S3 Stronic Query

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nicks3

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I have a 2009 S3 Stronic and wonder if anyone else with this combination has experienced the following.

When accelerating from rest the car seems to have a pause until the revs reach around 2200rpm when the car then accelerates strongly. Its almost as though either the clutch packs are engaging, turbo lag or lack of torque below 2000rpm.

I would appreciate thoughts from other owners who have this set up or the same issue with a non S3.
 
Yep, am experiencing the same. From stationary and pulling away, there appears to be a momentary wait before accelerating
 
Its enough of a pause to cause issues when trying to 'nip' into a gap in traffic from the lights.........
 
yes, I always put this down to turbo lag/low Torque, noticeable even more under very hard acceleration, because the haldex then needs to work out where to put the power. since my Remap I hardly notice it now though,

NickS3, I see you are east Midlands, I am not that far away if you want to arrange a meet and compare notes. drop me a PM
 
nicks3 said:
Its enough of a pause to cause issues when trying to 'nip' into a gap in traffic from the lights.........
Click to expand...


Definately! Especially driving in central london is a complete mare! I don't think it is the Turbo but certianly some sort of lag - mainly from the DSG. It is slow to respond and you'll notice the same when using paddles... whilst the DIS will tell you it has changed, it takes a moment for the gearbox to register.
 
i thought that s-tronic is the fastest transmition made. I think that your problem is in downpipe.
 
kkp0897 said:
Definately! Especially driving in central london is a complete mare! I don't think it is the Turbo but certianly some sort of lag - mainly from the DSG. It is slow to respond and you'll notice the same when using paddles... whilst the DIS will tell you it has changed, it takes a moment for the gearbox to register.
Click to expand...

This happens on my derv as well and drives me insane. It was enough to make me hate driving the car. I don't care if it can change gears in 0.00000000001 of a second...I just want it in a gear so I can go for gaps and not be a mobile roadblock.

A mobile roadblock which paaaaauses...........

.......and waits.....

.......and slows down a bit.....

then drops directly into 1st and shoots you into the car in front, or into the kerb, or off a bridge.

I don't care how ****** marvellous it's supposed to be, and how much praise gets heaped on it by journalists, this particular DSG driver says it's s**t
 
urrrmmmm, my car isn't even 4 weeks old.. if there's a problem like you have mentioned, I'll be tearing someone at Audi a new 'downpipe' mate.:thumbsup:
 
they won't give it. you'll have to go for a 3" aftermarket downpipe (like milltek or other).
i'm saying this about dp because i changed it few weeks ago and it makes noticeable difference in throttle response. maybe could be it :think:
 
S. said:
i thought that s-tronic is the fastest transmition made. I think that your problem is in downpipe.
Click to expand...

It might well be the fastest! However, you can keep the world's fastest gearshift if it doesn't know what gear it's supposed to be in.

Oooh, rubbish analogy time I think.

Me: "Look at how fast I'm shagging Carol Vorderman"

Passer-By: "That's not Carol Vorderman, it's a fish and chip shop"

Me: "Yeah, but look how fast I'm doing it"
 
HotboxDeluxe said:
It might well be the fastest! However, you can keep the world's fastest gearshift if it doesn't know what gear it's supposed to be in.

Oooh, rubbish analogy time I think.

Me: "Look at how fast I'm shagging Carol Vorderman"

Passer-By: "That's not Carol Vorderman, it's a fish and chip shop"

Me: "Yeah, but look how fast I'm doing it"
Click to expand...

Absolutely PMSL - keep up the good work, cack analogy or not. :respekt:
 
I dont see this issue at all with mine, in Auto mode it's awful as it usually is the wrong gear, but in Manual its just like fine, my DIS reading is always right. you may want to get Audi to check out the mechatronic unit and make sure this is OK

kkp0897 said:
Definately! Especially driving in central london is a complete mare! I don't think it is the Turbo but certianly some sort of lag - mainly from the DSG. It is slow to respond and you'll notice the same when using paddles... whilst the DIS will tell you it has changed, it takes a moment for the gearbox to register.
Click to expand...
 
this is exactly why i got my dsg gearbox remapped - always in the wrong gear, or you stick your foot down to pull out and it decides to change gear first then bang on heavy throttle in a low gear and you go off like a boy racer....mine got worse with the hybrid turbo because i was then adding some low down off-boost lag as well trying to pull into a gap at 20mph in 6th or possibly 5th. or as i pulled away it decided to drop to 2nd and give me 360lb/ft at the wrong moment.

mines a pd140

the remap gets it to hold the rev higher in each gear before changing, and changes down earlier as you slow to a roundabout/junction. it also needs more torque request to change gear so allows you to pull away without dropping a gear unless you floor the throttle.

