Audi S1 Throttle Valve Causing Limp Mode and Power Loss

As an owner of a 2015 Audi S3, I dealt with similar symptoms. The main issue was indeed the electronic throttle body causing poor engine idling and significant response delay during acceleration. The throttle body controls air flow into the engine, and when its electronics malfunction, the car enters limp mode as a safety measure. Key symptoms match yours, reduced power, rough idle, and sluggish acceleration response. The repair required complete throttle body replacement, a serious job that needs proper diagnostic equipment. The faulty unit caused irregular fuel efficiency and could have led to more severe engine problems if left unaddressed. Crucial points to check: Electronic throttle valve position sensor, Accelerator pedal module wiring, Engine control unit communication, Throttle body buildup and deposits Most throttle body issues cant be fixed by cleaning alone, when electronics inside are defective, full replacement is typically needed. The job requires throttle body relearning procedure after installation. This repair should be handled by a shop with Audi-specific diagnostic tools to properly calibrate the new unit.

Thanks for the detailed response. Your diagnosis matches what happened to my S1 perfectly. The throttle body was indeed the culprit, causing the air flow issues and putting the car in limp mode. Do you remember the total cost for your throttle body replacement? Also curious if youve had any similar issues since the repair? My car is running fine now but Id like to know what to watch out for. In my case, the rough idle and poor air intake response were the first signs something was wrong. Want to make sure I catch it early if it happens again.

Got my S3 sorted a couple weeks ago. The faulty throttle valve was definitely causing the rough engine idling and poor air flow, just like your S1. Since fixing it, the acceleration response is back to normal and the engine runs smooth. Total repair came to 265 Euro for the accelerator pedal module electronics, much better than a complete throttle body replacement which was initially suspected. Regular checks of the air intake system should prevent future issues. No problems at all since the fix. The engine control unit needed a reset to properly recognize the repaired components, but after that everything has been working perfectly. The shop mentioned these electronic throttle issues are fairly common in our engine type after 100000km. The rough idle you experienced is typically the first warning sign, so keeping an ear out for irregular engine sounds during idle is a good preventive measure.

I finally went to get it fixed last week. After running diagnostics, they confirmed the throttle sensor was malfunctioning, affecting both fuel efficiency and overall engine performance. The repair took about 3 hours. They replaced the electronic throttle body and performed a complete system reset. Total cost came to 890 Euro including parts and labor. More expensive than I hoped, but the check engine light is off and the car feels like new again. The acceleration response is now crisp, and the rough idling is completely gone. No more limp mode issues either. The mechanic showed me the old throttle body, there was significant carbon buildup affecting the air flow sensor. They recommended checking the air intake system every 30000km to prevent similar issues. Will definitely stay on top of that maintenance schedule from now on. Much better to catch these problems early than deal with complete system failure.