Automatic gearbox problems

[MargUK]

Hi - I have a SEAT Leon Xcellence 2019 automatic which broke down half way through a 100 mile journey at the weekend. The message which was coming up was 'gearbox in emergency mode' first of all then 'gearbox faulty, stop the car immediately' and it ground to a halt. I had it towed 50 miles back home by the AA but had to give the name of a garage so gave the one I usually use which is where it has been since Monday. They said it would have to go to a SEAT dealer so I phoned them but they can't get me in until the 26th November! I booked it in anyway.

I now have to remove it from the garage and get it home but the garage has said it is driving ok and no message is coming up. The SEAT dealer said it probably overheated on the long journey and someone else has said if it was low in oil that would cause it to overheat. I haven't checked the oil in ages so that could very well be the problem.

My question is am I safe to drive the few miles home now that it's cooled down? Obviously when I pick it up I'll check the oil and take some with me to top up but will that make any difference if there is damage already done?

 

[Guyelle]

Hi there,

The DSG gearbox oil is not the same as the engine oil, so you won't be able to check the level at home.

What mileage is the car on, and when was the last DSG service done?

DSG services should be done every 40k miles, but are often neglected, and low DSG fluid level is very common. It definitely sounds like it could be low DSG fluid levels.

 

[MargUK]

Hi there,

The DSG gearbox oil is not the same as the engine oil, so you won't be able to check the level at home.

What mileage is the car on, and when was the last DSG service done?

DSG services should be done every 40k miles, but are often neglected, and low DSG fluid level is very common. It definitely sounds like it could be low DSG fluid levels.

Ok thank you. I can't check the mileage as the car is at the garage - just got the car in February and it was serviced then - would that have included a DSG service do you think? If it is that does that mean I shouldn't attempt to drive it?

 

[Guyelle]

If it was done then I imagine the invoice/receipt included would say it. As I say it often gets neglected, so I doubt the dealer that sold it would have bothered, and would likely have opted for basic service.

I would avoid driving it far without sorting it out, but a short journey *might* be okay.

If you can't find any history of a DSG service, and the car is on more than 40k mile, I recommend taking it to a VAG specialist to have the DSG serviced ASAP

 

[MargUK]

If it was done then I imagine the invoice/receipt included would say it. As I say it often gets neglected, so I doubt the dealer that sold it would have bothered, and would likely have opted for basic service.

I would avoid driving it far without sorting it out, but a short journey *might* be okay.

If you can't find any history of a DSG service, and the car is on more than 40k mile, I recommend taking it to a VAG specialist to have the DSG serviced ASAP

Ok thanks very much for your help. The SEAT specialists can't get it in until the 26th November but I have to remove it from the garage tomorrow so just worried I won't get it home (it's about 3 miles).

 

[Guyelle]

I think 3 careful miles would probably be okay, but I can't say for certain. Where are you from roughly, as there may be other VAG specialists that could get you in sooner? There's a fair few here in Warwickshire!

 

[MargUK]

I think 3 careful miles would probably be okay, but I can't say for certain. Where are you from roughly, as there may be other VAG specialists that could get you in sooner? There's a fair few here in Warwickshire!

I'm up in Aberdeen. Yeah that's what I was thinking - I did have a look online today and found one who have put me onto another place so I've left them a message. I'll see what they say when they get back to me.

 

[Bluepower]

What gearbox are we talking about: DQ200 (7-speed on the 1.2/1.4/1.8 petrol and 1.6TDI) or the DQ250(2.0tsi 190hp petrol) or the DQ381(2.0tsi 200+petrol).
Besides the cluster display warning, any fault codes stored in the TCU (read codes with OBD11 or VCDS)
Overheating on a 100miles(halfway, so 50mile) journey sounds strange, unless it is running too low oil level.

 

[Guyelle]

What Bluepower mentions is a very good point, as it could be a DQ200 gearbox that doesn't often suffer the same issue with low fluid levels. @MargUK what engine do you have in your Leon?

 

[MargUK]

What Bluepower mentions is a very good point, as it could be a DQ200 gearbox that doesn't often suffer the same issue with low fluid levels. @MargUK what engine do you have in your Leon?

