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Table of Contents > Driving > Automatic gearbox

VW Passat B8 Owner's Manual ➜ Automatic gearbox

· While driving, do not leave your hand on the pa  
gear stick. The pressure exerted by the hand is  
transmitted to the shift forks.  
Auto switch  
Operation of the change of  
· Make sure the vehicle is at a complete stop  
before engaging reverse gear.  
DSG® dual clutch  
· When changing gear, always depress the clutch at  
bottom.  
Description  
The vehicle is equipped with a DSG® dual clutch  
transmission .  
· Do not hold the vehicle stopped uphill with the  
clutch “slipping” and the engine running.  
The DSG® dual-clutch gearbox is a gearbox with  
dual-clutch technology that changes gears  
automatically. A double clutch and two mutually  
independent partial transmissions allow very fast gear  
changes without loss of tractive power. The DSG®  
dual-clutch gearbox thus combines the power and  
economy of a manual gearbox with the comfort and  
convenience of a conventional automatic gearbox.  
Upshifting early helps reduce fuel consumption  
and  
operating noises.  
Problems and solutions  
The clutch “slips”  
Functioning  
While driving, the power from the engine is transmitted  
to the drive axle via the gearbox. To change gear, the  
power transmission between the engine and the  
transmission must be interrupted. This is the function  
of the clutch.  
The control indicator lights up yellow.  
The clutch does not transmit all the torque of the engine.  
— If necessary, remove your foot from the clutch pedal.  
The clutch has overheated  
of  
,
In the case of the DSG® dual clutch transmission  
While driving, the power of the engine is always  
The control indicator lights up yellow.  
transmitted without interruption via one of the two  
partial transmissions. Before making a gear change,  
the next higher or lower gear in the transmission that  
is not active is preselected.  
An acoustic warning signal may also sound ÿ p. 146.  
The clutch can become excessively hot if, for example,  
you pull off repeatedly, let the vehicle creep for a long  
time without accelerating, or pull off and brake  
Then the clutch of the preselected gear closes and  
at the same time the one of the gear that was  
selected opens. This allows very fast gear changes.  
continuously in heavy traffic.  
Thanks to its design, the DSG® dual-clutch gearbox  
This overheating is indicated by this warning lamp  
and, if necessary, additional warning lamps and a  
message in the instrument cluster display.  
is more efficient than an automatic gearbox.  
While the torque converter of an automatic  
transmission is always running, the DSG® dual-clutch  
transmission can open the clutch at idle speed and  
— It is possible to continue the march.  
thus save fuel. Due to its efficiency, low weight and  
intelligent management, the DSG® dual-clutch gearbox  
The clutch has a fault  
generally achieves the same or lower fuel consumption  
than a manual gearbox.  
The control indicator lights up yellow.  
The clutch has a fault.  
As in the case of the manual transmission, the clutch  
Proceed with caution!  
of the DSG® dual-clutch transmission also suffers  
from wear. Depending on the type of DSG® dual  
clutch transmission in question, periodic maintenance  
will be required. For more information on this ÿ p. 366.  
If one of the partial transmissions fails, the DSG® dual-  
clutch transmission also offers the possibility of  
disengaging one of them and continuing with the other  
ÿ p. 152. In this case, go immediately  
— Request the help of specialized personnel.  
Otherwise considerable damage to the clutch may  
occur.  
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Auto switch  
147  
bio occurs depending on the solicitation of the  
engine, personal driving style and the speed at which  
it circulates.  
immediately to a specialized workshop and have the  
change checked.  
Gear ratio : Sport program  
DSG® dual-clutch gearbox :  
select selector lever  
positions  
To make full use of the engine's power reserves, it  
automatically shifts up later and downshifts earlier  
than when the selector lever is in position D. The  
timing of the shift occurs as a function of engine  
demand , your personal driving style and the speed  
at which you are traveling.  
To change between gear ratios D and S, slightly  
push the selector lever backwards ÿ fig. 125.  
The selector lever always returns to the D/S  
position. This also works on the Tiptronic track  
selection ÿ p. 149.  
Selector lever lock  
In positions P and N, the reader lever lock prevents  
the position of the reader lever from being  
inadvertently changed and, as a consequence, the  
vehicle moving inadvertently.  
Fig. 125 Left-hand drive vehicles: DSG dual-clutch  
gear selector lever with lock button (arrow). On right-  
hand drive vehicles, the arrangement is symmetrical.  
To release the selector lever lock, switch the  
ignition on and depress the brake pedal. Then press  
the lock button on the selector lever knob in the  
direction of the arrow ÿ fig. 125.  
With the ignition on, the selected selector lever  
position is shown on the instrument cluster display.  
