DSG Mechatronics Failures: Are we driving them wrongly?

Friend called in from Mumbai this morning - his Superb's DSG has packed up. Car would start but not move. Diagnosis is mechatronics failure - for a 2011-registered vehicle with less than 15,000 km on the odo... There have been loads of stories of similar failures... Quote: Originally Posted by V-16 (Post 2260540) ...a mechatronic failure. Also it is not an openable unit. It may be the ecu o fthe gearbox but im not sure if they are the same thing, though i believe it is. One has to open the housing on the side of the gearbox (the black housing) and this unit is fixed in it, via two or three nuts. Quote: Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi (Post 2498688) Mechatron failure. I'll be damned if I know what that is. BUT I've been told it happens with this DSG gearbox. Quote: Originally Posted by Vid6639 (Post 2315460) I've heard the 7 speed DSG box in the superb TSi is supposed to be problematic. And even I want to know what exactly is this mechatronic jargon. Is it mechanical or electrical? And what are the parts that are replaced for such a huge amount. Quote: Originally Posted by noopster (Post 2315423) There were some noises on the forums that the DSG's worst days were behind it. From the looks of it, those were wrong. Quote: Originally Posted by Jaggu (Post 2315579) What a place to put all the electronics, no wonder they fail in the heat! It has wire connectors dipped in oil! Quote: Originally Posted by GTO (Post 2318318) ...Skoda has not run a single recall in India. Not for their DSGs... A few random thoughts and comments come to mind: The petrol Superb comes with a 7-speed DSG which is more compact in its dimensions, than the diesel Superb's 6-speed DSG. It therefore contains less oil; The same oil that lubricates the gears also acts as a hydraulic fluid for the mechatronic module to shift the gears; Running the DSG in crawling / stop-start traffic with the shift always in 'D' mode generates extra heat from constant clutch friction. Even though the DSG has an oil-cooler, the oil tends to overheat in tropical conditions, and damage the mechatronics module (this was an explanation I received from someone whose name I am not in a position to quote); Shifting to 'N' in stop-start traffic may save the mechatronics module from terminal damage. Although this is counterproductive considering that an automatic gearbox should not need fiddling with the shifter every so often, one might save on a huge replacement bill; Why is the mechatronics module so sensitive? Is this somehow an example of poor German engineering? Why can the module not be sensitive enough to understand that a car has stopped, via its various sensors, and automatically shift to 'N' by itself? In the worst case scenario, why can't there be a limp-home mode in case the oil overheats? I found this little video in which an indicator can be installed to know the temperature inside the DSG as well as know which gear is engaged. DSG Indicator 7-Speed Testing - YouTube Do 6-speed DSGs with their larger oil capacity have a lesser rate of failure than the 7-speed DSG (which is a newer design)? Is a chauffeur-driven car with DSG more prone to failure than one that is self-driven? Has a Skoda service centre told you this? If so, what is the chauffeur doing wrong? I have created a poll to find out which DSG 'box is more prone to failure. Perhaps we can elicit some results.

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