VW T-Cross Stalling: Bad IAC Valve Symptoms & Fix

Recently dealt with identical symptoms on my 2020 VW Taigo TSI. The engine idle was extremely unstable and kept stalling at stops. The issue turned out to be a heavily contaminated air intake system and a faulty IAC valve. The IAC valve regulates the engine idle by controlling additional air flow when the throttle is closed. When it gets dirty or fails, the engine stalling issues appear exactly as described. The air intake buildup made the problem worse by restricting proper air flow. The fix required: Complete air intake system cleaning, IAC valve replacement, Throttle body cleaning, New air filter installation This was a serious repair since the contamination had spread throughout the entire intake system. Running the engine with a faulty IAC valve had created additional carbon deposits. The symptoms got progressively worse over time until the engine would barely stay running at idle. Recommend getting a second opinion from another shop, specifically asking them to check the air intake system and IAC valve operation. These components are common failure points causing unstable idle and stalling issues on VW engines.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the IAC valve and intake system problems. That sounds exactly like what I am dealing with. The stalling engine and rough idle are really concerning. Did you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the complete fix? Also curious if you had any other issues pop up since getting it repaired, my local shop mentioned something about the throttle body potentially needing attention too but I want to be sure before spending money on extra repairs.

Took my VW to a certified mechanic last month and the diagnosis was spot on, it was indeed the bad idle air control valve causing the stalling. The air intake was heavily contaminated, which made the rough idle even worse. Total repair cost came to 425€ for a thorough cleaning and valve replacement. The car runs perfectly smooth now at idle speed with no stalling issues. Engine idle remains stable even in heavy traffic and the check engine light has stayed off. The throttle body was actually in decent shape, so no additional repairs were needed beyond fixing the air intake system and replacing the IAC valve. If your symptoms match what I experienced, focusing on these components first makes sense before looking at other potential issues. Just make sure whoever does the work properly cleans the entire intake system, as partial fixes often lead to the problems returning.

I finally got my car fixed last week and the problem turned out exactly like you described. The engine stalling was definitely caused by a dirty throttle body and failed IAC valve. Cost me around 450€ for the complete service including parts and labor. The mechanic showed me how gunked up the air intake system was. No wonder the car idle was so rough. They did a thorough cleaning of everything and replaced both the IAC valve and air filter. The engine runs perfectly smooth now, no more stalling at traffic lights or rough idle issues. Really glad I got a second opinion instead of going with the first shop's diagnosis. Better to fix the actual problem than throw parts at it hoping something works. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction with the intake system check.