25 of your toughest car problems solved by our experts Beginners’ guide to Timing Multimeters belt change Volvo 2.4D Air filtration upgrades Increase your engine’s performance SAVING YOU MONEY SINCE 1958 Twin-clutch 10 DIY Service PAGE SPECIAL GEARBOXES Citroën DS3 e-HDi full check How they work What goes wrong DIY repairs Power Dismantling a steering wet clutch system pipe swap Mechatronics MINI BMW 1.6 actuator stripdown WIN PARTS GUIDE DIAGNOSTICS BUYING USED Renault VW Golf 2 prizes Z4 Clio MkII MkV Trolley jack, axle stands Findlow-costdeals 1.216vinvestigated 2004-2008 models & foot pump set February CM Visit: Philips Automotive Lighting £346 2016 Worthmorethan £4.00 U C T S D P M M T OWPA PRRDO W I N N E R A 2 0 1 5 DISCOVER AUTODATA The online automotive technical information tool built around the needs of your garage. As well as all of the functions you have come to expect from Autodata, the new online application features: Easily swap between jobs Interactive component locations All data & images built directly in Service Schedules Smart Estimate Calculator Easy DTC search Interactive diagrams autodata-group.com M_FP C N16_ A K_J U D_ A Editorial Martyn Knowles, Editor Email: [email protected] Follow us on Facebook @ Car Mechanics End of the manual? Subscribe to a digital CM XArethedaysofbuying vehicles–I’msureyou’ll XToguaranteereceivingacopyof atraditionalautomatic finditafascinatingread. yourfavouritemagazineeachmonth, gearboxwithatorque Idoubtyou’llfindanyother whynottakeoutasubscription converterfinished?Isthe publicationofferingsuch –turntopage96formoredetails. manualgearboxonthe in-depthknowledgeon Ifyouprefertoreadthemagazine vergeofbeingconsigned thissubject. digitallyonyourmobileorcomputer, tothehistorybooks? HavingdriventheDSG wecannowoffereveryissueonthe Afewyearsago, twin-clutchtransmission followingplatforms:iPad,iPhone, Ipredictedcar-makerswill inVAGcars,Icansayitisa Win8,PC/MAC,AndroidandZR4. stopfittingtheconventional wonderfulinvention,giving TosubscribetoanAndroidversion manualgearboxby2020. sharpgearchangesand ofCarMechanics,you’llneedtovisit That’sjustfouryearsaway kickdown.Iplantedthe thiswebsite:http://bit.ly/1N1v0bU anditmaytakeabitlonger throttleofaVWGolfGTIat thanIinitiallysuggested. 50mphwhileitwascruising manual ’box, but with broadly similar ButIstillthinkthedays in6thanditswiftlystepped fuel consumption figures. oftheself-shiftmanual downtwogears,making One proviso: twin-clutch gearboxes gearboxarenumbered. overtakingeffortless. have strict recommended service That’swhyourlead Thebenefitofthese schedules and it’s essential to meet oil articleinthisissueisa gearboxesisthelackofa and filter change intervals. So, if you’re special10-pagefeatureonthesubject torqueconverter(whichmakesthe looking to purchase a used vehicle, oftwin-clutchgearboxes.Evenifyou’ve autoboxslowerandheavierthanan make sure you check any service neverdrivenone–althoughtheyare equivalent-enginedmanual).Youshould history for maintenance mileages and nowfittedtoasurprisingvarietyof getstronger,fasteraccelerationthana invoices to indicate appropriate care. Man to Man XOverthefestiveperiod,IstayedwithfamilyontheIsleof Man(IOM).Ifyou’venotbeenbefore,it’sworthavisittothis islandlocatedintheIrishSea,measuringjust14mileswide by33mileslong.SomeIOMmotoringlawsdifferfromthe UK:therearenoannualroadworthinessexaminationsfor vehiclesoverthreeyearsoldandthemaximumspeedisn’t 60mph,it’swhateveryouconsidersafe!Butwhatmakes theIOMabitspecialforanypetrolheadisitspassionfor motorsport,classiccarsand,ofcourse,itslegendaryTT The Isle of Man circuit,whichannuallyhostsrapid-actionmotorcycleracing. Motor Museum. Apartfromthevarietyofvehiclesyouseeontheopen road–theislandersseemtodrivealotofJapaneseimports Theownersalsogavemeanexclusivetourofthe –there’sacoupleofmotor-relatedmuseumstovisit,both museum’srestorationarea,whichisnotonpublicdisplay, locatedinJurbyatthenorthoftheisland. wherethevariousexhibitsarepreparedfordisplay. TheTransportMuseumatJurbyairfieldhousesavast