Why does the Volkswagen dual-clutch transmission jerk during initial acceleration?
2 Answers
Volkswagen dual-clutch transmission jerking during initial acceleration is caused by the friction plates and clutch pressure plate engaging too quickly. It's similar to driving a manual transmission - if you release the clutch pedal too quickly when shifting gears, the car will jerk. Other reasons: Low precision in engine speed and torque control; The power transmission method of dual-clutch transmission can be considered as a rigid connection. Solutions: Large difference between engine output speed and transmission output speed: Dry dual-clutch transmissions use mechanical control arms and sleeves to squeeze the diaphragm spring deformation, thereby further reducing jerking. Low-speed gear shifting jerking: There's a slight difference in transmission performance at the same speed range between 'cold start' and 'warm engine' states. Vehicle driving smoothness: Related to the engine.
I've been pondering the jerky start issue with my Volkswagen DSG for quite some time. Essentially, it's caused by the clutch repeatedly engaging and disengaging in semi-engaged state at low speeds. This happens most frequently during stop-and-go traffic in urban areas. When I first got the car, it really bothered me, but I later discovered that applying slight throttle during take-off helps significantly, and avoiding frequent switching between D and S modes makes a difference. That's just how dual-clutch transmissions behave - they tend to shudder more when temperatures rise, making summer traffic particularly annoying. Persistent operation in this condition causes considerable wear on clutch plates, so I recommend having the clutch clearance adjusted during the second maintenance. If the shuddering becomes severe, flashing the latest transmission control unit software at the dealership works wonders - mine became much smoother after the update.
