Signs of Dmf failure on a Dsg.

[rapport25]

Hi guys, just had my cambelt and water pump replaced by my friend at his garage. Job was carried out no problem!! But, by leaving the car on tick over to check everything is ok. Car has a noticable rumble from the gearbox. Sounds like dmf failure :-(:-( I have had zero problems with my sat and to be honest unless it becomes undriveable it will stay. Car drives fine no slip from the box.

So my question is this. When I drove back home and parked the car it had no noise what so ever how come?. Also how much would it cost to replace? Ideas, suggestions?

Thanks, Rappy.

[DSG4ME]

Get the bonnet open cold Rappy, if it's what I think you are hearing it sounds like a dry bearing that does indeed quieten down when warmed up, this will probably develop into what sounds like a pebble going round in a washing machine and is an indication the DMF is on it's way,

A mate had one done on his Octavia a few mths ago at an Indy, iirc it cost about £550 all in, the flywheel itself is about £350 - £450 from a motor factors, expect VW to hurl a figure of £1000 though.


Something else to try as well, hit the brakes sharp and see if it feels like something has travelled on when the car has stopped, like a loose box in the boot, and does the car sound rough when starting it, like the starter motor is falling out?

[rapport25]

I drive around 85 miles a day. So the car is never really cold. If you look at it most dmfs fail around 100k mine has covered nearly 90k and showing signs.

I cant really fault vw as its simply wear and tear. I have heard that the old dmfs are replaced with a newer heavier duty one. Also Vw may offer to pay a % of the bill. Car is due its dsg oil and filter change in 4mths, so I may ask the local vw dealer if they can help.

Will it get like a manual dmf? Car will slip in gears when pulling away?.

[rapport25]

Checked car this morning and its there. Dry bearing/ pebble in a tumble dryer.

[martin1810]

DMF failure doesn't cause slip in gears, only clutches slip. The earliest sign of DMF problems is the extra rattle as the front plate rocks against the back one. This often "gets better" when the front plate seizes in one spot. Failure is difficult to diagnose even when you listen to the car. Explaining it here is almost impossible. You can remove a gearbox to do a clutch change and find the dmf siezed but no advanced warning.

[rapport25]

I think mine has very early signs of dmf failure. My understanding of the dmf is it wrong? I thought the dmf smoothed the gear change and if worn could cause the clutch to slip as it wont be as smooth when changing gear.

Based on what you have said Martin what will happen then?

[Pireeeh]

@ rapport25,

Mine is a 2007 B6 2.0TDi SEL DSG passat. IIRC When the DMF started going on mine (90,000 Mile mark), the car used to jerk violently forward almost like a start stop start stop motion and it was always at slow speeds undr 30mph mostly in traffic.

I remember the dealership saying there is no way of checking unless you open up the gearbox. I saved up and bought a DMF from TPS (trade part specialists). Replaced it and have never had the problem since. It does progressively get worse so if you can best to sort it out early. PM me and I can get you a price from TPS if you need something to compare whatever you have been quoted with.

[rapport25]

@ rapport25,

Mine is a 2007 B6 2.0TDi SEL DSG passat. IIRC When the DMF started going on mine (90,000 Mile mark), the car used to jerk violently forward almost like a start stop start stop motion and it was always at slow speeds undr 30mph mostly in traffic.

I remember the dealership saying there is no way of checking unless you open up the gearbox. I saved up and bought a DMF from TPS (trade part specialists). Replaced it and have never had the problem since. It does progressively get worse so if you can best to sort it out early. PM me and I can get you a price from TPS if you need something to compare whatever you have been quoted with.

Thanks, I have already sourced an Luk dmf they are £350. Have done a fair bit of reading. Main dealers offering good will etc..... If I can get it done for £500 all in I will be happy. As mentioned above mine drives fine. My mechanic has drawn my attention to it. And said to get it checked at vw. He has zero experience working on dsgs.


What price did you pay parts? and labour?.

[Pireeeh]

Bought the DMF from TPS for 450 (April 2011).

Dealer fixed the part for me for 324 but I also got the cambelt and water pump done at the same time.

