DSG barely downshifts to 1st, even at stop signs

[Madbusy168]

I have a 2013 with 2900 miles on it now, recently I did the vagcom for the gear selector and realized that my car doesnt like to downshift to 1st. Even when I do a complete stop at the stop sign it accelerates back in D2 or S2. I have to have the car completely completely stopped for a good 2-3 sec before it goes back into D1 or S1. I really dont think that is normal at all, the other day I was on 95 during rush hour, basically crawling at 3-5mph and saw an open spot in the lane next to me, I cut over and again, the car stayed in D2 and bogged! It wouldnt downshift to 1st but rather bogged on me!! I was like wtf? and almost got rear ended.. Has anyone experienced this also? I realized that my car doesnt want to accelerate hard anymore either, I had the car in S1 one night and mashed the gas after the light turned green, tires chirped and car took off, but it doesnt do that anymore, it actually hesitates for a sec. or two before it finally decides to jump up and go. I emailed my Audi SA and gonna see what he has to say..

[AndrewSuliteanu]

I wouldn't say my S4 won't shift into 1st at all, but it definitely prefers not to be in 1st, especially when downshifting. You have to be at like 2-3k(?) revs in 2nd gear to be able to downshift to 1st, which brings you to like 4500/5k revs in 1st. My A4 would downshift into 1st more willingly, bringing revs to 5500/6k. When accelerating though, I would say it is not normal for the car not to want to shift into 1st if you're going 3-5mph. Something sounds off there.

[thedollardoctor]

This is exactly what my car does as well, I believe it's Audi's efforts to save gas mileage. As I have posted in another thread. The DSG transmission has certain nuances that you have to adapt to. If I am in stop and go or slow traffic, I ALWAYS have my car in dynamic mode so that throttle response is more sensitive and immediate.

You could always use the paddles if you want to be sure it will downshift. This is not something that bothers me at all, as I have learned how to work with it. I suspect over time you will as well. I do not think anything is wrong with your car.

I am hopeful a TCU tune from GIAC will tighten these nuances up....time will tell

[drob23]

I think the 2-1 shift is pretty jerky, so my guess is the TCU tries to avoid this at all costs (i.e. unless you punch WOT while sitting slowly in 2nd). When I drive in M mode, it will only automatically downshift to 1 after coming to a complete stop for 1-2 seconds. Try driving in Sport mode, this should always keep your gears low. I've never felt like the car was "bogged down" unless trying to accelerate hard on the freeway in 7th or something. My best advice is always run in dynamic mode - annoyingly, you have to cycle through all the modes to get the engine in S after keying on (I need to switch this with vagcom).

[Vandalrg]

Same here, except for the bogging. I actually prefer this behavior over having the car downshift into first all the time.

[Toecutter]

I've never noticed that behavior with my DSG, but even in my manual tranny car I'm rarely in 1st. I just use it to start from a stop but even when I slow to a roll I'm in 2nd at the lowest. To get it into 1st I have to almost stop.

[MrFunk]

I've never noticed that behavior with my DSG, but even in my manual tranny car I'm rarely in 1st. I just use it to start from a stop but even when I slow to a roll I'm in 2nd at the lowest. To get it into 1st I have to almost stop.

+1

[Wilbur]

I have a 2013 with 2900 miles on it now, recently I did the vagcom for the gear selector and realized that my car doesnt like to downshift to 1st. Even when I do a complete stop at the stop sign it accelerates back in D2 or S2. I have to have the car completely completely stopped for a good 2-3 sec before it goes back into D1 or S1. I really dont think that is normal at all, the other day I was on 95 during rush hour, basically crawling at 3-5mph and saw an open spot in the lane next to me, I cut over and again, the car stayed in D2 and bogged! It wouldnt downshift to 1st but rather bogged on me!! I was like wtf? and almost got rear ended.. Has anyone experienced this also? I realized that my car doesnt want to accelerate hard anymore either, I had the car in S1 one night and mashed the gas after the light turned green, tires chirped and car took off, but it doesnt do that anymore, it actually hesitates for a sec. or two before it finally decides to jump up and go. I emailed my Audi SA and gonna see what he has to say..

Manual tranny ftw!

[CJ_S4]

I've noticed my car does the same thing, but it will slip the clutch quite a bit in 2nd, which is nice and keeps it from really bogging. I've found that if you really want 1st gear you have to mat the accelerator and engage the kickdown switch - this usually works for a 1st gear downshift - but you will need to wait as the DSG requires something like 1100 ms for unexpected downshifts in auto mode. In 2nd gear the other clutch already has 3rd preselected, so it has to reselect 1st. For maximum control, drive with Throttle/DSG in dynamic or manual mode.

