Automatic transmission fluid

Martyo11

I recently had my 1.2 Golf automatic in for an oil change and mechanic said he saw small amount of transmission fluid leaking. He suggested I get the fluid changed as I’ve 90K km on clock. Anybody know how much I should be paying for this in independent or main dealer garage? Cheers 👍

bazz26

I think the service interval on those gearboxes is every 60k km so your well over due if it wasn't done previously. A DSG gearbox service from a main dealer is around €400 ballpark afaik but could be more these days like everything else.

I don't think your average independant garage would be the ones to be let at these gearboxes either just to save a few quid especially if it has a fluid leak. However there are a few independant VW specialists around like Dalton's in Portlaoise, who would be well used to working on them if you want to avoid main dealers.

Martyo11

Thanks for the info, I booked it in with a vw main dealer next week to have a look at it. When I rang a local vw dealer the guy said the transmission fluid doesn’t need changing in my model as it’s a sealed system. Have you ever heard of this? Surely the fluid has to be changed sometime or the transmission won’t last.

bazz26

There are a few different varients of the DSG gearbox used across the VAG group. I'd be ringing the dealer back that you have it booked in with and ask them to verify which type of DSG gearbox you have in your car.

Martyo11

So brought my Golf to main dealer and he said the DSG gearbox I have is sealed. He checked out the leak and said the mechatronic unit needed to be replaced, costing about €2000.

Can’t believe this, car is driving ok and no warning lights. Anybody know if this is reasonable price for this job? I’ve rang other places but haven’t heard anything back yet. Is the car ok to drive for a while, don’t do much mileage as I work from home?

Thanks,

Martin

User1998

€2,000 is definitely a reasonable price for it, but if the car is showing no symptoms then I definitely wouldn’t replace the mechatronics. I’ve seen several failed mechatronics but they have always showed symptoms such as poor gear changes, flashing gear selectors, not going into gear etc. If yours is driving fine then I would just leave it alone. The only thing I’d be concerned about is the leaking gearbox oil. I’d get a second opinion on the cause of that. A gearbox service is only €100 or so from a gearbox specialist, avoid main dealer garages, they are probably just trying to rip you off. Even if its sealed you can still open it up and change the oil.

Martyo11

Thanks for the advice and info. I’ll find a specialist and get them to check it out. Hopefully it will hold out for a while 🤞

Martyo11

Sorry to bump this thread again. Gearbox specialist said it was leak from mechatronic and they could rebuild it for €1300. Now not sure whether to rebuild, replace or just leave it alone until the car shows some symptoms. I have nct in June so they will probably highlight leaking fluid unless I can clean it up somehow. There’s just one thing after another this year 🤯

User1998

I don’t think it would be mentioned for the NCT. Might be worth cleaning beforehand.

Me personally I would probably leave it alone until symptoms appear, but I’d be concerned about the oil level dropping