Some people never get used to a dual clutch transmission. They seem to fight it. They are different. Maybe looking at a YouTube video on how it operates wold help explain why it is the way it is?

 

I will give it a go but interestingly we have had several base Macans as loaners and they all drive great without the awkward jerking.

 

I'm no expert, but did they look into any transfer case issues or loose wires?

 

I’m not sure but I plan to call the dealership tomorrow since they still have the car and I’ll ask those questions. Thanks for your insight.

 

Our 2019 S is not jerky at all, I will say, it is different than a regular automatic..maybe ask the dealer to let you drive a comparable Macan they have on the lot to compare..?

 

Thanks, we have driven several loaners over the years and none of them exhibit this behavior - you are driving along and then the car loses speed, as passengers your head moves forward and then the power comes back and your head is thrust back. It is reminiscent of 1970 carburated cars where the car would bog down if it was cold.

 

My 2017 base shifts jerky from 1st to 2nd. I’ve had the TC replaced for other reasons. It kinda helped but came back. Occasionally it goes away after a service (perhaps they reset the shift points for the PDK). But it always come back. Dealer says it’s normal. They did some data analysis on the PDK clutch plates and checked the PDK fluid for metal but everything came back normal.

Interesting a new transmission did not resolve your issues. I assume they also changed the mechtronics unit as well. Mine seems acceleration related as it doesn’t always do it. Always wondered if a pedal commander might help but I just live with it.

 

I'm not sure if they changed the mechtronics unit and I will ask about it - there are several other threads that point it out as potential culprit. Thanks.

 

I'm not sure with PDKs, but engine power output affects the smoothness of the shifts in automatic transmissions. Perhaps check spark plugs, ignition coils, fuel injectors, etc. and make sure they are within specs. AND how about the gas you're using? Bad gas might cause problems.

 

At this point anything is possible but the car is well-maintained and always serviced at the dealer. I'm sure it isn't the gas since this has been an ongoing issue for 3 years and counting and I only use Sunoco/Shell 93

 

In case your interested, found this video, the 8:34 mark covers electrical components/sensors in the transmission (note this is for a 911 PDK

). Video notes the distance sensors are "the item that is most likely to fail". My disclaimer is I couldn't tell what would cause intermittent harsh shifts, but makes me think it possible intermittent electrical signal issues could cause harsh shifting. Also has the Transmission control unit (TCU) been brought up/electrical connections inspected closely? (Looked up mechatronics, is this referring to /aka the TCU?)

I imagine the dealer doesn't want to just throw, parts at it but this is where my mind goes since the new transmission did not solve the issues.

Also out of curiosity does in happen in both cold and warm weather?

 

The jerkiness on shifting is related to how passively or aggressively you drive your Macan. If I recall, if you accelerate slowly, the jerk is more pronounced....but it could be the other way. Try accelerating more rapidly than you normally do....and try accelerating less aggressively. Having driven Macan S's since 2016 (3 different engines), I now accelerate more aggressively from stop. I suspect that if you change your driving habits a bit, the jerks will subside to at least acceptable. (BTW, this may be why the shop can't reproduce the issue....they just drive differently).

Dual Clutch transmissions, by their very design, jerk because they shift so fast. That's one of the reasons some car manufacturers have abandon dual clutch....customer complaints about smoothness. Perhaps your wife would be happier in a vehicle with a different type of transmission

Final question....has the OP's wife driven other Macans (used ones on your dealer's lot).

 

Nothing in my experience makes this behavior normal. Try taking it to another dealer if that's possible. Trust your instincts. If no other car or Porsche behaves this way, somethings amiss.

 

Has she tried driving in “Sport Mode”? As an above poster states, the transmission learns from driving habits. After making a few trips 100% in sport mode, see if that helps the shifting in normal mode. While I’m not a mechanic, if the problem persists, I’d be looking at some other type of electronic sensor. Either fuel delivery or turbo related. As another poster suggested, maybe techs at a different dealership would be more able to diagnose the problem.

 

Thanks - yes we plan on driving in Sport mode and hope it relieves the issue.

 

PDK transmission should not “jerk” period. Porsche dealers don’t know squat about transmissions .

 

Exactly! Mine does not jerk in any mode. The only time it doesn't shift as smooth is when manually downshifting at or below 1500 rpm while decelerating, but understandable.

 

We own a 2020 Macan S and have been complaining to the dealer about the jerky shifts for several years now. The jerking is worse between 1st and 2nd especially when the car is first started. It is so bad that when we've had other people in the car - they exclaim "what the **** was that". The dealership received approval to replace the transmission in 2023 and it seemed that for a while it improved, however a little over a year into this new transmission the problem continues. The latest video from my dealer states that after 3 days they haven't been able to replicate any abnormal transmission issues and that the jerking is simply a characteristic of the dual clutch - they claim that both clutches shift into neutral momentarily to warm the transmission fluid. I am skeptical of the answer that the transmission would remove all connection to the flywheel when the accelerator position would indicate that the driver wishes for the car to move. The transmission has all the latest software and so I'm left to soliciting the forum for anyone that may have better insights. This is my wife's car, and these issues have resulted in complete unhappiness with the vehicle - which also results in my aggravation. Any insights are appreciated.

Thank you all for your posts and insights. We got the car back about 2 weeks ago and it is driving better - not perfect but much better than previously. The only change the dealership made was to reset the software to the factory settings - i.e. without the learned behaviors. Our driving style is fairly sedate when the car is cold because we are usually in our neighborhood where safety is paramount, and speed is secondary. I mention that because it seems that the transmission learns to shift too quickly to second and then third while the engine and transmission are cool. I asked the dealer if they could turn off the learning function in the transmission - the answer is there is no way to do it. For now, it drives better - and I may start driving in Sport mode to force the transmission to keep the revs up before shifting.

 

Trick question… when the dealership said they swapped out the PDK, exactly what was swapped out and what, if anything, was NOT swapped out. Are there any components that are taken off the PDK and then reinstalled on the rebuilt one?

 

Mine is jerky to when cold and not in sport mode. When it’s really cold it feels like the clutches are slipping. I switch to sport mode and its all gone.

 

There is a different shift strategy when cold to heat up the catalytic converter more quickly. Don’t worry about it.

 

I too have been perplexed by the smoothness of this transmission. I added the Cobb Accessport Stage 1 mapping and this did not help. It did increase HP and torque. Reading through this forum I ran across The Pedal Commander. I bought one and installed it. I've played around with many of the settings and am now using the Sport mode default setting of the Pedal Commander. This has really helped in the smoothness in non-sport mode setting of the transmission. It's very smooth and satisfying. Sport mode (car setting) is another topic. I do not find this setting satisfying. It's my observation that you really only want to use this if you have the opportunity to drive aggressively. Around town this mode is jumpy and hard to find consistency.

 

PS, I installed a Pedal Commander in my Toyota Tundra pickup and it's really helped in the smoothness of it as well.