? Any ides how I can set the car to learn and stay in a particluar driving mode ? I like to drive quickly, not fast, and mostly in suburban and city traffic unfortunately, but my Subaru Liberty and GM Vectra were much better than this, for much less money. [:(]

[showcarmike]

check out this link..this happened to me also..

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/416067-Annoying-noise-vibration-1050-RPM-with-S-Tronic?highlight=vibration+at+1050+rpm

[NWS4Guy]

This is an odd one, I have never had mine (or driven anyone elses) who has done this. I would love to meet someone with the issue and swap cars to see how much is driver and how much is car.

[KRPP]

HI Showcarmike,

thks for the link, but that topic is about vibration lesding to an exhaust issue; my issue is about very early upshifting and starting form 2nd gear near rest.......

[AudiAnnie]

2nd issue is when coming to rest: unless it comes to a complete stop - not even 1kmh - the box stays in 2nd and launches in 2nd when throttled, meaning I get classic slow release clutch affect, smooth but utterly dangerous when trying to enter traffic at roundabouts or corners, or creeping along in traffic. The paddles don't work for a 2nd to 1st shift at 10km or so it seems, so I have to jerk to a hlt and then creep. Any thoughts ??

My TT does this. I'm sure it's designed that way for smoothness, but it becomes very irritating when you only have a fraction of the wheel torque you want, each time you start off. I also worry about the extra wear on clutch #2, since it slips for quite a few seconds.
To avoid the issue, I'm getting into the habit of dropping into Sport mode as I slow to a stop, which guarantees it will go all the way down to first, even if I do a rolling stop. A bonus of this approach is that you also get better compression braking. After the car picks up a little speed again, I shift back to Drive - unless I'm chasing after someone in a Porsche. :)

[KRPP]

Thks Annie, Yep I'd settle for the flappy paddles shifting to 1st, but it won't do it for me in D and moving the gear selector is not the best option - however, if the S mode actually gave me a Faster throttle response instead of just ringing out the revs in every gear, I'd use S mode more....maybe it's just me but Sports mode should be a more responsive mode to the drivers foot, both up and down, instead of just being a flat out mode. But, will give it a go and see how it runs, thks.
BTW can you use the paddles in D, to go to 2nd to 1st ?

[Seinsmeld13]

I had the software update. The only change I noticed was that most of my vagcoms disappeared. Mine still clunks at very low speeds when it drops to first at very slow speeds. I drive mine full manual dynamic once the engine is at operating temperature. It seems the harder you drive it the smoother it is. I still prefer my GTI DSG which is the wife's daily driver. She gets my hand me downs. I still love taking that car out once a week.