Why my VW Polo GT TSI is upshifting only after 3000 rpm

The Volkswagen service centre recommended resetting the transmission module but it did not solve the issue.

BHPian amilasokan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased a used 2021 VW Polo GT TSI 1.0 which clocked just over 10k Kms. The car was pretty much unused and had been sitting idle for a couple of months. The previous owner claims that the battery was recently changed from the VW service centre as well.

Now to the problem I have been facing with this car

The upshifts happen only at 3000-3100 RPM driving it with a light foot and in D mode. Shifting from D1 to D2 happens at around 2600-2800 RPM but all the remaining gear shifts happen exactly at 3000-3100 RPM. I took it to the VW service centre for a full inspection and service. I mentioned this to them and they recommended resetting the transmission module which they did but it did not solve the issue. I went for a transmission fluid change after that as well. New transmission oil worth around 16k was put into it and the shifting still happens above 3K RPMs.

The weird thing is that, when the car goes in a slight downhill (descending a bridge for example), the shifts happen normally. That is, upshifts happen at 2400-2600 RPM. But driving on a flat surface again causes it to shift at a higher RPM. The downshifts are perfectly fine and happen at around 1500 RPMs.

The shifts are butter smooth without any issues and I have put an additional 3000 Kms into the car. The next option the VW service centre recommended to me was to rebuild the transmission which I said no to. I also had the car taken to a third-party premium car service centre and the guy said that the shifts are completely ok. There are no error codes whatsoever.

I also came across a post by a member here for a review of Sunset Red Polo GT TSI which had the same issue when it was new but was solved after the Run-In Period.

I am attaching 2 videos here which demonstrate the issue. One is on a flat surface which is 95% of the time and the other one is going down a bridge (where it shifts normally).

Any suggestions or thoughts would be highly appreciated.

Thank you.

Here's what BHPian pkulkarni.2106 had to say about the matter:

From the video you posted, the RPM & the vehicle speed seem normal. I am presuming that the TCU gets the vehicle speed data from a sensor (I guess VSS) - so in that case, it'd be worth checking the sensor too.

Here's what BHPian Bsilver had to say about the matter:

There is nothing mechanically wrong at least with the transmission, try slotting the torque converter in manual mode, and force up-shifts before 3000 rpm, in two ways:

• Floor the throttle in manual mode and shift before 3000 rpm.
• With a light foot, try shifting it before 3000 rpm.

If the above two steps are shifting the gears before 3000 rpm and not denying your command, then there is absolutely no need to build the transmission as there is nothing mechanically wrong with it because it is shifting as per driver input in manual mode. However, it is very hard to pinpoint a mistake as there are no error codes stored. You can try the above-mentioned and revert.

Here's what BHPian HillMan had to say about the matter:

Could be a sensor issue as well.

The TCU assumes you are driving enthusiastically, in sports mode, based on Throttle Position Sensor or in a stop-go-traffic based on Brake Pedal Position Sensor.

Definitely don't go for the rebuild of transmission.

Here's what BHPian audioholic had to say about the matter:

Check the ESP or transmission for any inclination sensor. If they are out of calibration it might cause wrong inclination info to be provided to the transmission hence making it upshift late. The second issue is wheel resistance which the transmission can detect and hence shift late.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.