VW Atlas Engine Stalls at Idle, Likely Control Valve Issue

Had similar symptoms on a VW Tiguan 2.0T last season. The engine idle was extremely unstable, especially after warming up, and the stalling engine issue matched your description perfectly. Initial diagnostics pointed to the idle air valve, but after inspection, the main culprit was heavy carbon buildup in the intake manifold. The idle speed problems were caused by restricted airflow due to contamination. Common issue with direct injection engines. The repair involved removing the intake manifold and performing a thorough cleaning of the intake ports and valves. Definitely not a DIY job, requires specialized tools and expertise. This was a serious repair that took several hours at the shop. After cleaning, the car idle returned to normal and the stalling issue disappeared completely. Worth noting that preventive maintenance like using top-tier fuel and regular carbon cleaning can help avoid this issue. Would suggest getting the intake system checked, as your symptoms align perfectly with intake contamination rather than just an idle control valve problem. These 2.0T engines are known for carbon buildup around this mileage point.

Thanks for sharing your experience. The carbon buildup issue sounds exactly like what my Atlas is dealing with. After the engine idle went rough, I also noticed some hesitation during acceleration. Did the repair fix all issues completely? Would be helpful to know the total cost for the intake manifold cleaning. Also curious if youve had any throttle body problems since the repair was done. Im weighing whether to get this done at the dealer vs independent shop. Getting the air valve and entire intake system checked makes sense based on your feedback. Just want to make sure I address everything while its in the shop.

Got my Atlas back from the shop last week and can confirm the idle air control valve replacement plus thorough intake cleaning fixed all the issues completely. The mechanic found severe contamination in the air intake system, which was causing both the rough engine idle and acceleration hesitation. Total cost came to 425€ for the complete service, including cleaning the throttle body and intake manifold. Since the repair, the engine runs smoothly at all speeds and the stalling problem is completely resolved. No throttle body issues have appeared since the work was done. The air valve replacement combined with cleaning the intake system was definitely the right call. The carbon deposits were worse than expected, but dealing with both components at once saved time and prevented future problems. The engine now maintains a steady idle and accelerates without any hesitation. Looking back, the symptoms perfectly matched what you described, rough idle, stalling, and hesitation. Getting the complete intake system checked rather than just focusing on individual components helped identify and fix the root cause.

Thanks for the input. Finally got my Atlas back from the shop yesterday. Like many suggested, it was indeed carbon buildup causing the idle speed problems. My mechanic showed me the gunked-up intake, really eye-opening to see how much buildup had accumulated. The full service ran me 580€, which included cleaning the intake system and replacing the IAC valve since it was showing signs of wear. Once they cleared all the carbon deposits, the car idle smoothed right out. No more stalling at lights and the hesitation during acceleration is completely gone. Shop took about 6 hours for the whole job. They explained how direct injection engines are prone to this issue and recommended using quality fuel to help prevent future buildup. Engine runs like new now, smooth idle, strong acceleration, and no check engine light. Really glad I got it checked when I did. The car idle is perfect now and it feels like I got my Atlas back to factory condition. Will definitely stay on top of maintenance to avoid letting carbon build up again.