VW Throttle Body Failure Causes Power Loss & CEL

I had a similar issue with my 2011 VW Fox. As someone with some hands-on experience working on VWs, these symptoms immediately reminded me of my situation from last year. The throttle sensor issues caused my car to go into limp mode, with the same symptoms you describe, reduced power, check engine light, and rough engine idling. Initially thought it was the throttle body itself, but the workshop diagnosed it as a faulty accelerator pedal module. The repair involved replacing the complete pedal module assembly, which solved all the issues. Total cost was 265€ including diagnostics and labor. Since then, the engine response has been perfect and no more check engine lights. Before jumping to conclusions about the throttle body, you should get proper diagnostics done. The symptoms can be similar for various issues in the air intake and throttle control systems. Could you share: Current mileage on your Suran, Any recent work done on the engine, Whether the check engine light came on suddenly or gradually, If the car shows these symptoms consistently or intermittently This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced.

Thanks for the detailed feedback. My mileage is at 56411km and the last service was 2 months ago. The check engine light appeared suddenly during highway driving, and the symptoms have been consistent since then. The reduced power and unstable engine idling happen every time I start the car. The air intake system was cleaned during the last service, which makes me wonder if something got disconnected. Given your experience with the accelerator pedal module, I will have that checked along with the throttle body. Going into limp mode on a highway is definitely not fun, so I want to get this sorted quickly.

Thanks for providing those details. Your symptoms do sound very similar to what I experienced, especially with the sudden onset during highway driving. In my case with the Fox, the timing was also quite similar, problems started shortly after routine maintenance. The consistent nature of your symptoms matches my experience exactly. When the pedal module failed on my car, it also showed the issues immediately upon every start, unlike throttle body problems which sometimes come and go. Since your air intake was recently serviced, the technicians should definitely check all connections and sensors in that area. My mechanic explained that cleaning procedures can sometimes affect the delicate sensors in the throttle body and air flow system if not done carefully. One key difference though, your lower mileage compared to when my Fox had issues (mine was at 98000km) suggests your throttle body should still be in good condition. This further points toward either a connection issue or possibly the pedal module like in my case. A proper diagnostic scan will show if the error codes match what I had. The replacement cost for the pedal module has likely increased a bit since my repair, but should still be more economical than a complete throttle body replacement which can run 400-600€.

My vehicle has been at the workshop today and you were absolutely right. The diagnostic scan revealed it was indeed the accelerator pedal module causing the issues, not the throttle body itself. Really glad I asked here before agreeing to a full throttle body replacement. The mechanic found the same error codes you mentioned and confirmed that the pedal module was sending incorrect signals, affecting fuel efficiency and causing the check engine light. Total repair cost came to 290€ including labor, which is close to what you paid. After the replacement, the engine power is back to normal and the idle is perfectly stable. No more check engine warnings either. The air intake system connections were all checked and were fine, the timing after the service was just coincidental. Really appreciate the insights about checking the pedal module first. Saved me from an unnecessary and more expensive throttle body replacement. The car is running perfectly now and the repair cost was much more reasonable than I initially feared.