Tips for Identifying Your Volkswagen’s Throttle Body Failures
Your Volkswagen’s throttle body is such a critical part of its engine that without it, your car would not run! Unfortunately, certain VW models have been beleaguered with malfunctioning throttle bodies. It’s important to recognize the signs when the throttle body might be going bad. Let’s first explain what a throttle body is and why it is such an important part of your car’s engine. We will then discuss several symptoms that may be indicative of a malfunctioning throttle body and then what to do about it. Proper maintenance is key to a healthy car engine!
What is a Throttle Body, and What Does it Do?
The throttle body is a small metal device located between the engine’s air cleaner (or filter box) and the intake manifold. It regulates the amount of air that is allowed into the combustion chamber and is an indispensable part of the intake system. It consists of a butterfly valve or throttle plate that rotates on a shaft inside a housing.
How Does a Throttle Body Work, and Why is it Important?
In modern cars, the throttle body is controlled electronically, whereas in older cars, it is done mechanically with the help of cables. When the gas pedal is depressed, the butterfly valve opens, and more air passes through the intake manifold, resulting in more fuel to enter the combustion chamber also. The more air and fuel, the stronger the combustion. This makes your car accelerate. More is not necessarily better. It is vital that the correct mixture of air and fuel enters the chamber for optimal performance.
Important Signs That the Throttle Body is Failing
- Problem During Idling: You may notice your car lurches or shakes while idling because any issue with airflow will affect idling.
- High RPMs (Revolutions Per Minute): If your engine revs erratically during idling, that could also be evidence of a damaged throttle. You may see the needle on the tachometer going high and low unpredictably.
- Poor Gas mileage: A problematic throttle causes air-fuel mixture issues, leading to bad gas mileage.
- Sluggish Engine: Because of a faulty throttle, you’ll have acceleration issues and realize your engine seems to lack power and doesn’t want to pick up speed.
- Engine Stalling: Your engine may even stall. It could stall when starting the car. In a worst-case scenario, your engine could suddenly stall while you’re driving, making it a very dangerous situation.
- Difficulty Changing Gears: Sometimes, changing gears can become challenging with a broken throttle.
- Check Engine Light (CIL): This catch-all light comes on whenever there is a problem in the engine. A professional mechanic can attach an OBDII-scanner (On-Board Diagnostic scanner) to your VW’s computer to read the error codes and decipher what the issue is.
- Limp-Home Mode Gets Activated: This is a safety feature you’ll find in many modern cars. It turns on when the on-board computer detects some severe fault has occurred and it turns off all non-essential functions. The car allows the driver enough power and controls so that the car can literally limp home, or to a garage. Usually, significant problems with the transmission, fuel system, or low fluids including low gas, can trigger this mode. A mechanic can inspect your VW and figure out the underlying cause for the limp mode.
Proper Maintenance
We strongly suggest that you put your VW on a regular schedule for professional maintenance. It is imperative that the throttle body is kept clean, which is something we can easily take care of during a routine check. Sometimes, you can get away with repairing the throttle body. However, there are times when you may have to replace the part. We can help you make these decisions in a way that is good for your car and also budget-friendly. It’s best to address issues earlier than later. You can take preventive measures and keep your Volkswagen engine from utter ruin.
Munich West for Your VW
At Munich West, we are not only 
highly trained professionals who specialize in European cars, but our combined experience is over 100 years! We offer you the highest quality service within a budget that is acceptable to you. Call us or book an appointment to visit us and find out for yourself. We have locations in Decatur and Atlanta, in Georgia.