TheCunninghamsarealsointerestedinalternative displayofpredominantlyoldManx-relatedbusesandlorries, power.DenisistryingtorunaToyotaPriusMkIIintothe aswellasafewclassiccars.Youcanclamberaboardanold ground–andfailing,asitkeepsondelivering!He’salsojust Routemasterbusandenjoyitsuniqueambience.Admission takendeliveryofafully-electricTeslaModelSwithaP90D tothemuseumisfree,andit’sopenfrom10am-4pmevery badgeontherear.Incaseyoudon’tknow,thismeansithas SundayfromNovembertoEaster,thenonSaturday,Sunday a90kWhbatteryfora6%increaseinrangeoverthetop andTuedayfromEasteruntilOctober. 85kWhmodel.Italsomeansthere’sa‘Ludicrous’button on WithinviewingdistancefromtheTransportMuseumis thedash,which,whenactivated,canblasttheTeslafrom theimpressive,newly-built(well,fromMay2015)Isleof 0-60mphin2.8seconds!Sadly,Ididn’tgettotestthis! ManMotorMuseum.Thisisafascinatingprivatecollection TheCunninghams’latestadventure,though,istotry ofvehiclesandmotorcyclesthathasbeenassembledby tobreakthelandspeedrecordforasteam-powered father-and-sonDenisandDarrenCunninghamover40 motorcycle.They’vebuiltabespokebike–whichwe years.TheCunningham’sportfolioisimpressiveandvaried. witnessedwarmingupandridingawayforatestrunonopen Over100vehiclesareondisplay,includingsomemodelsI’d road–tocompetelaterthisyearatBonneville,USA. neverseenbefore,likethe1954Greyhoundbus.Thereare AdmissionpricetotheIsleofManMotorMuseumis£9.50 cars,buses,trucks,transporters,fireengines,ambulances, peradult,andit’sopenfrom10am-5pmeveryWednesday to includingone-offsandprototypes.Manyoftheexhibitswere Sunday.Youcanwatchaninterestingvideoofthemuseum acquiredfortheiruniquenessandrarity. here:http://bit.ly/1K8sbBF p www.greatmagazines.co.uk/carmechanics February2016 CarMechanics 3 Contents 66 Citroën DS3 e-HDi FEATURES 62 Full step-by-step service guide. 6 Dual-Clutch 72 Help! Transmissions Eight pages of your toughest Everything you need to know motoring problems solved. about automated manual ’boxes. 80 Diagnostics Doctor 32 Multimeter Masterclass Your diagnostics queries sorted. A beginners’ guide to the essential workshop tool. CM visits Philips 83 Renault Clio 1.2 16v Automotive Lighting Probing the Siemens SIM32 inGermany. 62 CM Visit: Philips management system. Automotive Lighting We tour the German plant. BUYING REGULARS 90 Mechanex 50 VW Golf MkV Report from the 2015 trade show. Find the finest example of the 20 C M Insider perennial German best-seller. The latest tools and accessories. 93 2015 Index 54 BMW Z4 60 D ealer’s Diary Sourcing new and used parts. Steven Ward inadvertently PROJECTS washes some soundproofing. 36 Volvo S60 2.4D WORKSHOP 64 Your Letters Part Three: A new cambelt, water pump and tensionsers are fitted. 24 Tales from 88 Our Cars the Workshop Rob Bradshaw’s Peugeot 205s. 44 MINI One 1.6 56 Modifications: Filtration 98 Ted Connolly Part Six: Sorting the suspension, power steering and droplinks. Fitting performance air filters. Ted tries out the Jaguar XF. Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowis COMPLAINTS:BauerConsumerMediaLimitedis agedbetween16and24and MARKETING–Phone01733468000 amemberoftheIndependentPressStandards interestedinworkexperience MarketingDirector RachaelBeesley Organisation(www.ipso.co.uk)andendeavoursto respondtoandresolveyourconcernsquickly.Our opportunitiesatBauerMediago Direct Marketing Manager Julie Spires EditorialComplaintsPolicy(includingfulldetails towww.gothinkbig.co.uk Direct Marketing Executive Rebecca Lambert ofhowtocontactusabouteditorialcomplaints andIPSO’scontactdetails)canbefoundatwww. 