Failing Alfa 147 Throttle Causes Power Loss & Idling Issues

Had exactly the same symptoms on my Alfa 156 1.9 JTD a while back. Have some experience working on diesel engines, mostly basic maintenance and diagnostics. The car went into limp mode regularly while driving and fuel efficiency dropped noticeably. After checking the air intake system and finding everything clean, took it to a workshop. Their diagnostic revealed a faulty accelerator pedal module, the electronics inside were failing. Total repair cost was 265 Euro including parts and labor. The fix solved all issues, no more power drops, stable engine idling, and fuel efficiency back to normal. The workshop mentioned these electronic throttle control issues are somewhat common on these engines. Which engine variant does your 147 have and what year is it? Also, does the car go into limp mode immediately when starting or only after driving for a while? This info would help determine if you are dealing with the same issue. Worth getting it checked soon, as driving with a faulty throttle system can potentially cause additional problems over time.

Thanks for the helpful info. My 147 is a 2009 2.0 JTD with 80794 KM. The limp mode usually kicks in after about 15-20 minutes of driving, not right at startup. The air flow and fuel efficiency issues started gradually over the past month. Had my last service just 3000 KM ago where they checked the air intake system and found no problems. Given the similar symptoms, I will get the accelerator pedal module checked out. Do you know if the replacement parts are readily available?

Thanks for the additional details on your 147. My 156 had very similar behavior with the delayed limp mode activation. The gradual decline in performance matches my experience too, started with minor problems and got worse over time. The parts availability was good, the workshop had the accelerator pedal module in stock and completed the repair same day. They mentioned keeping these components on hand since check engine lights and reduced power issues tied to the throttle system are fairly common on these engines. After 6 months and 12000 KM post-repair, no issues have returned. The air flow readings stabilized and fuel efficiency went back to normal. Total repair time was about 2 hours. Make sure the workshop does a full diagnostic scan though, while the symptoms match the pedal module issue, the throttle body itself could also cause similar problems. In my case, they checked both components before confirming the faulty module was triggering the limp mode.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I feel better knowing this is a known issue and not something more serious with my 147. Your repair timeline and costs give me a good idea what to expect. Will book it in next week and ask them to check both the throttle sensor and pedal module since the symptoms match your case exactly. The fact that mine also goes into limp mode after warming up, rather than immediately, makes me think it is likely the same accelerator pedal issue. Good to hear the replacement parts are readily available too. Just hoping the repair costs stay around the 300 Euro mark like yours did. Knowing it solved your throttle body problems completely is reassuring. Will update once I get it fixed.