Why Does the Throttle Body Malfunction in Your Volkswagen? Volkswagen is arguably one of the most popular cars in the world. It is a moment of pride for anyone owning a Volkswagen as people always want the best car for the money they are investing. Nowadays, also VWs are coming with powerful engines and many additional features that make driving more pleasurable. However, just owning a Volkswagen is not everything, as it often comes with additional responsibilities like maintenance and servicing. If you carry out regular maintenance and servicing of your Volkswagen, then, in the long run, your car will not trouble you with any serious issues. In addition to this, there are various crucial parts of your VW other than the engine and transmission that makes driving a pleasurable experience. One such part is the throttle body of your Volkswagen. The throttle body is widely used in all the modern Volkswagens and is a core component in your car. It is imperative for you to know about the functioning of the throttle body and the factors that might cause the throttle body to malfunction. Here in this article, we will discuss in detail about the throttle body.
Functioning of the throttle body The throttle body actively helps in the ignition of the Volkswagen. For the proper ignition of the car, the engine requires a mixture of air and fuel. The throttle body is responsible for controlling the amount of air entering the engine. If the VW gets more air, then it means there will be more power output and less air means less power output. However, if there is an inadequate flow of air into the car, then it can create a host of problems like poor engine performance, reduced power, poor idling and other issues. The throttle body is located between the air intake assembly and the intake manifold in your car. Nowadays, cars are coming equipped with an electronic throttle control system that controls the throttle body with the help of an electronic motor & throttle position sensor. This also reduces emission and improves your Volkswagen’s performance.
Factors that cause throttle malfunctioning There are various factors that can cause the throttle body in your VW to malfunction and leave you stranded in the middle of the road. Here are the reasons behind the malfunctioning of the throttle body.
Electrical issues The electrical connection problem can result in inaccurate or intermittent information to be relayed back to VW's computer. Furthermore, due to the improper electrical connection, your car’s computer will receive a wide variety of unpredictable signals. This can cause severe damage as the inaccurate or intermittent information displayed can lead to faulty corrections to the air/fuel mixture.
Vacuum leaks The vacuum leak is one of the most prominent causes of the malfunctioning throttle body as it can disrupt the air/fuel flow due to an imbalance of airflow which can cause throttle body pressure problems. If the throttle stop is not adjusted properly, then also leaks can occur. The throttle stop acts as a gate-keeper and establishes a minimum or maximum position for a throttle body plate to be opened or closed. You need to inspect the throttle stop to see if it is properly adjusted or not.
Presence of dirt & debris One of the major causes of the failure of the throttle body is the presence of dirt and debris inside the housing which causes an interruption in air and fuel flow. The build-up of the grime causes an obstruction and due to this rough surface, the movement of air and fuel is not possible. As the modern Volkswagens are coming equipped with an electronic throttle control which constantly monitors the performance of the throttle body and if it detects an issue, then the check engine light illuminates.
Poor or high idle When the throttle body fails, you will experience poor or low idle which will result in the Volkswagen stopping abruptly when coming to a stop or low idle after starting. However, in the case of vacuum leaks, the scenario is completely different as you will experience very high idle. This will cause the check engine light to illuminate.
Finally The above-discussed factors are some of the major reasons behind the malfunctioning of the throttle body in your Volkswagen. The best way to tackle such a problem is to go for preventive maintenance. However, if you experience throttle body failure, then take your Volkswagen to an auto repair shop to fix the issue.