I am a new member who has just bought a new Caravelle 6.1 4Motion with optional 18" wheels from the factory. Particularly when going up a hill with speed bumps, there is a sound a bit like a small wave hitting the shoreline while the rear suspension is unweighting after crossing each speed bump. My guess is that it is do so with the rear springs rather than the dampers? It is nearly as heavy as our former T6 Cali (which was not a 4Motion but did not make any such noise) and the 3-seat rear bench is very weighty and sits right over the back axle/4 Motion mechanism. Is the rear end just too much for the standard springs to cope with? I understand that the Caravelle is already 30mm lower than the Kombi version. Are the springs from the same source I wonder? Should I lower the vehicle further (eg 30mm Eibach springs). So far neither VW assist nor the selling dealer have found a solution. Any thought appreciated.
T6.1 - rear suspension speed bump noise
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- shock absorbers t6.1
If it’s a caravelle swb they are 20 mm lower from the showroom. Putting 30 mm springs on will lower an additional 10 mm .
if you don’t get any joy with VW. i would be happy to try some proper shocks on for you at least you will know what is making the noise. it won’t be the springs , unless they aren’t fitted properly .?
The dealer has now been given a Technical Bulletin dated 14 December 2021 from VW. The Technical Bulletin assumes that the complaint relates to the "warning lamp for the TCS briefly flashing," (it doesn't) and goes on to say: "Depending on vehicle speed, load and steering angle a slip is detected by the ABS/ESC control unit when driving over speed bumps. A deliberate intervention of the safety system is initiated in the moment." It goes on to say: "With the T6.1 both an electromechanical power steering and a new ABS/ESC control unit supplier has been used. As a result new algorithms to determine the speeds were used on a smaller time base, which made a more sensitive application possible. All suppliers maintain the specifications of VW regarding the best possible sensors with simultaneous suppression of groundless interventions. In the T6 there were also occasional brief interventions of the ABS/ESC control unit when driving over speed bumps or level crossings. In the T6.1 the system is even more sensitive and therefore increases safety."
In my case, the TCS warning light has never gone on, and my complaint is not about safety (although it could be) it is about an inconsistent and irritating noise which seems to emanate from various different parts of the vehicle after having gone over a speed bump. Interestingly, it would appear that VW recently changed suppliers, used a more sophisticated (if that is the word) algorithm likely to increase the amount of intervention (hence the claim for increased "safety") and claims that there is nothing "wrong" with the vehicle. To my eyes, the wording of the above Bulletin looks like an admission that they have made a change for the worse, and are delighted to inflict it on their customers, who will just have to like with it. Seems an odd way to go about dealing with people who have just spent a vast sum on a new vehicle.
The sage continues.
In my case, the TCS warning light has never gone on, and my complaint is not about safety (although it could be) it is about an inconsistent and irritating noise which seems to emanate from various different parts of the vehicle after having gone over a speed bump. Interestingly, it would appear that VW recently changed suppliers, used a more sophisticated (if that is the word) algorithm likely to increase the amount of intervention (hence the claim for increased "safety") and claims that there is nothing "wrong" with the vehicle. To my eyes, the wording of the above Bulletin looks like an admission that they have made a change for the worse, and are delighted to inflict it on their customers, who will just have to like with it. Seems an odd way to go about dealing with people who have just spent a vast sum on a new vehicle.
The sage continues.
Interesting to hear this, from experience when a warranty issue arises VW are never in the wrong, they will as @DXX has stated feed you total and utter trash. Be persistent in your dis-pleasure and see how far you can push them to rectify this , like you said Caravelle 4 Motions are certainly not cheap ! ( I'm expecting mine at the end of the month).
Please keep us posted with your progress, and good luck !
Just started experiencing this issue with my 4motion. Happened 5 or 6 times over the last few week's. Only happens once in any one journey, usually driving over the same speed bump, on a slight incline.
Slowing down to coast over it, once the rear wheel's pass over it, when i go to accelerate away i hear a scraping noise, and a quick flash of the tcs light. My dash cam managed to pick the noise up, so i've at least got something to show vw when they look at it.
Slowing down to coast over it, once the rear wheel's pass over it, when i go to accelerate away i hear a scraping noise, and a quick flash of the tcs light. My dash cam managed to pick the noise up, so i've at least got something to show vw when they look at it.
Here is an update. The selling dealer is still saying it is "a characteristic of the vehicle" even though the existence of the fault has been demonstrated to them (by me personally) many times, including to their master mechanic and to the head of Aftersales service. The reason why they don't "admit" there is a fault is because their electronic testing equipment does not reveal the fault. Ergo, there is no fault! I contacted VW UK (and spoke at enormous length to 2 different people) for technical support but they actually don't provide technical support: all they do is speak to the dealer and repeat to me what the dealer has already said. So I am stuck in this Orwellian fantasy world of "Yes there is a fault, but as we can't prove it to ourselves electronically we don't acknowledge its existence." VW won't pay the dealer for any "experiments" without the digital log confirming a fault VW will therefore do nothing at all.
