David B

Hope someone can relate to this problem...

Just taken the golf mk3 into the garage because it keeps cutting out. It only happens when the engine is cold. It starts fine, revs go up to 1200, then drops off all the way to 0.
It won't idle without a foot on the accelerator purposely keeping it at 1000 ish to warm it up.
Once the engine starts to get warm I can let my foot off the accelerator, the engine will not stall, but fluctuates between 500 - 1000 revs.
Once the engine is warm and up to temp, not a problem.
The garage says I will require a new TPS at a cost of £275...plus £3 for a new gasket.
Any comments on this verdict?
How do you check to see if it’s the TPS that’s at fault? Electrical testing? If not what? and how?
Thanks in advance
David B

Cosworth427

It coul be the TPS, usually because the TPS has to produce some idle signal so that your idle controller can keep the car running.

If you don't want to splash out 300 quid for a new sensor, try going to some salvage yards for old MK3s.

Do you have a haynes manual? You can test the TPS using a multimeter and compare the readings to what is in the book, that way for sure you know the TPS is the cause or part cause of the problem.

Also, check your vacuum hoses leading to the idle controller, and if possible try and remove the idle controller and hoses and give them a clean.

brett555

I had this prob with my 1998 Ibiza Gti , sold it to a mate and he is sorting the problem.

What he is doing is replacing the throttle body . Cost of £190 + VAT . Possibly cheaper for VW. We know its a throttle body because i took at a VW specialist near me and what he did was swopp one over from a vehcile with the same throttle body , let me drive it for the day ... it was back to normal.

brett

[Edited by brett555 - 11/20/2003 9:37:29 AM]

dr_ming

I have a service manual for this somewhere, but can't find it at the moment. The problem is likely to be the TPS, as you say, or the idle air control valve (depending on which engine we are talking about).

Which engine?

Is the TPS 3 or 4 wire?

I'll try to find the manual......

Doco

Did they say how much to fit it? On my passat they had to take the dash apart over 4 hours or so.

dr_ming

TPS is on the throttle body. Nowt to do with the dash. Thankfully

David B

It was the TPS, had to replace the whole throttle body because its molded to the TPS. Thought about going to a scrap yard, but...that might be knackered or could break when I don't need it to, so opted for new, bit the bullet...just hoping I don't get lead poisoning!
Tested it using a computer and some software at my local non-VW garage.
cheers for all your comments..
David B

brett555

My god , i was right for once . Glad you got the problem solved.

brett