The clutch/transmission troubles thread.

[iThread]

Folks,

This thread is to keep track of people who have run into a issue where the stock clutch disc was defective typically resulting in the material cracking and causing shifting issues that may also affect the transmission necessitating replacement.

What I'd like to do is for everyone that has run into this issue to post the week or month their car was manufactured. For people who didn't order their cars and track their cars the best you can get is the production month. To find the production month for your car, look for the manufactured by Volkswagen Germany sticker on your drivers side door jamb. It'll look like this:



The build month will be in the upper right corner, in this example, the build month is November 2011 denoted by the 11/11.

If you ordered your car and had access or were given updates, the actual production week will be the date you want.

The purpose of this is to see if we can narrow down a date range pattern where these cars fall into. I'm sure VWoA is also tracking this but, it's good information to have here I think.

I've not had any problems with mine yet. I'm at 3k miles and my build week was 11/14/2011. I'm also APR Stage 2+ as of 6/4/11 and Stage 1+ as of 150 miles on the car.

[Gyntry]

Sub'd!

[VeeDubDriver]

Should be a sticky.

[iThread]

Got enough stickies already Don't want to clutter it up.

[Siliconrane]

Car Information:



Link to Transmission Thread for Further Information

[iThread]

I think you were one of the ones that was tracking your car, what was your production week?

[Siliconrane]

I think you were one of the ones that was tracking your car, what was your production week?

I no longer have that information. I am sorry. If I remember correctly, some time in late september / early October. It was one of the first ones built if I remember correctly.

[iThread]

I no longer have that information. I am sorry. If I remember correctly, some time in late september / early October. It was one of the first ones built if I remember correctly.

No worries. But, the first builds happened in November which lines up with your door sticker.

[GTINeon]

Mine is 1/12.

I've got the grinds on high-RPM high-boost shifts, difficult to impossible gear selection on 2-3, 3-2, and less so 1-2 at higher RPM and the clutch pedal feels horrible; there is a lot of vibration and roughness.

I have 3,300 KM on the car, no mods (I'm waiting until this settles), and one dealer visit where they, of course, said 'THERES NO PROBLEM!' however the shop foreman/manager/whatever did call me the next day and ask me to bring it in so he could investigate. Hmm.

[jasapp]

Production date on my car is 2012-01-12.

My transmission / clutch trouble: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...y-Work-Already

[RBR Programme]

thanks. sub'd! seeing my dealer next week. experiencing some clutch and/or transmission problems with my R (only 3500 km...)

[_leo_]

by issues do you mean shifting into 3rd while at WOT and not beign able to hit the gate? if so i've been bashing my head against my steering wheel because i keep "missing" it. maybe this is a similar issue that others are having

[iThread]

by issues do you mean shifting into 3rd while at WOT and not beign able to hit the gate? if so i've been bashing my head against my steering wheel because i keep "missing" it. maybe this is a similar issue that others are having

That could be one manifestation of the problem. I say that based on other peoples threads. Best to keep a eye on it for now and not jump to conclusions though. Read through some of the threads linked here and see if the problem reproduces for you in the same way.

[CnSR32]

Subscribed to this thread....

[droopy1592]

What is the main symptom?

[Siliconrane]

What is the main symptom?

There are a couple of issues at play. If your clutch cracks - then it drags all the time - causing excessive wear on your synchronizers. It gets progressively more difficult to shift the heavier the load on the car. Driving normally will not readily reproduce any problems. More specifically, high rpm shifts will cause the transmission to lock you out because the synchronizers are unable to do their job due to clutch drag. Trust me . . . if you have driven clutch for any number of years . . . you will know something is VERY wrong.

[GASMAN664]

Got enough stickies already Don't want to clutter it up.

Yeah well all the stickies but one currently are ads...how about we actually sticky something useful to people like this issue or the build thread index or a DIY.

[iThread]

Yeah well all the stickies but one currently are ads...how about we actually sticky something useful to people like this issue or the build thread index or a DIY.

Actually I'd like to replace the delivery thread with a FAQ thread that contains links to the build thread index and the various DIY threads but, I've not had a chance to get to it and won't for a bit. But, if someone wants to step up.....

[GASMAN664]

[RBGolfR]

Sub'd

[AmishR]

Actually I'd like to replace the delivery thread with a FAQ thread that contains links to the build thread index and the various DIY threads but, I've not had a chance to get to it and won't for a bit. But, if someone wants to step up.....