other changes were increasing the speed of gear change, increase revs to change up gear at the top end, switch on launch control on my diesel, in manual mode to make 3rd onwards truly manual so you can bounce off the revs limiter if you want. increase the torque limiter to 500nm, and probably a load of other stuff too...manual changes are speeded up even more than auto.

does it work? yes - remarkably different in town driving, and now its a pleasure to drive - usually in the right gear particularly slowing for roundabouts and junctions. a lot less frustrating although its not perfect its now mostly right rather than wrong. tends to be in 3rd at 25mph to 30mph instead of 4th, and at 40mph its in 4th thinking about changing to 5th on a light throttle instead of already in 6th

i didnt change the sport mode - its far too high revved for a diesel and our attempts to tame it changed some aspects of the drive mode, so i stuck to a great drive mode/manual and completely ignore sports.

the best value mod 2nd only to a basic remap at £350
 
Thanks for the post Dunk but I have the Sport mode. When in Sport gear changes occur at higher revs so a lot of what you say above I have already.
 
audi upgrades
kkp0897 said:
Yep, am experiencing the same. From stationary and pulling away, there appears to be a momentary wait before accelerating
Click to expand...


I noticed this in a 20T with DSG i test drove 3 or 4 yrs ago. I found it most unerving. I was considering the S-Tronic if I decide on another S3, will think again now me thinks.

Mark
 
the symptoms you guys are describing sound like a mechatronic failure. The alarming rate at which they are failing put me off any kind of dsg/s-tronic variant, forcing me into a manual 8P.

google mechatronic failure, you'll see some waves being made in america about their common failure rates. They're not cheap, and theres a bit of a shortage.
 
madvw said:
the symptoms you guys are describing sound like a mechatronic failure. The alarming rate at which they are failing put me off any kind of dsg/s-tronic variant, forcing me into a manual 8P.

google mechatronic failure, you'll see some waves being made in america about their common failure rates. They're not cheap, and theres a bit of a shortage.
Click to expand...

Another reason to chop the car in: Megatron will come out of the gearbox and kill us all...and Optimus Prime doesn't always turn up in time
 
pd140 dsg remap was a custom job - i got autograph cars in burnley to do it, but they basically work with regal autosport as a northern associate.
 
How can it be a fault with the mechatronic unit if the remap of dsg has fixed most things, its down to the programming of the unit overall surely.

Although they do go wrong admittedly as mate had to change his, but still new one had same operational characteristics iirc, mine does it but for the split second its deciding what to do then I can have patients & deal with it, its not like a F1 car is it, for me its a very good piece of technology, I wont swap back now tbh.
 
audi upgrades
I dont think mine is a fault, the gearbox is in the right gear most of the time, its just the lag from standstill and I think this may be more of an issue with lag from the engine......
 
NHN said:
Although they do go wrong admittedly as mate had to change his, but still new one had same operational characteristics iirc, mine does it but for the split second its deciding what to do then I can have patients & deal with it, its not like a F1 car is it, for me its a very good piece of technology, I wont swap back now tbh.
Click to expand...

And I think it's crap :happy:

Different strokes for different folks :hi:
 
Don't get me started on my DSG issues which Audi say are normal...

I find swearing helps me get through the daily commute in my car although people probably think I'm a mentalist, which I suppose I am for getting this car :tocktock:
 
The test for me is would i go back to a manual on an Audi ? absolutely not.
Drive a auto and you will realise how good a DSG is. I just love playing BTC's with my sequential box on the paddles round the lanes, it changes a darn site faster than a human could :) and i can keep it on the boil within any rev range i want. Sometimes it will hesitate of the line but if you give it some it will take off :)...a very small price to pay IMHO
Show it a trafic jam or such and stick it in drive and it just runs like an electric motor, no sitting on the clutch or having to slip it because the prat in front is free wheeling at 1mph instead of driving the ****** thing :) top technology IMO.
 
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DSG is fantastic, much prefer to a manual, sure it needs to be driven slightly differently, and this slight hesitation people are talking about is there, but i think its best of both worlds, on the paddles, better than a manual, and in D better than a Auto !:rockwoot:
 
pedalpower7 said:
on the paddles, better than a manual
Click to expand...

That's a bold statement, sir! :hi:

Maybe I should try it with a petrol engine. I had a short drive of a GTi with the 'box and it didn't feel tooooo awful...

...although I'm still writing it off as s**t. Oooh I can change gear in 0.000000000000000000012 of a second...in my diesel. Yowsers.

I'll take a 'slow' conventional autobox (always in the right gear) or a 3-pedal manual (up to the driver) and not worry one little bit about the 0.0000000000000346 seconds that I would 'waste' by not having a DSG.

