[Roughneck]

I picked up a 2017 (67 plate) R-Line Plus at the weekend and on the drive home noticed the cars reluctance to shift up to D8 and when it did drop back to D7 (with corresponding short increase in revs). I had traded in a 2013 R-Line and thought I was imagining it. However I found this thread Software Update. No more hunting! which explains the problem I experience perfectly. So it seems the car I picked up has not had the fix applied.

I've contacted the salesman and he said he would call VW to see if they knew of any problem, but commented he had driven it and not noticed any problem. I responded that I'd been driving a very similar Touareg for 5 years and it was noticeable to me (I reverted to using Tiptronic to force it to stay in D8 as I knew it would be affecting mpg).

Grateful on any advice on how to play this, is it the responsibility of the dealer to correct this, there are lots of threads where VW originally claimed there was no fault and that this behaviour was characteristic. The link above shows it was behaviour they chose to fix due to the many complaints.

Worse case scenario, how much is it going to cost me to put this into a dealer and get the new software applied? Can I argue its a fault and get it done for free/cost? Final question, can an independent fix this kind of problem, I used a local VW speciailist (Volks Autos) for my last service and they seemed very good?

 

[calumski]

I picked up a 2017 (67 plate) R-Line Plus at the weekend and on the drive home noticed the cars reluctance to shift up to D8 and when it did drop back to D7 (with corresponding short increase in revs). I had traded in a 2013 R-Line and thought I was imagining it. However I found this thread Software Update. No more hunting! which explains the problem I experience perfectly. So it seems the car I picked up has not had the fix applied.

I've contacted the salesman and he said he would call VW to see if they knew of any problem, but commented he had driven it and not noticed any problem. I responded that I'd been driving a very similar Touareg for 5 years and it was noticeable to me (I reverted to using Tiptronic to force it to stay in D8 as I knew it would be affecting mpg).

Grateful on any advice on how to play this, is it the responsibility of the dealer to correct this, there are lots of threads where VW originally claimed there was no fault and that this behaviour was characteristic. The link above shows it was behaviour they chose to fix due to the many complaints.

Worse case scenario, how much is it going to cost me to put this into a dealer and get the new software applied? Can I argue its a fault and get it done for free/cost? Final question, can an independent fix this kind of problem, I used a local VW speciailist (Volks Autos) for my last service and they seemed very good?

Tell them to get it fixed or you'll return it under the 14 day scheme as I think most dealers have. I suspect that they would rather have a happy customer and the commission cheque than the alternative. Besides, the cars not right so you've every reason to get it fixed.

 

[Roughneck]

Yes, I'm hoping they play ball and tell me to take it into a dealer for a software update. The slight problem I have is the dealer is 230 miles away which when I factor in diesel there and back starts to look like the cost getting the update done at a dealer, unless I am in the wrong ball park as I am thinking maybe £70-£80 if it goes in?

Also, I have one of those Carista OBD2 readers so could probably check and confirm the software version and compare it with the helpful post I linked. Is it worth me doing that do you think?

 

[calumski]

Can't do any harm to do your homework - gives you more ammo to have a 'conversation' with them.

 

[NoobyT]

The starting point at any dealer is £150 for the scan before they start doing any work on the car if you are paying for it yourself.....

Funny that as my little man scans the car for free whilst I'm saying "Hello Jan, glad to see you are are uglier and fatter than the last tine I saw you"!

 

[Roughneck]

surely I just tell them to update from version 130 3064 to version 130 3546 (or newer), what's the point of scanning to confirm something I've already told them? To earn easy £ is what you are saying.

 

[NoobyT]

Haven't you realised that the customers know nothing as far as the dealer is concerned!

 

[Davey2021]

The dealers are a pathetic joke.

 

[Roughneck]

I just spoke to an independent, they said yeah sure we can plug it in and apply if relevant. I asked how much, said would allow up to 2hrs at £105 an hour, may take longer or shorter but will charge for however long. £210 to plug in and provide a patch sounds a bit over the top, or am I being unreasonable?

As an alternative I could take out the two year service plan, 1 major and 1 minor and put it in for the major as I think they check and update software when servicing, hopefully more so if I have pointed to the need to update from 3064 to 3546 (as per reports on the forum)?

Any views on best course of action?

 

[Davey2021]

VW told me they would only do it if there was an issue. I did say its a bit hunty between 7 and 8, but they have refused to do it. Didn't even give me a cost.

Which, is odd as they are happy giving me a cost for everything else (even if covered by the warranty)!

 

[Davey2021]

Made a complaint to service manager today about my recent experience - Aside from apologising profusely about poorly informed and disrespectful staff, he said I need to bring Treg back and get oil leak cleaned off before handing over £792. LOGIC at last!!!

I asked the questions -

a) how did you arrive at £792?
b) if you expend £792 and don't find the fault, will you ask for more money or is the diagnostic limited to £792?

Seem like reasonable questions to me!! Still waiting for an answer, he said he will update me tomorrow. Fair enough....

They have my rear fog light in (under warranty). If I was a lesser person, I would just walk away and leave them with it, I doubt they would give two hoots, but even so, I'm not that guy that ask for something, then backs out.

