[kglenn]

When accelerating from a stop or slow rolling speed I frequently get a delay of 1-2 seconds where the car gets no power. I have to hit the accelerator hard to get it to kick into gear.
The dealer had no clear explanation except to say the transmission is "searching" between 1st and 2nd gear, which even if correct, cant be normal as this is a potentially dangerous situation when pulling to fast moving traffic and the car simply stalls for a couple seconds before responding.
I now use the paddles to manually put into M1 which seems to work but clearly this is not a permanent solution.
Has anyone else experienced this? Car is a 2017 Q3 with AWD.
Thank you.

 

[Q3User]

When accelerating from a stop or slow rolling speed I frequently get a delay of 1-2 seconds where the car gets no power. I have to hit the accelerator hard to get it to kick into gear.
The dealer had no clear explanation except to say the transmission is "searching" between 1st and 2nd gear, which even if correct, cant be normal as this is a potentially dangerous situation when pulling to fast moving traffic and the car simply stalls for a couple seconds before responding.
I now use the paddles to manually put into M1 which seems to work but clearly this is not a permanent solution.
Has anyone else experienced this? Car is a 2017 Q3 with AWD.
Thank you.

It's normal.
VW programs a lot of their DSG trannies to behave this way - most likely for fuel economy (like really? do you need to launch dangerously into traffic or run to the next stop light??)

That's why people who don't like this behavior - either get an ECU tune or a pedal box like this: http://www.audiq3forum.com/forum/45...scussion/4778-sprintbooster-throttle-aid.html


Otherwise - Use the DSG paddles if you want to have a quick safe response.

 

[asn]

I thought the Q3 didn't have a SMG, it had an old fashion auto, with tiptronic.

 

[Q3User]

I thought the Q3 didn't have a SMG, it had an old fashion auto, with tiptronic.

Not sure what SMG is but DSG is Audi former name & they changed it to S-Tronic.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-shift_gearbox#Audi

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/wiki/vw-dsg-direct-shift-gear-transmission-and-audi-stronic-faq/

I use the two interchangeably for any VW direct shift manumatics.
There maybe underlying technical differences across generations or versions I am sure.

 

[asn]

Sorry, SMG is BMW's name for Audi's DSG transmission. They are both a dual clutch automated manual transmission. Basically a manual transmission, that can be run in automatic mode.

Also, my brain merges the S-Tronic / Tip-tronic type of transmissions together. I had always thought they were automatic transmissions that can be shifted (via paddles or the stick) when you wanted to.

With that in mind, I thought the US Q3's had the tip-tronic style transmission.

 

[rnlabas]

First, the NAR Q3s (the only market in the world) DO have TipTronics - or normal torque-converter type automatics -NO Q3 DSGs for us (our market was surveyed and thought the DSG too harsh for the demographic segment likely to buy). Secondly this behavior IS normal but it is related to a US DOT requirement cuz of Toyota's famous throttle issue that requires a 0.3 second delay between the release of the brake and application of the throttle. Most folks don't notice it but a few have described it in this forum, and you can induce it a bit more easily by using your left foot to brake and in a quick move release the brake while stabbing the throttle and you'll see this delay - the car feels (cuz it is) rather dead. And yes, a SprintBooster really helps, cuz it remaps the throttle and this delay a bit.

oh, and actually, BMW's name for a DSG is DCT, the SMG was a SINGLE clutch gearbox...similar to Audi's R-tronic - and paddles have nothing to do with the type of gearbox as any of them (single or double clutch, or torque converter) can (and now do) have paddles.

 

[carkarl]

... Secondly this behavior IS normal but it is related to a US DOT requirement cuz of Toyota's famous throttle issue that requires a 0.3 second delay between the release of the brake and application of the throttle. Most folks don't notice it...

These little factoids are what I like most about this site!

I think I've never noticed the delay because I have long legs and 25 years of manual gearbox training. I am almost always getting my foot off the brake and repositioning my feet well in advance of getting on the throttle. It would have never occurred to me that people are frequently trying to switch from brake to throttle so quickly. This is probably why the constant creeping thrust of an automatic annoys me so much. I expect a car to sit there like it would with the clutch out, only accelerating if due to gravity...

 

[kglenn]

Thanks for the replies however I'm afraid they still don't fully address the issue.
If I understand correctly the acceleration delay is "normal" due to the timing required between releasing the brake and hitting the accelerator. Ok, that would address the issue from a dead stop but as I said in my original message the problem also occurs when accelerating from a slow roll and the brake wasn't even in use.
However there is no pattern when the problem will occur. I do know it is more frequent after the car has been driven a while and I stop and shut off the engine for a short period of time and the drive again.
Anyway, I appreciate the replies but I'm still unclear what the problem might be.

 

[BSaint]

I went from a leased 2017 Rav 4 to a 2018 used Q3. The Rav 4 definitely shifted smoother! You would think given a orginal sticker price of 42k I would find this car with a even smoother transmission...but no!