2015 Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio Verde sluggish gear changes in 1st/2nd

[bcurko]

Hi Guys,

Currently have a 2015 QV with 52,000 on the odometer and i don't know if I'm just extra sensitive but the last month it seems the car is a bit confused on when to change gears up and down.

I had a similar problem with my old 2012 Ford Focus which had the dual clutch slipping problem so I'm hoping its nothing like that.

I'll be on ramps in car parks and the car feels like it's going to stall as if it's a manual or really needs to hit the higher RPM's to move in 1st or 2nd sometimes not as quick gear change as to be expected?

Could it be the mapping in Neutral DNA mode that is off because sport mode seems to be better but still not 100% for me personally.

Any ideas?

[Colin Edwards]

Hi bcurko,

Have an identical car.  Dealer and Alfa specialists recommend having the TCT "recalibrated" annually.  Not sure of the procedure but it definitely improves the TCT performance. 

I left foot brake.  I've been advised not to by more than one "expert".  Find it very difficult not to left foot brake.  Apparently the TCT doesn't like seeing brake input before loss of accelerator input!!!  I have the TCT "recalibrated" every 6 months.  DCT's seem to be high maintenance.  Ask a VW owner!!!!!

Colin

[bcurko]

Oh shit thanks Colin,

Feels better knowing that I’m not making this up!

Do you know anyone in Sydney that wouldn’t bend me over to have the TCT remapped?

Not sure how else we should slow down if we don’t left brake haha

It’s not like my old 147 GTA when I used the engine to break as normal manuals

[bazzbazz]

It's not being "Remapped", just the TCT is run through a calibration sequence then the clutch is also calibrated as well.

Any decent Alfa Specialist that is familiar with modern Alfas should be able to do the job properly.

[bcurko]

So I took the car to Max Odi a few weeks ago and the car came back with a bunch of electronic faults but not too sure what they mean.

He told me that I should take the car to get diagnostics done at an Alfa dealer and they can also do any software upgrade/patches that may be available for the TCT gearbox.

Just noticing the clunking and it's really starting to get on my nerves, reminds me of my old 2012 Ford Focus with the shit gearbox that can never be fully fixed ....

[bcurko]

Have booked the car in to get it looked at, Hopefully artamon Alfa romeo can help me out

[Citroënbender]

Is that McCarrolls?

[bazzbazz]

Did Max carry out a calibration on the Gearbox and Clutch?

[bcurko]

Is that McCarrolls?

Yep, tell me they aren't as bad as the parramatta alfa dealer reviews are leading me to believe

[bcurko]

Did Max carry out a calibration on the Gearbox and Clutch?

Nope I took the day off and he just plugged it into his computer ran some diagnostics and told me that I could be getting it due to the electrical errors.

Didn't take it for a drive or anything but he didn't charge me, i asked him about the clutch and software but he's advised me to take it to Alfa as only Fiat dealers have the tools/software to perform the upgrades now...

[Rob p]

I hope it's a small fix I have herd of a lot horror storys about the dual clutch gearbox. I been told the clutches inside fail and need replacing every 50,000 kms and the set cost is like 5k to replace that's why I steered away and got the one with the manual gearbox

[bcurko]

Well I took it to Artarmon paid for the diagnostics as the car isn’t new with warranty.

They took it for a drive and couldn’t find anything wrong, and it’s working normally according to them.

Probably will hold the car for another year or two and then move to the golf R 2019/2020 models...

The gearbox is just not as good as it should be and I don’t have the money for a Guilia

[rowan_bris]

I wouldn't count on the Golf being better.  I have had two and they were very bad gearbox wise.

[jvidd]

What was the result of this? Re-calibration help?

Joel.

[markymarc123]

If you have this issue, and the latest AR updates do not solve it.  It has been recommended by other owners to buy the TMC TCT Autoflash.
 
Even if you do not have issues, it apparently improves the performance/shift times of the TCT and raises the torque limits imposed on the box for more of a "kick" when accelerating.

There is a guy on the AR owners forum who says it that the TMC autoflash was better than the TMC ECU tune when it comes to notable performance gains.