In the event that I keep the Treg (the more interactions I have with main dealers the less likely that is) past Nov next year when UA warranty runs out, I would never set foot in a VW dealer unless absolutely necessary.

My Mrs is ex Merc (one of the top 5 dealers in UK), she's telling me to run a mile, as are the VW owners I know. I loved the Treg and prob still do, but my tolerance for all the fuckery of the dealers is waning and really taking the shine off things and with used vehicle prices so high, it tempting to cash out of VW and get into something else.

 

[Roughneck]

I used my Carista OBD scanner earlier and was able to confirm the software version is 3064 so I am fairly confident that flashing to 3546 should improve things.

Does anybody know how long it actually takes to flash a software update for the transmission - is the independent being overly cautious saying allow 2 hours, surely it doesn't take that long?

 

[chaser]

The independent will have to use ODIS which is an expensive VW online system so it's reasonable to charge a rate that contributes to that expense. I don't know about the TCM but if updating the 5f unit is anything to go by an estimate of at least an hour is realistic in my experience.

 

[vanman55]

Hi Roughneck and all, I now have exactly the same problem with gear hunting between 7 and 8, having had a gearbox software upgrade as part of a safety recall fix for a potential brake pedal shaft fault (FOC at my nearest VW dealer)) on my 2012 SE TDI 245. I was sceptical why the dealer offered a gearbox software upgrade at the same time, but I reckon it must be something to do with emissions related to Dieselgate, and required by VW UK. Previous to the upgrade the car ran regularly in gear 8, even towing our 1500kg caravan up slight motorway inclines; now it only briefly pops into top gear, and drops back to 7 at the slightest touch of the accelerator.
I did a gearbox reset, as per suggestions on this forum, and the car certainly changes gear more smoothly, but still the hunting issue persists. I raised this with the dealer's service manager, and he said 'it can take up to 5000 miles to re-adjust itself after a software upgrade'. Surely if the base coding has been changed, no amount of resetting will change the gear-changing parameters? I probably have no leg to stand on with the dealer, as the work was done 'free of charge'.
Luckily there is a good VAG specialist near where I live, but of course this would be at my cost to have any coding change made. I think they have the latest software equipment, maybe including ODIS, but who knows at what cost to get this done?
Can anyone please suggest the coding number(s) I should be asking for to get my gearbox reset to the 'pre-fix' set-up?

 

[Roughneck]

Hi vanman55, I feel your pain! As a start point perhaps ask the dealer that did the work for the TCU version numbers, before and after the work.

As yours is a 2012 the dealer may not be able to argue that the hunting behaviour is a characteristic of the model as you have solid evidence from driving it that it wasn't before they upgraded the software.

 

[vanman55]

Hi Roughneck, Thanks for your helpful suggestion about the coding numbers before/after their upgrade, but the dealer (Heritage VW of Yeovil) was dismissive of my comments after they did the work, so I may have a problem getting the information out of them. Maybe I should mention this forum, and the fact that quite a few members have experienced similar problems relating to gearbox software changes. At least your previous reference that 3064 is probably the 'offending' software number may be a useful starting point, even if I have to use the independent garage to get it sorted.

 

[Roughneck]

I used the "Carista" to confirm what version is on mine, 3064. To be honest I'd be surprised if yours had 3064 as if the dealer was updating the software surely they'd put 3546 on as that is a later version. There may be differences in transmission and hardware as mine is Euro diesel 6 whilst yours is 5 (I traded my 2013 because of this and the impending ULEZ where I live).

You should still ask the dealer for the information and if they are unhelpful then you should let them know your next call is to trading standards at the local authority as in your view the car no longer performs to specification as the upgrade is actually a downgrade.

 

[vanman55]

Thanks once again for your helpful advice, Roughneck - I wish main dealers were as clued up and helpful! I'll try your suggested approach and see how I get on. I bought the car 5 years ago; it's still only done 53k, and only had minor issues like ABS sensor failures (an easy DIY fix after a bit of research). I do most of my own basic servicing, but draw the line at things like gearbox coding! It's certainly a great towcar though, but I would like to get top gear back in action!

 

[vanman55]

Sit rep update Nov '22: After getting a little 'fruity' with the Service Manager of my local VW dealership, I finally got him to agree further investigation of my D7/D8 'hunting' issue. The car has only done about 2k miles since the upgrade was done in June, but despite me doing several gearbox-resets, the problem has not gone away. The dealer's Master Technician went on a ride-out with me on a dual carriageway, and he agreed that once D8 had been reached at around 55mph+, it would immediately drop back to D7 with the slightest touch of the accelerator. Only above 80mph would it stay in D8 - sorry officer! So, back at the workshop they hooked the car up to their ODIS system, and it showed 'TCM software version 3620'. That is clearly a newer version than the 3546 one mentioned earlier, but it obviously still hasn't cured the problem. The dealer has now agreed to contact VW Technical UK with a request for a solution, and if necessary to refer to VW HQ in Germany. I will hold my breath for a solution, and post an update/outcome in due course for the interest of anyone else similarly afllicted.

 

[Davey2021]

Glad you've made progress!

Just a shame the dealer can't be a bit more helpful - dont hold your breath too long!!