One aspect to the repair business is doing work on a car that is on its way to being sold or traded in. Such was the case with a shop that received a 2010 Volkswagen CC 2.0L using the dual clutch direct shift gear box called the DSG 02E transmission. It had 34,000 miles on it with no driveability complaints or codes in the system. Yet a transmission overheat light would periodically illuminate in the instrument cluster (figure 1).
On top of this transmission there is both a heat exchanger and an oil pressure filter (figure 2). Usually, when the transmission is removed, the heat exchanger is taken off of the transmission and remains with the car. This way the water lines remain in place and no coolant is lost (figure 3).
Inside the transmission is a typical suction filter (figure 4). The pump sucks oil in through this internal filter pressurizing the transmission. Fluid is then routed through the heat exchanger for cooling and then through the oil pressure filter. Once it passes through this filter it is routed into an oil spray pipe for shaft and gear lubrication (figures 5, 6 and 7).
With this particular vehicle having periodic transmission fluid overheat problems, the heat exchanger was going to be removed from the transmission to inspect it for any signs of restrictions. Since this would entail disconnecting the water lines, it was decided first to remove the oil pressure filter. To everyone’s surprise, it was loaded with dirty fluid and the filter material was extremely deteriorated (figure 8).
This is a sure indicator of something beginning to go wrong inside the transmission even though the vehicle showed no signs of a problem. With the vehicle was going up for sale there was no interest in looking into it any further other than to eliminate the over temp light. By flushing the heat exchanger and installing a new oil pressure filter and fluid, the periodic illumination of the warning light did remain off.
There is a TSB from Volkswagen concerning an Implausible Transmission Shift Sequence DTC P2711 stored in the TCM (3014-03). This would be accompanied with shifting concerns and/or a no engagement when drive or reverse is selected. Debris in the clutch assembly causing too much drag torque from the multiple clutch assembly is to blame. It explains that if this is the only code stored with vehicles having over 19,000 miles the dual clutch drum assembly and cover will need to be replaced (figures 9 and 10).
The illumination of this “Transmission Overheated Stop!” message could be the beginning signs of this dual clutch assembly concern. I guess only the new owner will know.