Perhaps they are afraid of a recall situation? Are many other owners of recently-registered T6s experiencing the same problem? It is very interesting, as I outlined in my post (10 Jan) above, that VW has only very recently used a new supplier for the "ABS/ESC control units" and that seems to be the source of the problem. I say this because when I switch the traction control "off" the problem does not occur.
I shall try another VW dealer to see if I can make any headway elsewhere, and report again.
The selling dealer in this case is Southern Motor Group Croydon. I would not recommend them to anyone for any purpose. In my experience, they are totally uninterested in aftersales service of any kind. "Sounds like traction control" said the aftersales service manager upon being treated to the noises in question. And yet they do nothing for me, even when I tell them of my experiment (one which they should have done themselves) with getting rid of the problem by switching the TC off.
In the meantime, can anyone tell me if disengaging the TC every time I drive the van has any effect on the operation of the 4 motion system itself?
Perhaps they are afraid of a recall situation? Are many other owners of recently-registered T6s experiencing the same problem? It is very interesting, as I outlined in my post (10 Jan) above, that VW has only very recently used a new supplier for the "ABS/ESC control units" and that seems to be the source of the problem. I say this because when I switch the traction control "off" the problem does not occur.
I shall try another VW dealer to see if I can make any headway elsewhere, and report again.
The selling dealer in this case is Southern Motor Group Croydon. I would not recommend them to anyone for any purpose. In my experience, they are totally uninterested in aftersales service of any kind. "Sounds like traction control" said the aftersales service manager upon being treated to the noises in question. And yet they do nothing for me, even when I tell them of my experiment (one which they should have done themselves) with getting rid of the problem by switching the TC off.
In the meantime, can anyone tell me if disengaging the TC every time I drive the van has any effect on the operation of the 4 motion system itself?
Doggydoctor
New Member
I do experience the same in my new caravelle (204 4motion). mine does the scraping noise when coming of a speed bump, but only when accelerating of it. If I just let it roll of and wait for the suspension to settle and then accelerate, it doesn’t make the noise. never seen the tcs light come on though.
I am also a new member - joined after having searched for people with similar experiences - and this sounds exactly like the problem I am experiencing with my new Caravelle DSG 4Motion: whenever I pass over (some) speedbumps - at normal speed - a “grating/grunting” type of noise emanates from the front suspension/axle/brakes. It’s a very brief but unsettling sound, similar to when automatic brakes are suddenly deployed by an on-board computer that has distance-control installed (which ours doesn’t).
It only happens on some speed bumps and seems to happen whenever the front of the car ”dips down” for a second time. Imagine a see-saw-like motion (similar to an old car with shoddy suspension) and the noise kicking in on the second time the front dips. It’s not a scraping sound or something hitting the body, it’s more of a brief GGRRRR. Sorry, can’t think of a better way to describe it.
I have made an appointment with the local VW dealer as the car is still under factory warranty and will revert back with possible explanations. I just wanted to log it here in case there are others out there - like myself - who are looking for answers or who are experiencing the same issue.
The DsG box takes some getting used too when you are new to it.
It uses peddle input plus steering angle and various sensor input to work out what the driver what's to do.
There is a learning cycle that the van will learn the DsG box.
Sometimes the system can be confused as to what it's being asked to do ..... Prime example is speed bumps where it's driver input and sensors disagree for a moment.
Feedback what vw say....
But you may find they say there is no fault and this is normal operation.
It uses peddle input plus steering angle and various sensor input to work out what the driver what's to do.
There is a learning cycle that the van will learn the DsG box.
Sometimes the system can be confused as to what it's being asked to do ..... Prime example is speed bumps where it's driver input and sensors disagree for a moment.
Feedback what vw say....
But you may find they say there is no fault and this is normal operation.
Update: As expected, VW says "it's for your own good". I asked to test-drive another (new) Caravelle which duly made the same alarming and anxiety-inducing noise. I wish I knew this before I spent all that money. For me, living in a small town with many potholes, it would have been a deal-breaker. Now I'm sitting with it and every time I go over a speedbump I brace myself. Perhaps over time I'll get used to it, I've just never ever experienced anything like it before and wish I didn't have to just suck it up.
Buksie
New Member
Oh no, I have the same problem and it just escalated to damage my rear diff. Read my post below.
Have you or any of you had the problem resolved?
Thread 'Traction Contol activates over bumps:'
www.t6forum.com
Have you or any of you had the problem resolved?
Thread 'Traction Contol activates over bumps:'
Traction Contol activates over bumps:
Traction Contol activates over speed bumps while accelerating at low speed. (App. 25-35km/h) VW Transporter 4motion T6.1 2022 with 15000km’s since new. This is worrying me that the traction control is activating unwantedly or spontaneously by braking one or both the rear wheels. Normally when...
Buksie
New Member
Kimosabi, have you recieved any news from Volkswagen??
I'm losing faith in VW:
My Kombi has 13500 km's in less than a year from new of witch more than TWO MONTHS in the workshop WAITING FOR PARTS ON BACKORDER!
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