What gearbox are we talking about: DQ200 (7-speed on the 1.2/1.4/1.8 petrol and 1.6TDI) or the DQ250(2.0tsi 190hp petrol) or the DQ381(2.0tsi 200+petrol).
Besides the cluster display warning, any fault codes stored in the TCU (read codes with OBD11 or VCDS)
Overheating on a 100miles(halfway, so 50mile) journey sounds strange, unless it is running too low oil level.

It's a 2.0 tsi 190 so must be the DQ250 I think?

 

[Guyelle]

Ah yes likely a DQ250 which is susceptible to low fluid levels as it is a wet clutch system. Low fluid levels causing such issues are well documented.

 

[MargUK]

Ah yes likely a DQ250 which is susceptible to low fluid levels as it is a wet clutch system. Low fluid levels causing such issues are well documented.

Ah ok. So is there a way to avoid the fluid getting too low?

 

[Guyelle]

Ah ok. So is there a way to avoid the fluid getting too low?

Regular servicing, every 40k or sooner

 

[MargUK]

Regular servicing, every 40k or sooner

Will definitely be doing that from now on!

 

[Guyelle]

Just to clarify I mean a DSG gearbox service, which is totally seperate to the usual engine servicing, will cost around £300-£400 to get it done at a garage, and I recommend only taking to a VAG specialist to have the work done, rather than your average garage, as there is a specific level-setting procedure for these cars etc.

Or it can be done at home if you're feeling confident, and feel like buying all the equipment

 

[MargUK]

Just to clarify I mean a DSG gearbox service, which is totally seperate to the usual engine servicing, will cost around £300-£400 to get it done at a garage, and I recommend only taking to a VAG specialist to have the work done, rather than your average garage, as there is a specific level-setting procedure for these cars etc.

Or it can be done at home if you're feeling confident, and feel like buying all the equipment

Definitely not the latter! Thanks for clarifying that - I didn't realise it was a separate thing. I wish I'd known all this before the AA towed it to the garage I've used in the past (but not for this car) - I could have got it towed to the house then at least that would have been one thing less to stress about. You live and learn I suppose!

 

[MargUK]

Just wanted to update - I've managed to find a VAG specialist who can look at it at the end of next week (which is a big improvement on the 26th of November!) and he said DO NOT drive it so have organised a recovery service to take it from garage to garage this afternoon. So although I'm now £150 poorer, my stress levels have gone down several notches!

Thanks so much for all your help

 

[SuperV8]

It's a 2.0 tsi 190 so must be the DQ250 I think?

No - your 2.0tsi 190 has a DQ381 7 speed.

Friend at work has this same DQ381 DSG in his Passat who has just had to have a new temperature sensor in the mechatronic unit.
It would drive fine, then flag a warning light if it got too hot - lots of maneuvering for example, and then the gears associated with that sensor would not work - but the other gears would; odd or even I forget which set (DSG's are like two gearboxes in one casing, each with their own clutch)
mechatronic units are expensive! - and i'm sure Seat would just replace it and give you a huge bill - hopefully the specialist will give you an option to fix it - if that is the problem?

Tiguan DQ381 Mechatronic fault

No odd or even gears on Volkswagen Tiguan is often caused by a fault with the DQ381 (0GC) transmission control unit, our rebuild service will resolve these issues and comes with an unlimited mile Lifetime Warranty

www.ecutesting.com

 

[MargUK]

No - your 2.0tsi 190 has a DQ381 7 speed.

Friend at work has this same DQ381 DSG in his Passat who has just had to have a new temperature sensor in the mechatronic unit.
It would drive fine, then flag a warning light if it got too hot - lots of maneuvering for example, and then the gears associated with that sensor would not work - but the other gears would; odd or even I forget which set (DSG's are like two gearboxes in one casing, each with their own clutch)
mechatronic units are expensive! - and i'm sure Seat would just replace it and give you a huge bill - hopefully the specialist will give you an option to fix it - if that is the problem?

Tiguan DQ381 Mechatronic fault

No odd or even gears on Volkswagen Tiguan is often caused by a fault with the DQ381 (0GC) transmission control unit, our rebuild service will resolve these issues and comes with an unlimited mile Lifetime Warranty

www.ecutesting.com

I really hope so - I'm certainly learning more than I ever knew about automatic gearboxes this week!

 

[Guyelle]

DQ381 is still a wet clutch so it could still be low on fluid either way. Hopefully it's something simple like that! Keep us updated OP, I'm interested to see how it goes.