If position N is skipped , e.g. For example, going  
from reverse to D/S, the lever does not lock. This  
allows e.g. eg, remove a vehicle that has been stuck  
– Parking lock  
by "swinging" it. If the selector lever remains for more  
The drive wheels are locked. Select this position  
only when the vehicle is stopped.  
than approx. 1 second in position N without depressing  
the brake pedal or driving at a speed less than  
approx. 5 km/h (3 mph), the lever locks.  
To move the selector lever out of this position,  
depress the brake pedal with the ignition on and  
press the lever lock button.  
WARNING  
If the selector lever is placed in the wrong  
position, vehicle control could be lost and an  
accident and serious injury could result.  
- Reverse  
Reverse is engaged. Select this position only when  
the vehicle is stopped.  
· Never accelerate when shifting the gear lever.  
tion.  
– Neutral  
· With the engine running and a gear ratio  
engaged, the vehicle will move as soon as the  
brake pedal is released.  
The change is in the neutral position. No movement  
is transmitted to the wheels and the engine braking  
effect is not available.  
· Never engage reverse gear R or parking lock  
P while driving.  
– Permanent position for forward movement  
WARNING  
Gear ratio : Normal program  
Any accidental movement of the vehicle can cause  
serious injury.  
All changes up or down are done automatically. The  
moment of the cam  
148  
Driving  
· As a driver, never leave your seat with the engine  
running and a gear engaged. If you have to get  
out of the vehicle with the engine running, always  
apply the electronic parking brake and always  
engage the parking lock P.  
· With the engine running and the selector lever  
in the D/S or R position, it is necessary to  
depress the brake pedal to hold the vehicle.  
Even at idling speed, the transmission of power  
is not completely interrupted and the vehicle  
continues to move slowly.  
· Never engage reverse gear R or blo  
parking lock P when the vehicle is moving.  
Fig. 126 Selector lever in Tiptronic position (see left-  
hand drive vehicles). On right-hand drive vehicles, the  
arrangement is symmetrical.  
· Never get out of the vehicle with the lever  
reader in the N position. The vehicle can roll  
downhill regardless of whether the engine is  
running or off.  
NOTICE  
If, with the vehicle stopped, the electronic parking  
brake is not engaged and the brake pedal is released  
with the parking lock P engaged, the vehicle may  
move a few centimeters forwards or backwards.  
If you inadvertently shift to N while driving, stop  
accelerating. Wait in the neutral position for  
the engine to idle before re-engaging a gear ratio.  
The 12 volt battery is discharged if the parking  
Fig. 127 Steering wheel with paddle shifters for Tiptro  
nic.  
lock P is not engaged for a long time with the  
engine off.  
When switching to the Tiptronic program, the  
gear that is engaged is maintained. This is the case  
until the system automatically changes gear due to  
Changing gear with the Tiptronic  
the current gear situation.  
Using the Tiptronic with the selector lever  
With the Tiptronic you can change gear  
manually in automatic transmissions.  
— Starting from the D/S position, move the joystick  
to the right to the Tiptronic selection track.  
— To upshift or downshift,  
slightly push the selector lever forwards + or  
backwards – ÿ fig. 126.  
When slightly pushing the selector lever into the  
Tiptronic selection track, the selector lever lock  
button does not have to be pressed.  
Using Tiptronic with paddle shifters  
— Pull the right paddle towards the steering wheel  
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to upshift ÿ fig. 127.  
Auto switch  
149  
— Pull the left paddle toward the steering wheel to  
downshift.  
electronic parking until you start the march ÿ .  
— To exit the Tiptronic program, pull the right paddle towards  
the steering wheel for approx. 1 second.  
Coasting with the DSG® dual clutch transmission  
With this function, the inertia of the vehicle is used to save fuel  
through foresight while driving. The engine stops braking the  
vehicle, which can continue moving for a long time due to its own  
inertia. The function is only available when the selector lever is in  
the D/S position and driving at speeds between 40 and 130 km  
(25 and 80 mph).  
If the cams are not operated for some time and the selector lever  
is not in the Tiptronic selection track, the Tiptronic program will  
be exited automatically.  
NOTICE  
· When accelerating, the gearbox automatically shifts to the next  
higher gear shortly before the maximum permissible engine  
speed is reached.  
If the brake is applied during coasting, the engine remains off  
until the vehicle comes to a stop.  
· If you downshift manually, the gear will do so when it is no  
longer possible to exceed the maximum engine speed.  
If the brake is not applied during coasting, the engine automatically  
restarts when the vehicle rolls very slowly.  
The engine can be started automatically to ensure that the  
engine can be started again and that the on-board network  
receives the necessary power supply.  
