VW Crafter Throttle Issues Cause Poor Fuel Economy

I had a similar issue with my 2012 VW Transporter TDI, and your symptoms sound very familiar. The engine throttle problems started showing up gradually, particularly affecting the throttle position sensor readings. After some initial attempts at cleaning the throttle body, which only provided temporary relief, my mechanic identified a defective accelerator pedal module as the root cause. The control valve was responding erratically to pedal inputs, causing inconsistent throttle position readings and the high fuel consumption you described. The complete repair involved: Diagnostic testing of the throttle position sensor, Replacement of the accelerator pedal module, Recalibration of the engine throttle system Total cost came to 205€, including parts and labor. The repair resolved both the starting issues and returned fuel consumption to normal levels. To provide more specific advice for your case, could you share: Current mileage on your Crafter, Any error codes showing on the dashboard, Whether the check engine light is on, If the throttle response feels different at various engine temperatures With this information, I can share more relevant details from my experience, as these symptoms can sometimes indicate other related issues with the engine control system.

Thanks for the detailed follow-up. My Crafter has 58821KM on the clock and the last service was just 2 months ago. Based on your experience, I will definitely check the accelerator pedal module. The check engine light is indeed on, and I am getting error code P2101. The throttle response feels particularly sluggish when the engine is cold. The throttle body cleaning sounds like a good first step before considering a full replacement. The engine idle is especially rough in the morning, which seems to match your experience with the throttle position sensor issues. Did you notice any improvement in cold starts after the repair?

Thanks for those additional details. Your symptoms match exactly what I experienced with my Transporter, especially the cold start issues and error code P2101, which specifically relates to the throttle control system. The morning cold starts were one of the most noticeable improvements after the repair. Before fixing the throttle position sensor and accelerator module, my engine would struggle for 30-45 seconds during cold starts, but this completely resolved after the repair. While throttle cleaning can help temporarily, in my case it only lasted about 2 weeks before the symptoms returned. Given your low mileage and the specific error code, I strongly suspect your issue is electrical rather than just carbon buildup in the air intake system. My repair process went like this: 1. Initial throttle body cleaning, 85€ 2. When problems returned, full diagnostic of the throttle control system 3. Replacement of faulty components 4. System recalibration The total investment was worth it considering the fuel savings alone. My consumption returned to normal immediately after the repair, saving roughly 2-3 liters per 100km compared to when the throttle system was malfunctioning.

Thank you for sharing those repair details. Your experience with the electrical issues versus simple carbon buildup is particularly helpful. Given my symptoms and the P2101 code matching yours, I think I will skip the throttle cleaning step and go straight for the diagnostic testing of the throttle control system. My fuel efficiency loss of about 30% matches what you described, so getting this fixed should pay for itself quickly. The rough engine idle during cold starts has been particularly concerning, but knowing this resolved completely with your repair gives me confidence about the fix. I will schedule an appointment to have the throttle position sensor and accelerator module checked. The 205€ cost you mentioned seems reasonable considering the potential fuel savings and prevention of further issues. Will update once I get the repairs done, as this info could help others with similar control valve problems on their vans.