P1545 Throttle Valve Controller: malfunction and EPC light

[noclutch]

Does anyone know what would cause this? It started throwing the code intermittently the other day and now as soon as I clear it it comes back and throws me into limp mode.

Checked for boost leaks and there are none.

[mholme]

Does anyone know what would cause this? It started throwing the code intermittently the other day and now as soon as I clear it it comes back and throws me into limp mode.

Checked for boost leaks and there are none.

Have you done any work on the car lately? Removed anything from the area of the TB? You can try to do a throttle body alignment and also maybe pull the ECU for a bit and see if it helps but, that's not a good code to get. Could be the throttle body itself.

[noclutch]

Yes I modified the FMIC pipes, although I didn't do anything it the area of the t-body or bi-pipes at all. And it took about 10 minutes of driving to throw the code the first time. I'll try to do an alignment. Thanks

[noclutch]

Tried To do the throttle body adapt through Vag-com Block 060. Couldn't do it, it just said ERROR in the far right box. The original code eventually went away but then came up with 2 codes about not being able to adapt the TB.
17972 - Throttle Actuator (J338): Under-voltage during Basic Setting
P1564 -35-10 - - - Intermittent
17967 - Throttle Valve Control part (J338): Fault in basic settings
P1559 - 35-00 - -

Looking at the voltages while operating the throttle, everything seems fine.

[mholme]

Tried To do the throttle body adapt through Vag-com Block 060. Couldn't do it, it just said ERROR in the far right box. The original code eventually went away but then came up with 2 codes about not being able to adapt the TB.
17972 - Throttle Actuator (J338): Under-voltage during Basic Setting
P1564 -35-10 - - - Intermittent
17967 - Throttle Valve Control part (J338): Fault in basic settings
P1559 - 35-00 - -

Looking at the voltages while operating the throttle, everything seems fine.

Did you unplug the ECU? Maybe take the throttle body out and clean the contacts as well as the TB itself. I don't know, it's not lookin good though..

[2001S4NY]

could be the ecu going bad

[noclutch]

I haven't pulled the ECU yet. I just cleaned the tps contacts with some QD. I'm gonna try to run the adapt again.
Then I guess I'll pull the ECU and see if I can find any component damage.

In the 2 months or so that I've owned this car I found the rear diff mount broken, trans needs a rebuild, rear makes noise, o2 sensors were facing downward and bottoming out, fmic piping interfering with the bumper, a misfire that won't go away, and now this. I love this car! :)

[noclutch]

ECU looks fine. I took a video of what it looks like with the TBB off when I try to run the adapt. I'm assuming that the TB is supposed to swing all the way open. I think I'm just going to start looking for another TB.

[noclutch]

Anyone have any more input?

[noclutch]

Does anyone know how to test the throttle body? I want to narrow it down to either the signal coming in or the throttle body itself.
Thanks

[nthusiastt]

Does anyone know how to test the throttle body? I want to narrow it down to either the signal coming in or the throttle body itself.
Thanks

Leave the charge pipes off and have someone start the car and pump the throttle to see if the plate opens completely. Is it possibly to reset the ecu with the VAG-COM? It sounds like an electronic issue based on what you've been doing. I doubt you'd have to replace the entire assembly.

[mholme]

Does anyone know how to test the throttle body? I want to narrow it down to either the signal coming in or the throttle body itself.
Thanks

Measuring blocks for the throttle body should be in group 060-069. Did you just do the alignment, what else was measurable?

[noclutch]

It looks like its opening when the car is running. The TB alignment definitely isn't working though as seen in the video up there. No idea on what would cause that.

[noclutch]

The ECU reads it as working correctly when I log those blocks. It sees the correct percentage when opened and shut and everything in between.

[mholme]

The ECU reads it as working correctly when I log those blocks. It sees the correct percentage when opened and shut and everything in between.

I don't know man, I'm out of ideas. Maybe find someone local that can let you swap in a known good throttle body before you buy one, just to make sure.

[noclutch]

Thanks for your help man, I appreciate it.

I figure if I push it into the lake near my house that it should fix it.

[noclutch]

Ok so now I'm getting this code that again pops up everytime I try to clear it.

18012 - Internal Control Module Driver Error
P1604 - 35-00 --

I'm assuming now that the ECU is bad.