I paid out a lot and had only had the car for 3 months. Only consolation was at least I then knew nothing would die on me as I had given the car the full vw treatment

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[rapport25]

Got to work this morning and there is a very slight rumble noise when warm. Unsure if its me being paranoid :-).

[Pireeeh]

Difficult to say. Methinks the warmer the engine gets the less the issue occurs.

Read Honest John website technical write ups on this topic.

Pal for 500 all incl.to get the job done sounds like a fair price to me.

Good luck

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[rapport25]

Hi guys,

Bit of an update and hopefully a sigh of relief :-)

Phoned my local vw dealer this morning. All I can say very very helpful. Explained my symptoms and got a call back after they had spoke to there tech guy. Basically the noise can be a lazy 1st or 2nd gear. Common on dsgs and nothing to worry about.

Also it could be due an oil a filter change. Or dmf failure.

Im hoping it just a lazy gear. Also its due an oil and filter change in 8k.

They have only ever replaced one dmf on a dsg box and that was a high mileage taxi that had covered around 180k.

They have said if the noise gets worse drop it in for a free check. Or they will check it when they do the dsg service.

[rapport25]

Away at the lakes this week end. 140 miles drive. Parked car put it in Park and the noise is there :-(:-(. Going to give it a try when we go home Monday. But leave it in Drive and see if I can hear the noise. Any help or advise anyone?

[rapport25]

Not long got home. Italian tune up seems to have worked :-):-):-):-):-). 2hrs solid driving no noise what so ever v happy.

[BILLYBANTAM]

Hi Guys, I have a Touran 19.tdi DSG with 80k on clock and believe the DMF is on the way as sounds like a pan lid rattling at idle in Drive. The car is in Spain and a local mechanic has suggested doing a conversion to the DMF to a solid unit, Has anyone had experience of this upgrade and is it worth doing, The car drives perfectly in other than the rattle every way.
bb

[zollaf]

best to stick with a dmf the way vw designed it, or you risk damage to the gearbox due to vibration.

[BILLYBANTAM]

Thanks Z

[DMitch16]

Hi guys,

Bit of an update and hopefully a sigh of relief :-)

Phoned my local vw dealer this morning. All I can say very very helpful. Explained my symptoms and got a call back after they had spoke to there tech guy. Basically the noise can be a lazy 1st or 2nd gear. Common on dsgs and nothing to worry about.

Also it could be due an oil a filter change. Or dmf failure.

Im hoping it just a lazy gear. Also its due an oil and filter change in 8k.

They have only ever replaced one dmf on a dsg box and that was a high mileage taxi that had covered around 180k.

They have said if the noise gets worse drop it in for a free check. Or they will check it when they do the dsg service.

They probably don't do many DMFs at your local VW dealer because they charge through the roof for it out of warranty. Plenty of DSG equipped cars suffer DMF failures some as early as 30K but on average between 80 and 140K. Mine was rattling at 136K when I replaced it. The DMF I replaced on my mates 2010 estate (manual g/box and common rail engine) went at 115K with massive shudder on idle and an appalling acceleration also with shudder. At idle it felt like it was running on 3 cylinders. DMF was stuck solid with front plate covering the bolt holes that mounted it to the crank. Had to be cut off.

[polmccpassat]

Hello m8 mine is doing sane thing did ur car ever get on like brakes were slammed on in traffic and putting dmf cure it

[DMitch16]

Hello m8 mine is doing sane thing did ur car ever get on like brakes were slammed on in traffic and putting dmf cure it

What model, engine, gearbox and mileage? A slightly separated DMF often makes a quiet continuous clank, clank, clank at idle which can be heard from the gearbox side especially from underneath with the tray removed. Once you've heard the noise it's one you never forget and I have spotted this failure on many cars since just by 'engine whispering'. Others when failing catch the thin metal gasket between the engine and gearbox making a scratching sound every so often as they wobble. The manual 110hp estate I mentioned did feel like it was driving with the brakes on but the shudder was the biggest giveaway and the fact that the clutch bite point was almost at floor level.