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If Bauer receives a claim from a iJames Stanbury iBrett Tranah iSteven Ward GHreoaudp o Df Direigcitt aMl arketing DireCchtaorrl ie CaClhtorins- WGaadtssobny cuos,p wyreig whtil lo iwnfnoerrm o trh aa tp peersrsoonn f ethaatut ryeodu i nh aavney gmraanteterida lu yso pue hramvies ssioenn tt o use the relevant material and you will be responsible for paying any ADVERTISING – Phone 01733 468864 FinanceDirector LisaHayden amounts due to the copyright owner or featured person and / or for reimbursing Bauer for any losses it has suffered as a result. Please Group Commercial Director Charlie Brookes We are sorry, but apart from material sent to Help! or note, we accept no responsibility for unsolicited material which is Commercial Director Kelly Millis Diagnostics Doctor, not all correspondence can be replied lost or damaged in the post and we do not promise that we will be to personally, though everything is read carefully. E-mails able to return any material to you. Finally, whilst we try to ensure Key Accounts Anna Skuse willbetreatedinthesamewayasordinarymail– the accuracy of your material when we publish it, we Account Manager Daniel Jackson editor is not normally available to provide instant replies. cannot promise to do so. We do not accept any p 4 CarMechanics February2016 www.greatmagazines.co.uk/carmechanics LOWEST PRICED GENUINE VAUXHALL PARTS IN THE UK!! THE UK’S NUMBER 1 HugethankstoAutovauxforthe speedyturnaroundanddeliveryofour VAUXHALL PARTS enginerebuildpartsforthiscoming seasonsnewengine!Anyofourfollow- SPECIALIST ersthatarefellowVauxhalldriversI'd recommendyouyoulookupAutovaux (www.autovaux.co.uk)ifyouneedany Vauxhall Trained Advisors partsforyourcars,localcompanyto usandalwaysapleasuretodealwith! Right Part First Time D&MMotorsport Trade Club parts at discounted prices THE REAL DEALER Vauxhalltoldmemy Redtoppartswere ALTERNATIVE - AUTOVAUX discontinuedandthese guyshadthegenuineGM If you think a part is dealer only think again bitsontheshelf RobHawkins Everything the dealer offers and much more Trade and Retail Enquiries Welcome FREE MAINLAND UK Never had service like this, put my Holden Dealer DELIVERY to shame for service , information and price Same working day despatch on orders placed Leo–Australia before 4pm Win a Genuine GM Service Kit including oil worth up to £120.00 for your Vauxhall* Call Now on 01924 376003 and quote ref CMAUGUST to enter - No purchase necessary. *includesUKmainlanddelivery–UKspecvehiclesonly Instant expert Twin-clutch transmissions This automated manual Volkswagen Group’s gearbox is referred to as six-speed wet clutch DSG is the a twin-, double- or dual- most common twin- clutch transmission. clutch transmission encountered on the Rob Marshall looks at used car market. how they evolved, how they work and how the technology is faring in the real-world. Co-developed by BorgWarner and the Volkswagen Group, for the car-maker’s transverse front- and four-wheel drive applications, the compact Direct Shift Gearbox or Direktschaltgetriebe (DSG) was released in 2003 and was the first mainstream twin-clutch transmission. At its introduction, themarket,and twin-clutch units could swap ratios isapproximately more directly and more efficiently thesamesizeas than conventional epicyclic-geared adual-clutchgearbox. automatic transmissions. They were also afterheleftemploymentwithAndré more efficient, due to their direct drive Citroën.Kégresse’smainprioritywas A shaky start and lack of a torque converter. While notefficiency,buttorelievethetediumof revolutionary at the time, traditional Althoughmanypeopleassociatethe changinggear,inthedayswhenmanual automatics have since caught up. For twin-clutchtransmissionwithGerman transmissionsynchromeshwasinits example, ZF’s nine-speed transverse manufacturers,itsworkingprinciples infancy.Thisnecessitatedthedriverto autobox is said to be more efficient than werepatentedbyaFrenchmilitary double-declutchandmatchtheengine any other twin-clutch transmission on engineer,AdolpheKégresse,in1935, speedwiththatofthetransmission, W Twin-clutch units tend to possess internal wet clutches on more powerful cars, such as this Mitsubishi SST, fitted to the Evolution X as an optional extra. X Historically, dry twin-clutches tend to be used on less powerful cars and replacement dictates careful shimming prior to fitting. While more efficient, they tend not to last as long as the wet types. p 6 CarMechanics February2016 www.greatmagazines.co.uk/carmechanics Twin-Clutch Transmissions How they work CLUTCH1 CLUTCH2 OUTPUT TO FRONT XWhilecross-sectionsmakethem INPUT SHAFT2 INPUT SHAFT 1 AXLEDIFFERENTIAL OUTPUT TO appeartobeincrediblycomplex, REAR AXLE twin-clutchtransmissionsarefairly DIFFERENTIAL straightforward.Althoughoften describedastwogearboxesinone,in facttheycombinetwoinputshafts, withoneshaftfittinginsidetheother, eachofwhichpossessesaclutch. 