Audi Q7 Throttle Issues Point to Faulty Valve Fix

Had the exact same symptoms on my Audi Q5 3.0 TFSI from 2013. As someone with some experience working on VAG engines, I initially thought it was the throttle body causing these issues. After multiple cold starts and fuel efficiency problems, I took it to a specialized workshop. Their diagnostic revealed a defective accelerator pedal module, which was affecting the throttle position sensor readings. The control valve wasnt getting the correct signals, leading to those cold start issues and poor fuel response. The fix was straightforward, they replaced the accelerator pedal module, which cost 205 Euro including labor. Since then, the engine throttle response has been perfect, cold starts are normal, and fuel consumption returned to expected levels. Before you head to a workshop, could you share: Any warning lights on the dash? Does the throttle response feel delayed or jerky? Have you noticed any changes in idle behavior? When exactly did these symptoms start? These details would help confirm if your issue matches what I experienced with my Q5.

Thanks for looking into this. My mileage just hit 66296 KM during my last commute. Engine idle is definitely unstable and jerky during cold starts. The throttle feels sluggish particularly in the first 5 minutes of driving. No warning lights showing on the dash yet. These symptoms started about 2 weeks ago after heavy rain, if that helps. Based on your experience with the accelerator pedal module, did you notice any correlation with weather conditions? The throttle cleaning might be worth considering first since we had similar symptoms, though my fuel efficiency seems worse than what you described. I will gather more data about the fuel consumption before bringing it in. Just hoping to avoid unnecessary repairs if a simple throttle valve service could fix it.

Thanks for the additional details. Actually, after my pedal module replacement, I remembered having similar weather-related symptoms with my Q5. The heavy rain connection makes sense, moisture can affect the air intake system and throttle valve operation. Given your worse fuel efficiency compared to my case, I would recommend checking the throttle body first. In retrospect, before replacing my pedal module, I should have started with a proper throttle valve cleaning. The air intake system can accumulate debris, affecting throttle position accuracy and overall engine performance. A few observations from my experience: Cold weather combined with moisture often made the symptoms more noticeable, Car throttle response was particularly bad during the first few minutes, Fuel consumption increased by roughly 15-20% If your symptoms are more severe than what I experienced, consider having both the throttle valve cleaned and the air intake system inspected before replacing parts. A contaminated throttle body can show similar symptoms to a faulty pedal module, but cleaning is much more cost-effective than component replacement. Would you mind sharing your average fuel consumption numbers? This would help compare if your situation matches the progression I saw with my Q5.

Thanks for the detailed comparison. Actually, I measured my fuel consumption over the last few days and its up by about 25% compared to normal, definitely worse than your 15-20% increase. Your insight about moisture affecting the throttle valve makes a lot of sense, especially since our symptoms started after rain. The throttle position issues seem more severe in my case too. I noticed the car barely responds to pedal input for nearly 10 minutes now, not just 5 minutes like before. This makes me lean toward getting the throttle body cleaned first, as you suggested. The control valve and intake system definitely need inspection given these symptoms. I will schedule a throttle cleaning service next week and report back on the results. If the fuel efficiency doesnt improve after cleaning, I might need to look into the pedal module replacement you mentioned. The cold start issues and throttle response problems are too significant to ignore at this point.