Mk 7.5 Golf GTI - secret auto in the manual??

[Sweet7]

Morning PH, long time listener first time caller here.

I recently got myself a Golf GTI, a car I’ve wanted since before I could drive.
I’m cruising along around 45-50mph in 6th through a long and flat 50 which I know has mobile speed cameras all the time. Once through it into the national there is an incline - it’s bright, dry and quiet so I floor it *without down shifting* and I’m positive my Speedo which also shows your gear went momentarily from 6th to 4th for a second or less which co-insides with a burst of torque to pull me up the hill and increased revs so 6 could better cope with the hill.

I didn’t touch the clutch or gear stick!

Now call me crazy but I’m sure this has happened twice now - I can’t see anything in the manual and google has brought up nothing!

Any ideas? Or am I seeing things..

[Don Veloci]

It might have been asking for a shift from 6th to 4th but sorted itself out.

Dunno, may investigate next time I'm driving.

But the engine seems to be less tolerant of load than the mk6 I previous had. Maybe the longer throttle travel is a factor in my head.

[halo34]

There is no physical way for a car to shift gears itself in a manual if thats what your asking, that I know of.

The gear indicator may be showing a recommended gear however (usually a little arrow down).

[Sweet7]

The first time it happened I thought it was just asking for it with the arrow pointing from 6 to 4. But the number was definitely central as if it was the gear I selected.

I’ve been trying to recreate it but there’s always a car in front or I’ve forgotten!

Let me know…

[Sweet7]

halo34 said:

There is no physical way for a car to shift gears itself in a manual if thats what your asking, that I know of.

The gear indicator may be showing a recommended gear however (usually a little arrow down).

Yeah I know, and saying it out loud sounds even more mental but I’m sure of it.

Wonder if anyone else had the same experience.

I’ll update if I manage it again (or disprove it if nothing happens)

[budgie smuggler]

Did the revs blip up as if it had changed gear? Just wondering if the clutch slipped a bit and confused the thing that calculates what gear you are/should be in

[Hoofy]

Could you try it in another gear eg when entering a 40 zone from a 30 zone, keep it in 4th and floor it?

[Sweet7]

budgie smuggler said:

Did the revs blip up as if it had changed gear? Just wondering if the clutch slipped a bit and confused the thing that calculates what gear you are/should be in

This was my other line of thinking. Did I touch the clutch enough to drive the revs up while still semi-in gear then come off (effectively dumping) the clutch and that’s what I experienced and as you said confuse the computer

[Sweet7]

Hoofy said:

Could you try it in another gear eg when entering a 40 zone from a 30 zone, keep it in 4th and floor it?

Yeah, I’ll keep experimenting see if I get anything

[catso]

Don Veloci said:

It might have been asking for a shift from 6th to 4th but sorted itself out.

Probably this, my Wife's manual Q2 often suggests implausible gear changes although normally to change up for better economy even when it's already lugging - assume it's some kind of 'guilt' thing for Dieselgate?

[halo34]

The gearbox is physically different - and even if it did have that capability, the leaves a situation where your gearknob is in 6th whilst its in 4th - which would cause all sorts of confusion if it was possible surely.

I can't see how a manual could change down itself.

[budgie smuggler]

Sweet7 said:

This was my other line of thinking. Did I touch the clutch enough to drive the revs up while still semi-in gear then come off (effectively dumping) the clutch and that’s what I experienced and as you said confuse the computer

I meant the clutch slipping due to wear but I guess a slight press on the pedal would have the same effect

[catso]

budgie smuggler said:

Sweet7 said:

This was my other line of thinking. Did I touch the clutch enough to drive the revs up while still semi-in gear then come off (effectively dumping) the clutch and that’s what I experienced and as you said confuse the computer

I meant the clutch slipping due to wear but I guess a slight press on the pedal would have the same effect

Slipping clutch sounds plausible, assuming the gear indicator is based on a speed vs. revs calculation?

I have such a system on 2 of my Motorbikes and if you slip the clutch slightly whilst riding in a gear, the increased RPM whilst at the same speed will indicate a different gear.

[missing the VR6]

It's the gear change recommendation indicator. You're trying to accelerate in a gear not suitable for the rate of acceleration you're asking for.

[Sweet7]

missing the VR6 said:

It's the gear change recommendation indicator. You're trying to accelerate in a gear not suitable for the rate of acceleration you're asking for.

It wasn’t the indicator - as I said I didn’t tell me to drop a gear, it flashed up as if I was in that gear. Yeah, I know I wasn’t in the most appropriate gear tbh

[halo34]

Sweet7 said:

It wasn’t the indicator - as I said I didn’t tell me to drop a gear, it flashed up as if I was in that gear. Yeah, I know I wasn’t in the most appropriate gear tbh

Absolutely not possible the gear dropped a gear for you - its either confused or something else going on!

[zedx19]

Clutch might be on it's way out, renowned for being weak on manual GTi's and R's. Could well be slipping causing the car to get confused as to what gears it in.