4th GEAR 5th GEAR InputShaft1hoststheodd-numbered gears(1st,3rd,5thandreverse)and 6thGEAR 1stGEAR 7th GEAR CENTRE DIFFERENTIAL InputShaft2theeven-numbered gears(2nd,4thand6th).Whenone 2ndGEAR REVERSE 3rdGEAR GEAR shaftisbeingdriven,thesecond This is afour-wheeldriveAudiS-tronicdual-clutchunit,usedontheQ7model,whichshares shaftispreparedwiththenextratio. VolkswagenGroup’sDSGlayout.NotehowInputShaft1issituatedwithinInputShaft2. Whenachangeoccurs,InputShaft 1’sclutch,K1,disengagesasInputShaft2’sclutch,K2, valves,throughwhichpressurisedfluidispumped,to engagestodeliveraseamless,smoothandswiftshift. operateboththeclutchesandgearshiftselectors. Additionally,twooutputshaftsareinconstantmeshwith Thetransmissionoilactsnotonlyasahydraulicmedium thedifferential.Asinglereverseshaftisfitted,too. butalsocoolsthewetclutches.Consequently,theoilreturned Insidethesix-speedDSG,theclutchesareactuated fromtheclutchpackscanreach100°Cinnormaluse.Cooling hydraulicallybytheMechatronicsunit,acombinedECUand isachievedbypumpingtheoilintoaheatexchangerontop agloriously-simplehydraulicvalvecircuitthat’sactivated ofthegearbox,throughwhichenginecoolantflows.Apair bysolenoids;Mechatronicsisderivedfromcombiningthe offilterskeepstheoilfreeofcontaminants–oneofthem terms‘mechanics’and‘electronics’.Inessence,itsECU islocatedinthebaseofthetransmission;theotherisa (sealedtotheMechatronicsbody)receivesinformation renewablefilterthatissituatedwithinadedicatedhousing relatingtonotonlyinternalspeed,gearpositionand inthecoolingcircuit,ontopofthecasing.Volkswagen temperaturebutalsoparametersthataretakenfrom stipulatesanoilchangeinterval(typically,every40,000 thecar’sothersensors,includingthoserelatingwith miles,butcheckyourhandbooktobesure),atwhichpoint theengineECU,ABS,shiftlevermoduleandinstrument theremovablefiltermustbereplaced.Anywarrantyclaim, cluster.ThisinformationispassedtotheMechatronic’s incidentally,isvoidunlessthisworkhasbeencarriedout ECU,whichcontrolsthesolenoidsthatactivatehydraulic withthecorrectlubricantandanOE-specificationfilter. toavoidtheembarrassingcrunchof How motorsport for its rally Quattros, possibly thanks to its spinninggears.HisAutoServegearbox R&D director at the time, Dr Ferdinand improved the breed placed two manual gearboxes within a Piech, being a grandson of Ferdinand single casing, along with a pair of clutches; Porsche expressedastronginterest Porsche. Recalling the experiences of one engaged the odd-numbered ratios, in the technologyandtransferredits the 530bhp Group B Audi Quattro being the other one managed the even gears. development toStuttgart.Notonlywas fitted with the PDK transmission in his The now defunct Automotive the transmission’slowweight,super-fast book, Walter Röhrl Diary: Memories of a Products of Leamington Spa, gear-changes andhighefficiencyideally World Champion, the rally ace reminisced Warwickshire, revisited the concept suited to economy-mindedconsumers, about the difference the transmission 40 years later, when it fitted various but the eliminationofacceleration made: “The PDK made the acceleration production cars (including the original lapse and the reductionindrivetrain even crazier… I could change gear at full Ford Fiesta) with its experimental power losses madethematantalising throttle, without any decrease in pulling Hot-Shift gearbox in the 1980s. The proposition for motorsport.Aftertwo power, or any falling-off