[DSG] Low power. Unable to reverse up driveway

Sticko61

New Member
Hello, this is my first post. My wife has a 2019 Caravelle with 35000kms and I have a question about power. She parked the car nose down on a steep driveway, and when she went to reverse it out, it didn’t have the engine power and kept moving down the driveway. So she went and got my brother who parks his cars there at times, and same thing happened. They ended up towing it out. It has good power otherwise and drives beautifully with heaps of on road power.
 
Is the clutch slipping or shuddering?
A worn clutch tends to be worst in reverse going uphill.
 
Is the clutch slipping or shuddering?
A worn clutch tends to be worst in reverse going uphill.
Thanks for that info. I do believe that there were revs but no drive and it is a fairly new car so this is surprising. I will get on to VW to investigate under warranty, was just unsure if this is a common problem. The problem we had was that we had no forward exit and it wouldn’t reverse up a hill that lots of other model cars do regularly. I will have to test it on a hill that I can drive forwards out of.
 
Now it has been towed out and presumably can be driven, does the power seem normal in forward gears?
Edit - apologies - you have answered my question in your first post.
Your answer still suggests a transmission issue as pointed out by @DXX .
 
If it's a DSG, then they seem to have reduced torque in reverse gear, so do need more revs to get up steep inclines. To prevent it from rolling forwards, press hard on the brake pedal, when you release the brake, the hill start assist will maintain the brake pressure for enough time for the vehicle to start moving backwards.

There is also the option of using the handbrake to stop it rolling forwards, releasing it when drive is taken up, much like you would in a manual car.
 
Now it has been towed out and presumably can be driven, does the power seem normal in forward gears?
Edit - apologies - you have answered my question in your first post.
Your answer still suggests a transmission issue as pointed out by @DXX .
It drives fine, always heaps of power with the 2L Turbo. I think it might be something to do with the DSG and the steepness of the driveway. I will do some tests when I get near some steep hills as it is fairly flat where we live
 
Did you resolve this issue? I have the same problem with trying to back an empty box trailer (6x4) up our driveway.
 
It’s a ”feature” of the stock DSG.
TVS drivability DSG remap will solve the issue.
 
Hi Loz, I have read so many of your posts and responses on a number of questions from others and appreciate your advice on this issue. I have spoken to a local VW specialist and he will refer me to somebody who can do the remap after the 40,000 km service. He can’t do it himself as he was flooded out and has been waiting since February for replacement chips etc. He suggests I also have the engine remapped but I’m hesitant with that as I still have two years to go with my warranty. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Regards, John
 
Hi Loz, I have read so many of your posts and responses on a number of questions from others and appreciate your advice on this issue. I have spoken to a local VW specialist and he will refer me to somebody who can do the remap after the 40,000 km service. He can’t do it himself as he was flooded out and has been waiting since February for replacement chips etc. He suggests I also have the engine remapped but I’m hesitant with that as I still have two years to go with my warranty. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Regards, John
It's just a software upgrade. There are AUS dealrs.
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Hi Lox, I appreciate the lengths you have gone to in supporting me on this issue. I hoped I might find a TVS dealer in Brisbane. It’s a 1600 km round trip to my nearest dealer north of Sydney but it’s a start. I’ll keep hoping one shows up locally. I’ll ask the garage I’ve been speaking to if he knows of anybody. I’ve decided to have the 40000k service done through him and he says he’ll supply me with a list of installers he recommends. At this stage, I don’t know what brands he has in mind. Regards, John
 
Hi Lox, I appreciate the lengths you have gone to in supporting me on this issue. I hoped I might find a TVS dealer in Brisbane. It’s a 1600 km round trip to my nearest dealer north of Sydney but it’s a start. I’ll keep hoping one shows up locally. I’ll ask the garage I’ve been speaking to if he knows of anybody. I’ve decided to have the 40000k service done through him and he says he’ll supply me with a list of installers he recommends. At this stage, I don’t know what brands he has in mind. Regards, John
ha yes, maybe the TVS dealer in Sydney might fly a techie with his laptop over and do it for you?
 
Is it on the latest VW engine software? I had a similar problem with my 150bhp 2019 and VW updated the engine software and it gave a huge improvement in reversing as well as pulling away.
 
Interesting. I don’t know the software version I have but will ask. I have found a TVS installer in Brisbane and will call them on Monday about a drivability dsg mod. TVS says all dealers are not included on their dealer locator and they got that right.The local garage took some finding.

Thanks for the info re the engine software. Regards, John
 
I have just had the 60,000 k dealer service (not 40,000 k as previously posted). What a difference that has made to the responsiveness of the motor. I have yet to try backing the trailer because of the rain.
 
I have just had the 60,000 k dealer service (not 40,000 k as previously posted). What a difference that has made to the responsiveness of the motor. I have yet to try backing the trailer because of the rain.
Did you have the TVS mod done, or was it just a software update as part of your service?
 
Interesting reading. My T6 with DSG is awful reversing up my steep driveway. Yet my Audi S-Tronic goes up fine. Does the TVS remap really make a difference?
I did try reversing up with the caravan last year and just kept getting a red dash warning that the gearbox was overheating and to immediately switch off the engine to allow it to cool
 
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