DSG Newbie - Advice please

[Pixelpeep7r]

Just got a 7R with a DSG gearbox and I've flicked through the manual but can't find any reference as to what to do when sitting still for more than a few minutes.

What do people do?

Slip it into N and put the handbrake on?
Slip it into N and keep the foot brake pressed
Slip it into P ?
Keep it in D/S and hold foot brake
Keep it in D/S and put the handbrake on

?

If i know I'm not gonna be stopped for long obviously i will just keep it in D and hold the car with the footbrake but it doesn't feel natural for prolonged periods of time, like if it takes you 4 attempts to get through a set of lights?

[SteBrown91]

I think it disengages the clutch after a certain time stationary anyway so should be ok

[SMB]

technically i think the clutch will drag slightly if left in d, causing some heat in the oil but I've not seen anyone say that caused an issue. Don't leave it in d and just have the handbrake on, it will pull against that, I suspect the sensor is connected to the brake lights.

If I'm delayed for any length of time I have got into the habit of moving it to Neutral, and then applying the handbrake, that saves excessive brake lights for those behind, any potential clutch issues, and when you go back into drive or manual you don't flash your reversing lights to scare those behind.

[Pixelpeep7r]

SMB said:

technically i think the clutch will drag slightly if left in d, causing some heat in the oil but I've not seen anyone say that caused an issue. Don't leave it in d and just have the handbrake on, it will pull against that, I suspect the sensor is connected to the brake lights.

If I'm delayed for any length of time I have got into the habit of moving it to Neutral, and then applying the handbrake, that saves excessive brake lights for those behind, any potential clutch issues, and when you go back into drive or manual you don't flash your reversing lights to scare those behind.

That echos exactly what i was thinking

I was experimenting with the flick to N and apply handbrake today coming through wood green and it seemed to feel quite natural so if thats what others do too, its gotta be right!


Thank you

[va1o]

I don't bother with the handbrake unless I'm parking. Put it in N if stopped for a short while.

[SMB]

va1o said:

I don't bother with the handbrake unless I'm parking. Put it in N if stopped for a short while.

That's ok except you need to sit with your foot the brake when on a slope, worst case you ultimately end up with warped brakes discs.

[va1o]

SMB said:

That's ok except you need to sit with your foot the brake when on a slope, worst case you ultimately end up with warped brakes discs.

True. I used to handbrake on slopes but with this the auto hill hold does a better job.

Should probably point out mines a Mk6 so I don't have the fancy electric parking brake as the Mk7 does.

[MattS3]

I leave mine in neutral.
80% of the time I remember to put it in D as the lights change.

20% of the time I forget I've put it into N, hit the accelerator and don't move.......cue a fumble with brake pedal and selector.....

[tescor]

If parked for a short time, I press the brake pedal until the auto hold (green handbrake light) kicks in. For more than 15 secs I'll keep the brake pedal pressed longer until the engine switches off.

I've never put my car into N

[liner33]

I have the 7 speed in my Fabia , drive is cut when you have your foot on the brake anyhow so I usually stay in drive but if its a long time I will shift into neutral and put the handbrake on

[jgy6000]

SMB said:

That's ok except you need to sit with your foot the brake when on a slope, worst case you ultimately end up with warped brakes discs.

Sitting with your foot on the break when stationary would not warp your disc's.

[Kell]

jgy6000 said:

SMB said:

That's ok except you need to sit with your foot the brake when on a slope, worst case you ultimately end up with warped brakes discs.

Sitting with your foot on the break when stationary would not warp your disc's.

That's not entirely true.

If you've been honing around a track and got the discs nice and hot from repeated use, then, yes, the discs could warp if the car is left to sit with the handbrake on.

But running around on the road at legal speeds, it's unlikely to be a problem.

I don't have DSG, but do have a tiptronic auto and my habit is to slip it into neutral if I'm stopped, and put the handbrake (electronic) on if I'm stopped for a while. Despite all the bumph saying that the clutch auto disengages, when you slip the car into neutral from D you can feel it stop pulling.

It doesn't take much effort, and if it might save me a big clutch bill, I figure there's no harm done.

Like the poster above though, I have gone to pull away before and forgotten it's in neutral.

[SMB]

jgy6000 said:

Sitting with your foot on the break when stationary would not warp your disc's.

The way you work metal is to heat it and apply force, local hot spots will cause warped disks over time when you gets the discs hot on a high speed stop , or spirited driving, especially if any part of the caliper slider mechanism is not working 100%.

Edited by SMB on Wednesday 22 October 13:55