VAG DSG Problems..

Currently, the world of transmission is dominated in Europe by manual gearboxes and in the USA and
Japan by automatic gearboxes. Both types of gearboxes have specific advantages and disadvantages.
The advantages of a manual gearbox are, for example,
• high degree of efficiency
• robust and sporty characteristic.
The advantages of an automatic gearbox are, for example,
• a high level of comfort, above all in gear changes, as there is no interruption in tractive power.
This formed the framework for Volkswagen to combine both transmission concepts into one completely
new gearbox generation: the direct shift gearbox.

Thanks to the double multi-plate clutch design and different automatic gear selection programmes, it is
well capable of meeting the high demands in comfort from drivers who favour automatic gearboxes.
Furthermore, with direct selection and lightning fast, jolt-free gear changes, it also offers a high level of
driving enjoyment to drivers who favour manual gearboxes.
In both cases, fuel consumption is at a par with economical vehicles fitted with manual gearboxes.

Well, like all gearboxes, the DSG Gearbox has it's problems also.
Although it is a strong gearbox some components are still pron to fail , in this case the mechatronic units , the heart of the gearbox, it is was not built as strong as VW thought it was.
It seems that most affected cars are the VW Passat , VW Touran and the VW Golf produced between 2003 and 2007. I have only seen a few Skoda and a few Seat.

But there is a problem with this DSG Gearboxes, it's the Mechatronic unit. This unit sits inside the gearbox and it gets pretty hot and sometimes the electric valves will get defective. Also a common problem with the DQ250 Mechatronic unit is a faulty TCM electronic module. This is mostly seen when the gearbox oil temperature goes above 40 degrees Celsius and we will start seeing error codes as "18222 P1814 Pressure Control Valve 1 (N215), Open / Short to Ground" or some other Short to Ground errors on the other valves.

Most of the valves can be refurbished but until now I have never seen anyone being able to refurbish the Pressure Control N215 or Pressure Control N216.