[2001S4NY]

could be the ecu going bad

looks like i win

[noclutch]

Looks like the ECU was fine, replaced it and I'm still unable to adapt the throttle body.

Does anyone know if there's anything else between the throttle body and ECU? I'm probably going to replace the TB next but I'm open to suggestions.

[GetAwayFromMe]

New TB is what you need most likley.

[noclutch]

Got a working used TB in there. Still will not even try to adapt, it just says "ERROR" on the Vag-com status box when I try. Tried both ECU's and the same thing happens.

I've cleared the codes several times, is there something else that could be stuck in the ecu's memory that I have to clear? When I clear the codes the only thing that comes up is 'Adaptation not Started."

[noclutch]

Just wanted to update. After messing with the car with the new throttle body and the old ECU I got it to adapt finally. I drove the car a couple times and the EPC light popped on again and the same code popped up. I got a PM from another member on here having the exact same problems and the other day I found out that someone who lives a few blocks from me is also having the same problem with the same symptoms. I'm going to try to get in touch with that guy but if anyone has anymore suggestions I'm all ears.

So far
-changed throttle bodies
-changed ecu
-checked continuity through wires
-cleaned/tightened harness connection

[ThirdROC]

post updates on your diagnosis / fix if you got em!

I just started having similar issues. The car drives fine, then if I park it and try to restart within a few minutes while the engine is hot, it either wont start and I get 17953 and 17966 error codes OR I get super-limp mode with CEL, EPC lights and car won't rev over ~2k. Hopefully you got it figured out and will share your wisdom!

[noclutch]

I'm still stumped at this point. I keep thinking its fixed, drive it a few times then it seems to come back. Now I have problems with the idle creeping up to ~1100rpm when the car gets hot, it doesn't throw a code when this happens.

Check your wiring going to the throttle body, mine doesn't have the little clip on there so its zip tied tightly.

[A4 Meets 27t]

Any update?

this just happened to me too, but here's my story:

Car would not go over 2k rpm, turned off and on, worked fine for 24 hours and roughly 100 miles of mixed driving, city/hwy, hard pulls, etc.

Today EPC light on, car died, will crank but won't start. Got an another ECU, car started but runs like crap, misfiring, sounds like a coil has gone bad, will replace the bad coil and see what happens, and the EPC light is still on. Will try to find out whats going on tonight.

[s2the4]

could be the ecu going bad

I had an issue with my race ecu and the throttle body on the dyno at Waterfest 07. The dyno operator couldn't get my car to go past 1500rpms on the dyno no matter how far down the pedal went. But after disconnecting the ecu and connecting it again it worked fine. But as soon as I got off the dyno it was doing it again. But as soon as i switched back to my pump gas ecu it was fine. Turned out to be a bad ECU got a new one and have had no issues with it. However are you experiencing throttle cut? and or rpm issues?

[A4 Meets 27t]

Yea, figured out my problem, the fucken ECU was fried, long story short, if ever swapping motors, make sure you have SECURE grounds. So disappointed right now, but have to give BIG THANKS to Jason(JHM) will be helping me get a new ECU in the next few days. On the bright side, the car pulled really hard before can't wait to get her back on the road.

[noclutch]

I zip tied the harness for the TB as tight as I could and the problem hasn't come back, I'm pretty sure thats all it was.

I never had a no-start problem like yours, Paul.

[A4 Meets 27t]

Yea its my ECU for sure, I opened it up and you can see the part that burned, its just really funny how we had the exact same symptoms.

[CrtchRktRcr]

finally a thread with a solution! My roomate is having this problem and throwing code p1545.

[GotClass]

i know this thread is old, and i have a VW but i havent found a fix yet and its getting really upsetting. I have a feeling it's the ecu although I havent run an adaptation yet. I bought a unitronics ecu and upon install, i got the epc light and all the codes mentioned above. I dont have any of those silly tools to get the ecu open yet to look for damage but has anyone reached a fix for this yet? well nevermind on the fix, guess i gotta open the ecu and hope for the best :-/

[GotClass]

nevermind. ecu=fried. great.

[raz]

I zip tied the harness for the TB as tight as I could and the problem hasn't come back, I'm pretty sure thats all it was.

I never had a no-start problem like yours, Paul.

sorry i know this is old but i just had the exact same problems you did. do you mind telling me what exactly the harness for the TB is?