VW Beetle's Power Loss: Throttle Valve Warning Signs

I had a similar issue with my 2017 VW Golf. As someone with some hands-on experience maintaining my own car, I recognized those throttle response delay symptoms immediately. The check engine light and sluggish response pointed to a faulty throttle sensor in my case. The air flow readings were inconsistent, causing the engine idling problems you described. After some basic troubleshooting attempts failed, I took it to a workshop. The diagnosis revealed a defective accelerator pedal module. The electronics inside had failed, causing erratic readings and power delivery issues. The replacement cost came to 265€ including parts and labor. The repair took about 2 hours and solved all the symptoms. To provide more specific advice for your case, could you share: Have you noticed any specific pattern when the check engine light appears? Does the sluggish response happen more during cold starts or when the engine is warm? Have you scanned for error codes? Are there any unusual sounds when pressing the accelerator? These details would help determine if your Beetle has the same underlying issue as my Golf did.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Last service was at 35000km, and based on the symptoms you described, it sounds very similar to what I am experiencing. The check engine light typically comes on during morning starts and the throttle body seems most unresponsive during the first 10 minutes of driving. The engine feels particularly sluggish when trying to accelerate from a stop. I did get the error codes scanned at a local parts store and it showed P0121 which points to throttle position sensor issues. There is also a slight whistling sound when pressing the accelerator, which makes me think air flow might be restricted somewhere in the system. Your feedback about the accelerator pedal module is really helpful. The repair cost you mentioned seems reasonable if it would fix these fuel efficiency and power issues. Going to book it in for a proper diagnosis soon. Would you recommend driving it to the shop or getting it towed to avoid potential damage?

Thanks for those additional details. Based on the P0121 code and your description of the symptoms, especially the cold start issues and whistling sound, your Beetle is showing classic signs of throttle sensor failure, very similar to what I experienced with my Golf. The whistling sound combined with poor air flow readings suggests the throttle body might also need cleaning alongside the sensor replacement. In my case, the workshop did both since they were already working in that area. The total replacement cost was still reasonable at 265€, even with the additional cleaning. Regarding driving versus towing: I actually drove my Golf to the workshop since the engine idling was stable enough despite the reduced power. The car's safety systems will typically prevent any major damage by limiting performance. However, if you notice the response delay getting significantly worse or any new warning lights, arranging a tow would be safer. The morning start issues you mentioned were exactly like mine, the cold engine seemed to amplify the throttle response problems. Once the system was repaired, those startup hesitations completely disappeared and fuel economy improved noticeably. Have you noticed any changes in fuel consumption since these symptoms started? This could help confirm if we dealt with the same underlying issue.

The fuel consumption has definitely gotten worse, I'm using about 15% more fuel than usual based on my tracking. Your experience matches my situation almost exactly, especially regarding the cold start problems. After hearing about your repair process, I feel more confident about driving it to the workshop rather than getting a tow. The engine idling remains fairly stable in my case too, just with the reduced power and throttle response issues you mentioned. I will ask them to check both the throttle sensor and clean the throttle body while they are working on it. The check engine light and performance issues are annoying, but 265€ for a complete fix would be worth it to get the proper throttle response back and improve the fuel efficiency. Thanks for all the detailed information about your experience. It really helped narrow down the likely cause and gave me a good idea of what to expect with the repair process. Will book the workshop appointment first thing tomorrow.