I'll pull all the links together for ya tonight after work

[Time for a GTI]

Good idea. Really hope I don't need it though.

[JosephHatfield]

Good idea. Really hope I don't need it though.

When did your car come off the production line? Just curious

[Time for a GTI]

When did your car come off the production line? Just curious

02/12

[sicgolfrowner]

Pro date 1/12 and car is going in on the 25th for diagnostic/hopefully warrantied service. My brakes are squeaking also

[keisuke_z]

I'll update this post with my build info as soon as I get my car back.

Build date: 1/12
Delivery: 3/12
Canadian Golf R

To date:
- Had a new transmission swapped in after experience significant vibrations
- Currently having a new clutch pedal assembly installed after experiencing a strange pop/click from the pedal, after the initial "free play/travel" at the top. Apparently the piece that the pedal pushes into the master cylinder does not fit properly into the pedal - perhaps someone grabbed the wrong part when putting my car together.

Service assures me that my clutch is currently OK...

UPDATE: I got my car back a couple weeks ago, and the clutch pedal assembly had been replaced (not sure how much or just a part of it). Popping/clicking is gone, and the pedal feels a lot more "normal." There is still a little vibration in the pedal, but very little - I think it's the "normal" level of vibration? No work was done on my clutch, was assured it's still good. Will see when I go in for my first service in about a month to get them to confirm everything.

One thing I do still notice is the excessive clutch noise. If I let the revs drop and jump off the clutch, there's definitely clatter/clicking sounds from the transmission/clutch area. If I feather off, there is no sound. I've read that this seems to be the norm for our cars, but just wanted to document it here anyway. I typically feather off the clutch when shifting, so it's not an issue anyway.

[Whisp]

02/12

mine is the same, havent felt any problems yet and hope to not, clutch and tranny feels about the same as the O2M in my GLI before i did a clutch and shifter upgrade

[peruski]

by issues do you mean shifting into 3rd while at WOT and not beign able to hit the gate? if so i've been bashing my head against my steering wheel because i keep "missing" it. maybe this is a similar issue that others are having

Gah ! Mine is 12/11 production date. Now I am paranoid.

[jsausley]

Wow... there's quite a few here who have had trouble. I thought it was only 2 or 3 cars, maybe 4.

I'm at 2,400 miles and haven't encountered any problems. I've had a couple of wonky shifts but it was probably my fault. Will keep an eye on it. Early November production for me (took delivery on the same day as Siliconrane).

[iThread]

Figured I should also include this:

I've not had any problems with mine yet. I'm at 3k miles and my build week was 11/14/2011. I'm also APR Stage 2+ as of 6/4/11 and Stage 1+ as of 150 miles on the car.

[VeeDubDriver]

Seeing how this is drive-train related, I am wondering if those affected should file a report with the NHTSA, just so they can have a record of the issue and perhaps keep VW honest on this?

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/Vehicl...nt/index.xhtml

[iThread]

Seeing how this is drive-train related, I am wondering if those affected should file a report with the NHTSA, just so they can have a record of the issue and perhaps keep VW honest on this?

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/Vehicl...nt/index.xhtml

I don't think anyone here has ad VWoA being dishonest about this. Everyone with the problem has been repaired without much hassle it seems.

[jsausley]

I don't think anyone here has ad VWoA being dishonest about this. Everyone with the problem has been repaired without much hassle it seems.

Has anyone had dealers giving them the cold shoulder due to mods though? My local VW dealer is a tiny little place and I have a feeling if I roll in there with a warranty issue that could theoretically cost them thousands of dollars they're going to show me the door.

[iThread]

Has anyone had dealers giving them the cold shoulder due to mods though? My local VW dealer is a tiny little place and I have a feeling if I roll in there with a warranty issue that could theoretically cost them thousands of dollars they're going to show me the door.

Nope, it's not happened to anyone on this forum so far.

[Siliconrane]

Has anyone had dealers giving them the cold shoulder due to mods though? My local VW dealer is a tiny little place and I have a feeling if I roll in there with a warranty issue that could theoretically cost them thousands of dollars they're going to show me the door.

The dealerships don't loose any money. Vwoa reimburses them for all warranty work. They have to get it approved by them before they lay a wrench on your car.

Honesty gets you a long way with the dealerships.