of turbo boost.” work was overseen by Harry Webster, years’ intense refinementforracing Despite this, when Audi withdrew former technical director of British purposes, the PorscheDoppelkupplung from Group B rallying a year Leyland, just prior to his retirement. (PDK or ‘doubleclutchdevice’)wasborn. later, it also abandoned any The Hot-Shift project intended to not At around thesametime,the further PDK development only address the inefficiencies of the technology was alsobeingutilisedbyAudi programmes. conventional automatic gearbox’s torque ROB’S converters, especially when coupled to TOP TIP low-powered, smaller capacity engines, but also to create an automatic-type Nevertrytocure anoilleakbyusing a transmission transmission using manual gearbox stop-leakadditive. The types components, which would simplify containingglycol will swell all mass production, because of increased rubber seals within the unit. economies of scale. A main priority was to ensure a seamless gear-change, Gettingtheoillevelright without disconnecting drive from the isessential.Followany instructionscarefullyif engine, so, like the pre-WW2 AutoServe, doingtheworkathome. the heart of the Hot-Shift system was Pictured is a cross-section of two manual transmissions and a pair of the combined oil drain/level clutches, housed within a single case. plug on the six-speed DSG. p www.greatmagazines.co.uk/carmechanics February2016 CarMechanics 7 Twin-Clutch Transmissions clutch DSG is the most likely unit to both fuel economy and driving pleasure. Entering the real world be encountered in the used car market Cramming more gears within the Porsche appeared to lose interest, too, today, this article focuses on that variant. compact casing is also a possibility; but the company’s road versions of the The ‘twin-clutch’ moniker references Volkswagen was developing a 10-speed PDK were co-developed later with ZF a pair of wet clutches but, to make the DSG unit, which was shelved at the end of Friedrichshafen AG. The production gearbox more efficient for engines last year, possibly due to other unexpected reality debuted in 2008, over five years with lower outputs (initially less than factors that are making demands on the after BorgWarner/Volkswagen Group 250Nm), dry clutch packs have been company’s cash resources. introduced their six-speed DSG to the used. Most notably, Volkswagen Group Other car-makers also sell models world, beneath the bonnet of the Audi introduced the twin dry clutch seven- with twin-clutch transmissions, but TT 3.2-litre V6. While Audi had called speed DSG for its 1.4- and 1.6-litre the majority of them were developed in its system S-tronic since 2006, it was petrol models. The reasoning behind collaboration with major transmission basically the same as Volkswagen’s DSG, subsequent developments, which suppliers, such as ZF, LUK and Getrag. although a seven-speed longitudinal include the use of less oil, electric (not Such units share the same operating version was developed for some four- mechanical) oil pumps and clutch principles as DSG. The second most wheel drive applications and varies only friction materials with improved heat popular version tends to be the six-speed in internal details, the main difference transfer properties, has been to increase PowerShift unit, which can be fitted with being two internal oil circuits. As efficiency even further, while driving either wet or dry twin-clutch packs, and Volkswagen Group’s six-speed, wet down tailpipe emissions and enhancing is fitted to a variety of Volvos and Fords. DSG: What goes wrong? XDespitebeingaremarkableengineeringfeatthat hasbeenmass-producedinmillionsofvehicles,many unhappycustomershaveventedtheirireatVolkswagen forprematureDSGfailure.However,oneissuemightbe relatedtocarsalespersonsfailingtocommunicatethe subtledifferencesbetweenautomatICandautomatED manualtransmissionsandthatcertaintraditional ‘slush-box’drivinghabitscandamageaDSG. Insidethewet-clutchDSG,thefrictionmaterial,usedon