Dual gear driving  
embrague DSG®  
Upshifting or downshifting is done automatically.  
Activate coasting  
— Select the Eco profile in the profile selection  
of driving ÿ p. 156.  
Going downhill The  
— Take your foot off the accelerator. The engine  
steeper the downgrade, the shorter the selected gear will  
disengages and idles. The vehicle moves forward  
without the effect of engine braking.  
need to be. Lower gears increase the braking effect of the  
engine. Never let the vehicle roll downhill with the selector lever  
in the neutral position N.  
— If you are driving at a speed of less than 130 km/h  
(80 mph).  
- Reduce speed.  
— Briefly step on the accelerator.  
— Starting from the D/S position, move the joystick to the right  
Stop coasting  
to the Tiptronic selection track ÿ p. 149.  
— Depress the brake pedal hard.  
— Push the lever back slightly to downshift.  
OR: Briefly press the accelerator or brake pedal.  
OR: downshift with the paddle shifters located on the steering  
OR: Pull one of the paddle shifters towards the steering wheel.  
OR: Move the selector lever to the Tiptronic position.  
wheel ÿ p. 149.  
stop and start walking uphill  
The steeper the climb, the shorter the selected gear should  
be.  
OR: Change the driving profile from the Eco, Normal or  
Comfort profiles.  
When the vehicle is stopped or started driving uphill with the  
engine running, the Auto-Hold function should be used ÿ p. 186.  
Kick-down  
The kick-down function allows maximum acceleration  
with the selector lever in the D/S or Tip tronic  
position.  
When stopped uphill with an engaged gear ratio, always prevent  
the vehicle from rolling backwards by depressing the brake pedal  
or engaging the electronic parking brake. Do not release the brake  
pedal or disengage the parking brake.  
By stepping on the accelerator fully, the automatic  
transmission downshifts depending on the speed.  
150  
Driving  
speed and engine speed. In this way the maximum  
acceleration of the vehicle is used.  
· Use the exit control program only if road and  
traffic conditions allow it.  
When the accelerator is fully depressed (kick-down),  
the automatic change to the next higher gear only  
WARNING  
takes place once the maximum preset engine speed  
has been reached.  
Never “file” the brakes too often or too long and  
never press the brake pedal too often or too long.  
On vehicles with driving profile selection, when the  
Eco profile is selected ÿ p. 156 and the accelerator  
pedal is fully depressed beyond the point of resistance,  
engine power is automatically regulated so that the  
vehicle accelerates to full throttle.  
Constant braking causes overheating of the  
brakes. This can significantly reduce braking  
power, considerably increase stopping distance  
and, under certain circumstances, lead to the  
failure of the entire braking system.  
Launch control program  
Depending on the equipment, vehicles with a DSG®  
dual-clutch transmission have a launch control  
program. The launch control program allows maximum  
acceleration from a standstill.  
NOTICE  
· When stopping uphill with a gear ratio engaged, do  
not step on the accelerator to prevent the vehicle  
from rolling backwards. Otherwise, the DSG® dual  
clutch transmission could overheat and be damaged.  
— Disconnect the ASR ÿ p. 203.  
— Depress the brake pedal with your left foot and  
keep it depressed.  
· Never allow the vehicle to move with the selector  
lever in position N, especially when the engine is  
off. The DSG® dual clutch transmission is not  
— With the selector lever in the D/S position, select  
the gear ratio S or move the lever to the Tiptronic  
position or, if the vehicle has driving profile  
lubricated and can be  
damaged.  
selection, select the Sport or Race profile ÿ p. 156.  
· Vehicles with departure control program:  
When accelerating with the launch control program,  
all parts of the vehicle are highly demanded. This  
can cause increased wear.  
— Step on the accelerator with your right foot until  
the engine speed reaches approx. 3200 rpm.  
The vehicle  
— Take your left foot off the brake ÿ .  
will start at full throttle.  
NOTICE  
— Reconnect ASR after accelerating!  
Never "file" the brakes by pressing the pedal lightly  
if braking is not really necessary. This increases  
tion!  
your wear.  
WARNING  
Rapid acceleration can cause you to lose traction  
and cause the vehicle to skid, especially on slippery  
roads. This could cause loss of vehicle control,  
accidents and serious injury.  
· Always adapt your driving style to the traffic.  
· Never accelerate fully (kick-down) or abruptly if  
the visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions  
do not allow it, or if you endanger other road  
users with this acceleration and this driving style.  
· Be aware that the drive wheels and therefore the  
vehicle can skid when the ASR is switched off,  
especially when the road is slippery.  
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· After acceleration, switch on the ASR again.  
Auto switch  
151