I'm far less angry when I drive the s****y pool car Passat with its manual gearbag. I just look a knob because I forget to put it in neutral at traffic lights :lmfao:
 
I don't really think its just the fast changes that make it better than a normal auto, the lack of the torque converter is a massive plus, non of that slurry pull aways etc. To me it feels like a manual box but without the clutch pedal, where as a conventional torque converter auto, feels, well, like a auto. I used to have DSG on a Golf GTI, then went back to manual BMW's, and always missed the DSG. I appreciated it is not for everyone, esp people who really like manual cars, but not sure anyone who likes a normal auto, would not like DSG. Come on mate, admit it, you would love a DSG box in your car ! lol:idea:
 
To me it feels like a manual box but without the clutch pedal,

Eh...thats because it is a manual box but without the clutch pedal really :)
 
paddy said:
To me it feels like a manual box but without the clutch pedal,

Eh...thats because it is a manual box but without the clutch pedal really :)
Click to expand...

lol, yes that's my point !, best of both worlds ! :yahoo:
 
I'd whole heartedly agree there & watching 2 gti mk5's going at it from standstill but one manual & one dsg, dsg left it btw, was great, convinced me to get it & not one day regretted that decision, its just great to drive.

Those who are whingeing about the dsg pauses etc, I swap those minor annoyances for your constant clutch down, gear in etc, anyday of the week, constant stop start gear changes, clutch control crap, this is coming from mk3 gti's, vr6's, s3, s4 etc all manual, its just less volatile driving, more relaxing, chilled & no bother at all, its not cause I'm getting old, its just with amount of traffic on the road these days & the constant start/stop situations you couldnt ask for a better system to drive with these days, as they say nothing is perfect at all, but this isnt to far of & you can always tinker with the dsg with a map on the box, I honestly believe the future is auto boxes overall, time will tell.
 
NHN said:
I'd whole heartedly agree there & watching 2 gti mk5's going at it from standstill but one manual & one dsg, dsg left it btw, was great, convinced me to get it & not one day regretted that decision, its just great to drive.

Those who are whingeing about the dsg pauses etc, I swap those minor annoyances for your constant clutch down, gear in etc, anyday of the week, constant stop start gear changes, clutch control crap, this is coming from mk3 gti's, vr6's, s3, s4 etc all manual, its just less volatile driving, more relaxing, chilled & no bother at all, its not cause I'm getting old, its just with amount of traffic on the road these days & the constant start/stop situations you couldnt ask for a better system to drive with these days, as they say nothing is perfect at all, but this isnt to far of & you can always tinker with the dsg with a map on the box, I honestly believe the future is auto boxes overall, time will tell.
Click to expand...


Well said that man :yahoo:

I seem to spend all my time in traffic, start stop etc etc, now just stick it in D wind up the Bose and chill.

I reference to your last point, Ferrari are only selling their new model in Auto (twin clutch), no manual option as they say their owners don't want it..... food for thought people :yes:
 
I have to say i was in 2 minds about the Stronic as i hadnt tried it before i picked up my S3. I have to say though it is fantastic the slight hesitation it has is so small you hardly notice it unless your looking for it. I recommend anyone who hasnt tried it to go have a shot. Im not sure id go back to a manual i find it a pain driving the MK2
 
Nige is quite right, the manual will die out and given the choice then DSG is 100% better than auto. The new A3 with 7 speed box must be a nightmare in manual. i borrowed a A4 from audi the other week and that was 6 speed manual and i was constantly changing gears and to make matters worse Audi even put an idiot light on the dash to tell you to change gears !!! How long before they put an arrow there to tell you to steer ?? I mean a smart **** car telling me when to change gear !!!
Excuse me sir, your in 7th ! you need to be in 6th to save the planet !....shut up or i'll drive you through a puddle...
 
You're absolutely right, it's just like a manual...with an idiot working the clutch. I prefer a bit of slurry with a torque convertor thankyou very much :happy:

Having a car that drives like this:
HK_Sunday_Wan_Chai_Park_Playground_.jpg

annoys me far more than having to clutch in traffic. I love a nice autobox, but IMO the DSG is far from nice. I drove a girlfriend's A3 140 manual for 4-5 hours over the weekend, and it was so much nicer to drive than mine I was :puke:

As for Ferrari not selling any manuals any more, well I interpret it slightly differently. Their main customer base these days is willy-waving F1 wannabees and fake-tanned chihuahua-carrying Hollywood wives. What's a clutch pedal again?
 
hmmm, not sure many people would agree that a normal auto is better than a DSG, but hey each to their own, some people like Katy Price, each to their own mate ! lol

As for Ferrari, well it was not long ago that the press were insisting that the only way to go was manual as the automated manual boxes were rubbish, and having driven a SMG BMW M5 i have to agree, total *****. However DSG is a semi auto manaul that works !, i think Ferrari's move indicates 'allot' of peoples desire for a Semi-Auto, that actually works.

I think in the future the 'Auto' whatever that maybe (DSG etc) will be the norm and the option will be the manual.
 
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