Automatic Gearing issues

[dnbaa33]

Hi all, my Leon Mk3 2018 Automatic seems to have an issue changing gear.

It doesn't seem to remember what driving mode it was previously in, so for example, if I turned the car off while in sports mode, for example, it will start again with sports mode selected in the menu, but the icon on the dash will show it in D for drive, not S for sport. So that's the first thing I notice.

On top of this, it can hit 5000-6000RPM in first and second and third gears, and not change gear for a good 5-6 seconds (which is a long time when the car is screaming along in 1st gear) before it automatically changes gear. I've tried changing throttle position - easing off, pressing down - makes no difference. I can often resolve this if I switch mode, say, back to normal mode then back to sport mode again. It does this regardless of mode, but being in sports mode it seems to behave a little better than Eco/Comfort/Normal modes.

Gears 4,5,6 and 7 all seem to work as normal, and it has no problems selecting the right gear depending on load - so it will drop down to the correct gear if putting foot down, for example.

Any thoughts?

 

[Glosphil]

I never use Sports mode in my 2018 1.4TSi FR DSG. I don't see the point. If I want a lower gear than I use the steering wheel paddles - when preparing for an overtake or for more engine braking on a steep downhill. My engine (accelerator) & steering are in Sports mode & DSG in Normal.

I certainly don't see the high revving that you do. I live in the Cotswolds so up & down hills on every journey. I complete most journeys without the revs ever going above 3500rpm, & often not even above 3000rpm.

Sounds to me like your car has a problem.

 

[dnbaa33]

Yeah, I mean it's certainly a problem. From my research, it's either the control module which needs specific programming if replaced, but I did find a video where the user suggested it turned out to be a speed sensor that was corroded on the rear wheel hub, but this was for a Golf using a DSG box, so not sure if the Leon uses the same hardware.

 

[Glosphil]

The Leon almost certainly uses the same hardware as the Golf.

If the problem is a speed sensor why would only some gears be effected rather than all?

 

[Chris Bartram]

Don't know if you still have the issue, but my Leon Mk2 DSG had a weird issue where it refused to change up in D (I never used S)

It eventually turned out to be a rear ABS sensor, but it took several weeks to flag up. It seems the gearbox will use the ABS sensors to detect the car cornering, if it thinks you're cornering it won't change up. If you use the manual change, it changes up fine. I also think I remember it only affected low speeds/gears, but it was a few years ago.

When it eventually triggered a fault code, I was going up a motorway slip road: it changed down, then back up, the ABS and stability lights came on, then it drove normally.

Eventually it logged

Address 03: ABS Brakes Labels: 1K0-907-379-MK60-F.lbl
Part No SW: 1K0 907 379 AA HW: 1K0 907 379 AA
Component: ESP FRONT MK60 0102
Revision: 00H13001
Coding: 0006786
Shop #: WSC 06441 785 00200
VCID: 71E3A0F868F54B966BD-8024

1 Fault Found:
00287 - ABS Wheel Speed Sensor; Rear Right (G44)
003 - Mechanical Failure

 

[dnbaa33]

Hi Chris, thanks for the reply. Hopefully this helps someone else with the issue. We sent the car back and the garage we purchased from gave up trying to fix it so are trying to source us another car. Failing that a refund. We'll be looking for another Leon Estate though, so always good to know what problems can present as.

 

[TripleBob]

The gearbox not defaulting to Sport is standard behaviour- the car will always remember the last selected drive mode in terms of user profile (so sport, Cupra, eco etc) but unless you have DCC these tbh don’t actually do that much.

The gearbox itself has no memory, so after turning off the car it will always default back to Drive, no matter what you had it in. Get used to just double tapping the gear lever back for sport mode when starting the car - you’ll be surprised how quickly it becomes second nature

My gearbox is custom mapped, so shifts exactly when and where I want it to. So now sports is my cross country/spirited driving mode (but that mirrors how I’d actually change gear, rather than wringing out the rev counter) and drive is more intelligent than OEM drive, but still setup for cruising/economy