theclutches’multipleplates,isimmenselyresilienttowear. Strangely,thesteelplatesonwhichtheybeartendtosuffer more,suchasdevelopinghigh-spotsandscoresor‘blueing’ withoverheating.Therefore,manyclutchproblemscan beblamedoneitherexcessiveheat,aninternalhydraulic pressureproblem(usuallycausedbytheMechatronics) orpoordriving,suchasholdingthecaronahillwithjust Thelatestdrytwin-clutcheshandlemoretorque.Launchedinlate 2015,Suzuki’ssix-speed,twindryclutchTCSScanhandleupto thethrottle.Intheabsenceoflubricant,thedryclutches 320Nm,insteadofthe250Nmofearlyunitsfromothercar-makers. thatarefittedtolower-poweredmodelstendnottolastas long.Replacementpartsappeartoberestrictedtotrained isimpossible.TheMechatronic’s11solenoidscanfailbut specialists,becauseunlesstheinitialadjustmentismade asimplediagnostictestusually(butnotalways)pinpoints correctly,whichrequiresshimmingtoobtaintheoptimum theproblem.Cleverfailsafemodesarealsoincorporated clearancebetweenthereleasebearingandpressureplate, withintheMechatronics.Shouldaproblembedetected itcandestroythetwin-clutchunitveryquickly. onInputShaft1,forexample,thehydraulicpressureis Withwet-clutchtypes,increasingenginetorquetends isolatedfromthefaultygearsets/clutchandthegears todictatethattheinternalhydraulicpressureissimilarly onInputShaft2willbeusedasaback-up.Theopposite increased,toreducethechanceofwetclutchesslipping situationwouldoccurifInputShaft2developedanissue. andoverheating.Anyweaknessinthehydraulicsystem Thetransmissionmightstillfunctionintheeventofan reducestheclampingforceoftheclutches,causingthem internalsensorfailureandtheresultantloggingofafault towearoutprematurely.Ifanengineistuned(orthecar code.However,thetransmissionmightselectasinglegear isusedfrequentlyfortowing),specialistsrecommendthat onlyasanemergencymeasure.Yet,youcanstillidentify thetransmission’scoolingsystembeupgraded,ifpossible. minorfaults,whichcoulddevelopintomoreseriousissues. Ifoiltemperaturesexceed145°C,theDSGwillshutdown Judderisacommoncomplaint,noticeablewhenmoving off. andwillnotselectanyratiountilithascooled. Ifitoccursinnormaloperatingtemperatures,suspectan Theentiretransmissioncanberuinedifacorrodedheat internalpressureissuewiththeMechatronicsorthetwin- exchangerpermitsengineantifreeze/glycoltocontaminate clutchpack,orelseapressurelosswithinthetransmission thehydraulicoil.Apartfromdestroyingthelubricant’s case.Mechanically,theinputshafts(oneofwhichishollow, viscosity,italsostripsthefrictionmaterialfromtheclutches allowingtheotheronetopassthroughit)arereliable,other andswellsthemanyrubbercomponents,includingtheseals thantherearendbearingthatcandeteriorateonthesix- onthepistonsthatactivatethepairofclutchesandthose speedDSG.Thetwooutputshaftstendtobetrouble-free. withinthehydraulicsideoftheMechatronics.Evenwithout However,duetothehigherrotationalspeedsinvolved,1st, theingressofantifreeze,theelectricandhydraulicparts 2ndand3rdgearsarefittedwiththree-piecesynchromesh; oftheMechatronicsunitarealsopronetofailing.Voltage theotherforwardgearsutiliseasimplerconesystem. spikes,causedbyeitheradyingbatteryorcarelessjump- Crunchingonthedown-changeisawell-knownproblem starting,candamagethesealedECU,DIYrepairofwhich thatafflictsthelowerratios. p 8 CarMechanics February2016 www.greatmagazines.co.uk/carmechanics Twin-Clutch Transmissions DIY repair propositions Wet clutch or dry clutch? XSurprisingly,theDIYmechaniccan over-complex, but that the non-availability XWhilebothwetand undertakecertainrepairtasks,including of certain components can restrict repair drytypesoftwin-clutch oilandfilterchangesandremovalofthe options. The following procedure details the transmissionsareoperated Mechatronics unit. To guide us through a dismantling exercise that is specific to thesix- hydraulically,thefriction full strip-down of a Volkswagen Group six- speed wet clutch DSG, provides an overview surfacesofwetclutches are splashedwithtransmission speed DSG unit, we enlisted the services of of how