Manual snobs ftl!

[TuanTime]

I think the 2-1 shift is pretty jerky, so my guess is the TCU tries to avoid this at all costs (i.e. unless you punch WOT while sitting slowly in 2nd). When I drive in M mode, it will only automatically downshift to 1 after coming to a complete stop for 1-2 seconds. Try driving in Sport mode, this should always keep your gears low. I've never felt like the car was "bogged down" unless trying to accelerate hard on the freeway in 7th or something. My best advice is always run in dynamic mode - annoyingly, you have to cycle through all the modes to get the engine in S after keying on (I need to switch this with vagcom).

Your car should stay in dynamic mode even when you power off. All you have to do is pull down on the shift knob to get into s mode. No need to touch the drive select anymore.

[Wilbur]

I've noticed my car does the same thing, but it will slip the clutch quite a bit in 2nd, which is nice and keeps it from really bogging. I've found that if you really want 1st gear you have to mat the accelerator and engage the kickdown switch - this usually works for a 1st gear downshift - but you will need to wait as the DSG requires something like 1100 ms for unexpected downshifts in auto mode. In 2nd gear the other clutch already has 3rd preselected, so it has to reselect 1st. For maximum control, drive with Throttle/DSG in dynamic or manual mode.

Manual snobs ftl!

I'm no manual snob but definitely prefer it-opinion . Just traded back to manual from 335 AT for same reason you guys are discussing. If you want first you have to kick down then accel is too violent/too late.

[drob23]

Your car should stay in dynamic mode even when you power off. All you have to do is pull down on the shift knob to get into s mode. No need to touch the drive select anymore.

I turn it off in dynamic, come back and key in and everything is in dynamic except for the engine/trans (can tell cause it's in D mode). I usually go around in M mode, so not even sure it matters. But I don't see S mode until after cycling through ADS back to dynamic. I should just vagcom it permanently to start in dynamic, hopefully that keeps it set.

[virsipe]

I can't believe everyone drives the car in D or S so much! I drive mine in manual mode with my DSG 99% of the time so I am well aware of the gear the car is in. . . Yes, the transmission does not like to go into 1st gear very easily-even in manual mode. However, you get used to it and you just need to come to a complete stock or force it into 1st gear.

I don't know about the Dynamic mode settings as I got the diff and suspension and no MMI- so my mode is ALWAYS in Dynamic and it never changes unless I change it.

[moose_head]

I turn it off in dynamic, come back and key in and everything is in dynamic except for the engine/trans (can tell cause it's in D mode). I usually go around in M mode, so not even sure it matters. But I don't see S mode until after cycling through ADS back to dynamic. I should just vagcom it permanently to start in dynamic, hopefully that keeps it set.

Yes, you can pull down on the shifter to go to S

[moose_head]

I can't believe everyone drives the car in D or S so much! I drive mine in manual mode with my DSG 99% of the time so I am well aware of the gear the car is in. . . Yes, the transmission does not like to go into 1st gear very easily-even in manual mode. However, you get used to it and you just need to come to a complete stock or force it into 1st gear.

I don't know about the Dynamic mode settings as I got the diff and suspension and no MMI- so my mode is ALWAYS in Dynamic and it never changes unless I change it.

If you just want to know what gear you are in, there's a vagcom tweak for that. It will show S3, S4, S5 etc (or D3...) I find with S it's almost always the gear I'd want to be in anyway.

[webvictim]

I've found that the car is sometimes very reluctant to downshift for acceleration (onto freeways, for example) unless you absolutely punch it. I compensate for this now by manually pulling down on the shifter to go to S when I'm coming onto the freeway.

[CreoSTi]

I've found that the car is sometimes very reluctant to downshift for acceleration (onto freeways, for example) unless you absolutely punch it.

Yeah, I drive with the engine in dynamic most of the time, but If I know I need a quick(er) downshift I'll just tap the steering wheel paddle down a couple gears beforehand...

[Madbusy168]

Even if I have my car in dynamic and full stop at the stop sign, it accelerates back in S2, I basically have to be completely stopped for 2 seconds at least and then the car goes back into S1. and the car can't "take off" anymore, in dynamic and S1 the car just seems to have a 1-2 sec delay when I wot at the light.

[drob23]

Yes, you can pull down on the shifter to go to S

Haha...wow I'm an idiot, never realized that could be done, thank you sir

Another dumb question: do you think it matters what mode you're in when switching to M mode? Throttle feels pretty responsive, so I'm assuming it uses the same throttle map as dynamic mode, maybe there's a way to test other than butt dyno?

