Topic: stupid throttle body... (Read 917 times)

mjohnson · « **on:** July 28, 2009, 07:00:14 AM »

So I'm late(ish) for pt this morning and find a gap in traffic to pull out in front of off my street. I lay the pedal down and the 'ole girl sinks her claws in the asphalt and takes off like a cheetah. I comment to myself, "wow, that just might be the hardest she's ever pulled." It was dang near impressive!

Well, I just get through the gate on post and she throws some lights at me. The traction and epc. It also started idling really bad. If a little gas was given, it would idle fine, but it would be limited to about 3k rpm and like 7psi. Ok, so I'm in limp mode. No big deal, I'll just shut the car off, let it reset and then start her up again. It's been the cure in the past, why not now? Tried it a couple times, no change. I figure, ok, well maybe a good hour to reset (while doing pt) should do the trick. Nope.

I got about a block from the parking lot and the thing says, "I'm done with being raped. I'll Idle you home, but if you think I'm going to respond when you hit the pedal...think again bubba."

CRIPES!! I contemplated calling a buddy for a ride, and then I realized that I'd need a ride back just to troubleshoot and crap. So I decided to limp 5 miles home at a whopping 30mph in 5th!!! Needless to say I got pretty good at starting/stopping/shifting without use of a throttle all without stalling

Got home and pulled the code
P0638 Throttle actuator control range/performance (bank 1). From what I read about the code is that likely the tb motor crapped out. Luckily I've got my buddy's 1.8t still being worked on in my drive. He doesn't know it yet, but he just donated some parts

mjohnson · « **Reply #1 on:** July 28, 2009, 08:00:00 AM »

Swapped the throttle body and that took care of the no throttle response issue, but it still idled like a mofo. I read that a bad maf can be a cause of the epc/traction lights coming on as well as the bad idle. I decided to swap that as well. There was no immediate change, so I let it run for a while at about 2200rpm. I then cleared the codes, shut the car off, and started her up again. The thing purred like a kitten (well, more like growled like a dog). I took it for a test drive and all seems well. It's back to being the neighborhood menace!

Any other suggestions to take care of the epc/traction/bad idle thing (if it happens again)? I really don't think the maf had anything to do with it. Pretty sure it was just due to shutting it off and restarting it (that's been the cure before).

Also, should I replace the tb with another stock one or go bigger?

Barry · « **Reply #2 on:** July 28, 2009, 08:29:56 AM »

is it a cable TB, or DBW?

mjohnson · « **Reply #3 on:** July 28, 2009, 08:47:06 AM »

Thanks Barry, I feel like a noob again (course, I suppose I never really left that status. I just guess well sometimes).

I don't see any cables, so I'm going to have to say it's not a cable tb, but I'm not sure what dbw is, so I can't say that it's that...

Luckyy · « **Reply #4 on:** July 28, 2009, 09:03:28 AM »

I would assume it is drive by wire.

mjohnson · « **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2009, 09:08:23 AM »

Now that I have been schooled on the acronym.. It is dbw.

mjohnson · « **Reply #6 on:** July 28, 2009, 11:03:32 AM »

Hmm. I was on c3cars and a dude pointed me towards this post on the tex about water/meth and tb's

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4494265

Apparently people have had issues with tb's going bad when injecting before it. Some, a couple thousand miles, others more than that. It's been about 2 years since I started running it and about 25k miles. I really don't think that's the issue. Any thoughts nate?

Barry · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2009, 12:44:25 PM »

I have a DBW (drive by wire) TB (throttle body) out of a mkIV VR.... apparently, it is an upgrade for you little 1.8T guys

Let me know if you want it, and we'll work out the details

armydub01 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 28, 2009, 01:51:10 PM »

what you want for it?

mikeminnillo · « **Reply #9 on:** July 28, 2009, 02:02:52 PM »

its a 1.8T. youre pretty much fucked.

mjohnson · « **Reply #10 on:** July 28, 2009, 03:25:46 PM »

If only I were in the area to see if it would mate up. How much are you thinkin?

Barry · « **Reply #11 on:** July 28, 2009, 03:51:34 PM »

probably around $100....

they sell for somewhere in the $350 -400 range at VW.... not sure about whoretex....

mjohnson · « **Reply #12 on:** July 28, 2009, 04:31:11 PM »

Yeah I noticed, that's why I was curious. I suppose I might give it a try, what's the worst that can happen?

I can do paypal on thurs if you want.

Barry · « **Reply #13 on:** July 28, 2009, 04:35:09 PM »

well.... here is the problem..... TMO just left with my household goods.... I can ship it out on Wed or Thursday of next week if you can roll on your buddies TB until then

mjohnson · « **Reply #14 on:** July 28, 2009, 04:52:07 PM »

That's fine. He's got another car.

Barry · « **Reply #15 on:** July 28, 2009, 05:05:55 PM »

word... $100 shipped will work!

mjohnson · « **Reply #16 on:** July 28, 2009, 05:13:30 PM »

deal. I'll set up a little reminder in my phone to send the money this weekend. Do you have usaa? or just go through paypal?

Barry · « **Reply #17 on:** July 28, 2009, 05:43:50 PM »

laxxplyr@hotmail.com

mjohnson · « **Reply #18 on:** July 28, 2009, 05:48:49 PM »

consider yourself paid

Barry · « **Reply #19 on:** July 28, 2009, 05:51:11 PM »

cool

just shoot me a text next week, and remind me.... as soon as TMO gets to my house, I'll unpack the TB, and ship it same day

I know exactly where I put it when they packed my garage

mjohnson · « **Reply #20 on:** July 28, 2009, 07:32:21 PM »

neato. Where are you being deported to again??

Barry · « **Reply #21 on:** July 29, 2009, 09:42:53 AM »

going home.... back to Maryland

I start terminal leave TOMORROW

mjohnson · « **Reply #22 on:** July 29, 2009, 10:22:37 AM »

so youre gettin out huh?

Barry · « **Reply #23 on:** July 29, 2009, 10:35:26 AM »

oh yeah... 8 years was enough for this guy.... I will still be ANG, and probably retire from it.... but no more Active Duty

mjohnson · « **Reply #24 on:** July 29, 2009, 11:28:53 AM »

I hear ya. Good luck with that

Barry · « **Reply #25 on:** July 29, 2009, 12:09:30 PM »

thanks man.... when you are ready, you'll have a place to stay in Ocean City, MD.... you know... last weekend of September

mjohnson · « **Reply #26 on:** July 29, 2009, 02:55:28 PM »

Hmm. I will definately see what I can do. I start the chinook course that week (at least that's what they are telling me for now), but that would be sweet to show up to..

Barry · « **Reply #27 on:** July 29, 2009, 02:59:11 PM »

yeah man.... it would be cool... just take a hops to BWI and I'll pick you up

mjohnson · « **Reply #28 on:** July 29, 2009, 03:01:48 PM »

I'll keep you posted..haha

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