the unit works and which components oil,whiledryclutchesare not VMTP Midlands Limited of Staffordshire. The are known weak-spots. As the gear sets are lubricatedbygearoil,as with company’s twin-clutch specialist explained similar to those fitted to conventional manual conventionalclutchplates. that the main issue is not due to the unit being transmissions, they will not be stripped. DSG WET CLUTCH DISMANTLE 1 Unbolt and remove the aluminium heat exchanger from the 2 The Mechatronic’s electrical connector is delicate – even static transmission, noting any oil seepage and inspecting the electricity can damage the ECU – so wear gloves when condition of the two rubber seals within the casting’s inlet and outlet. handling the unit and do not touch the electrical pins. ROB’S TOP TIP Ifyoususpect inputshaftbearing noise onasix-speedDSG, be waryastheresultant excessive end-float can damage the clutch drum assembly, if ignored. 3 Usea6mm Allen key to remove the flange. The bronze cone 4 The aforementioned cones bear against the differential centre shouldbe inspected, once withdrawn from the casing. The as a very simple limited slip differential of restricted capacity. sameprocessis repeated on the other flange. If a broken cone is discovered, check that the area is undamaged. 5 Ifyouintendtoseparatethetwocasing 6 RemovetheMechatronicsunit,by 7 Picturedisthesumpremovedandthe halves,removethescrews(asshown). unboltingthesumpbolts,priorto oildrained,withthevalvebodyhalf Theyretainaplasticoilpipewithinthe prisingthesumpfromthetransmission. oftheMechatronicsunitexposed.Whenit transmission,whichwillotherwisebebroken, Takegreatcarenottodamagetheplastic fails,thediagnosticfaultcoderelatestothe whenthegearboxcasingisseparated. electricalsocket. pressureadaptationbeingoutoflimit. p www.greatmagazines.co.uk/carmechanics February2016 CarMechanics 9 Twin-Clutch Transmissions ROB’S TOP TIP DSG WET CLUTCH DISMANTLE Afterrebuilding, continued thetransmission must be calibratedelectronically. Formoredetails, consult http://bit.ly/1mBmuY2 8 Disconnect the wire from the Mechatronics unit to the input 9 Remove the bolts that hold the Mechatronics unit to the main speed sensor, which measures the speed of the clutch drum. transmission case, noting their original locations, because The drum attaches to the dual-mass flywheel. See Step 16. some of the holes drilled into the casting are unthreaded. 10 TheMechatronicsunitmustbe 11 Ifthereverseshaft’sspeedsensoris 12 Removeitssecuringbolts,liftoffthe removedsquarely,notatanangle, snappedoff,theMechatronicsunitis endcoveranditsmouldedgasket. andhandledaspictured.Thisisbecause scrapandnewreplacementcostsstartat Generallyspeaking,thepumpsarevery thelong,plasticreverseshaftspeedsensor morethan£600.Seetheseparatesection reliable–pressuredropstendtobethe extensionreachesdeepwithinthecase. onDIYMechatronicsrepairs. faultoftheMechatronicsunit. 13 Beneaththecover,youwillseethe 14 Unscrewitsbolts,removetheoilpump 15 Detachthecirclipandretrievethe oilpumpandthereverseshaft coverandgasket.Beneathitliesthe shim.Unfortunately,anothercirclip sensorpick-up,thespeedofwhichis inputshaftbearing,whichisknowntowear holdsthebearinginplacebehindthe measuredbytheMechatronic’slong andbecomenoisy,audibleasthecarmoves casting,sothegearboxhastobesplit.The plasticsensorextension. offfromastandstill. splinedoilpumpdriveshaftliftsout. 16 NowthattheMechatronicsunithas 17 Evenifyouareespeciallygentle,the 18 Undotheboltsthatholdthecasing beenremoved(seeStep10),theinput reversespeedsensorringcandistort. halvestogether.Beingmadeofsteel, speedsensor’ssecuringboltcanbeundone Fortunately,newreplacementsareboth theycancorrodeintothealloycasing, Continued andtheassemblywithdrawnfromthesump availableandinexpensive–notreplacing whichmakesthemtrickytounscrewand on page casting.Storethesensorinasafeplace. itisafalseeconomy. theirMulti-Splineheadsdamageeasily. 12 p 10 CarMechanics February2016 www.greatmagazines.co.uk/carmechanics