[drob23]

Even if I have my car in dynamic and full stop at the stop sign, it accelerates back in S2, I basically have to be completely stopped for 2 seconds at least and then the car goes back into S1. and the car can't "take off" anymore, in dynamic and S1 the car just seems to have a 1-2 sec delay when I wot at the light.

What happens if you go into M mode?

[AndrewSuliteanu]

If you tap the shifter down to go into S mode, does this essentially put you into dynamic (steering, suspension, exhaust note) or is it only throttle response?

[rs4dreams]

If you tap the shifter down to go into S mode, does this essentially put you into dynamic (steering, suspension, exhaust note) or is it only throttle response?

It only puts shift points and throttle response (engine & transmission) in dynamic.

[offthewall]

I have a 2013 with 2900 miles on it now, recently I did the vagcom for the gear selector and realized that my car doesnt like to downshift to 1st. Even when I do a complete stop at the stop sign it accelerates back in D2 or S2. I have to have the car completely completely stopped for a good 2-3 sec before it goes back into D1 or S1. I really dont think that is normal at all, the other day I was on 95 during rush hour, basically crawling at 3-5mph and saw an open spot in the lane next to me, I cut over and again, the car stayed in D2 and bogged! It wouldnt downshift to 1st but rather bogged on me!! I was like wtf? and almost got rear ended.. Has anyone experienced this also? I realized that my car doesnt want to accelerate hard anymore either, I had the car in S1 one night and mashed the gas after the light turned green, tires chirped and car took off, but it doesnt do that anymore, it actually hesitates for a sec. or two before it finally decides to jump up and go. I emailed my Audi SA and gonna see what he has to say..

I have a 2013 S4. I leave it in Dynamic all the time. It stays that way through a turn off/on cycle. I always tap the shifter down to go from D to S when I first get in the car. I always tap the traction control once to turn off braking guard. I NEVER have an issue with the car bogging or starting from a stop in 2 rather than 1.

IMHO the car shouldn't downshift to 1 until you stop. If I were driving a real manual, I would never downshift to 1st coming to a stop.


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[stingray84]

Sounds like expected behavior. Downshift from 2 to 1 is pretty harsh on DSG and it makes sense that the car is programmed to avoid it as much as possible. I drive in manual mode most of the time and I rarely use 1 either. 2nd gear is punchy enough for me most of the time.

[Creatre]

IMHO the car shouldn't downshift to 1 until you stop. If I were driving a real manual, I would never downshift to 1st coming to a stop.

This.

Also, you have to drive the DSG like you drive a manual car. When you realize this and begin to do so, it drives very sanely and quite nice.

[CreoSTi]

Also, you have to drive the DSG like you drive a manual car. When you realize this and begin to do so, it drives very sanely and quite nice.

I think this point can't be stressed enough... I had extensive time driving my father's B8 S5 cabriolet prior to acquiring the S4, so I knew about its inherent quirkiness beforehand. You can't expect the DSG gearbox to act like a conventional automatic, so you definitely have to adapt your driving style to it (in between a MT/AT).

[cspcrx]

This is my first Audi and first DSG car. I noticed what you described as well with my car. In heavier traffic I may coast up to the light and sometimes I would notice exactly what you are describing. I notice it even more at the metered onramps that we have here in Phoenix. I will roll up to the light and the car will kind of jurk like its trying to figure out what gear it wants, especially if I give it a little heavier throttle.

I have just learned to drive around this or I may just pull the left paddle and go down a gear if that is what I want. Seems normal and like others said the DSG is trying to behave like a MT would.

[Madbusy168]

I usually drive manual cars myself and I know that its kinda hard to get the car in first gear when its still moving in a manual car. I also understand that our Dsg trans are basically an automated Manual and behaves and has the same characteristics of a manual, thus the "harder to get in 1st gear scenario" My main concern is I dont mind it re-accelerating back in 2nd gear at a stop sign or whatever, but what if im in a pretty emergency situation? just like another member has mentioned,, metered expressway onramp.. I can't afford to let the car take its good old time to accelerate from D2 or S2!! This isnt why I bought a 333hp supercharged v6 for and to make it worst, I have a Stasis Tune in my car, which means im getting a slow accelerating 400hp car now.. lol I've been driving it a bit more kinda getting use to the accelerating "characteristics" but it just bothers me to know that I dont have that instant on demand power that I expected from a 400hp car. I got to experiment a bit more, maybe I need to really pedal to the medal it which I rarely do.