P0221 even after throttle body replaced

[Chrisk76]

Hi all.

For a long while, I was getting the EPC light intermittently appear on my 2013 A3 8V. Scanning revealed it was throttle position sensor B at fault. My local garage said it was fine to leave, but that it would get worse. It got worse.

They replaced the throttle body, however the issue remains with the same fault code. Unfortunately for me they have now declared it beyond their ability to fix, so I’m waiting to take my car to an Audi specialist. When driving, it can be ok for a week, and then the light can appear every journey. There’s no consistency. However even when the light isn’t on, there’s what feels like a ‘dead spot’ in the throttle response. I don’t know how else to describe it other than if you slowly increase the pressure on the accelerator, the car speeds up except at some point it suddenly feels as though you press slightly harder on the pedal but nothing happens, or there is a slight loss in power. Any ideas on what could be causing this? For what it’s worth, the garage assured me it was a genuine Audi part that they fitted.

[Stevey Y]

10 hours ago, Chrisk76 said:

Hi all.

For a long while, I was getting the EPC light intermittently appear on my 2013 A3 8V. Scanning revealed it was throttle position sensor B at fault. My local garage said it was fine to leave, but that it would get worse. It got worse.

They replaced the throttle body, however the issue remains with the same fault code. Unfortunately for me they have now declared it beyond their ability to fix, so I’m waiting to take my car to an Audi specialist. When driving, it can be ok for a week, and then the light can appear every journey. There’s no consistency. However even when the light isn’t on, there’s what feels like a ‘dead spot’ in the throttle response. I don’t know how else to describe it other than if you slowly increase the pressure on the accelerator, the car speeds up except at some point it suddenly feels as though you press slightly harder on the pedal but nothing happens, or there is a slight loss in power. Any ideas on what could be causing this? For what it’s worth, the garage assured me it was a genuine Audi part that they fitted.

Hi did they re adapt the new throttle body as without that it wont work properly anytime soon, if they did it may be the sensor on the throttle pedal.

Steve.

[Chrisk76]

Hi - thanks for the reply. To the best of my knowledge, they “reset the ECU by disconnecting the battery/sensor for a few minutes”. Basically, they weren’t overly reassuring about having done much. All they could tell me was they looked at the values from it and they were what they expected…

I feel somewhat reassured though now, that it’s either not been adapted (is that calibrated?) or that the pedal sensor needs replacing. 
 

(Quote marks as I doubt very much that what they did was correct, however it’s what they said!)

Edited June 5 by Chrisk76

[Stevey Y]

20 hours ago, Chrisk76 said:

Hi - thanks for the reply. To the best of my knowledge, they “reset the ECU by disconnecting the battery/sensor for a few minutes”. Basically, they weren’t overly reassuring about having done much. All they could tell me was they looked at the values from it and they were what they expected…

I feel somewhat reassured though now, that it’s either not been adapted (is that calibrated?) or that the pedal sensor needs replacing. 
 

(Quote marks as I doubt very much that what they did was correct, however it’s what they said!)

Hi disconnecting the BEM wont recalibrate it, when you re adapt a new unit you sit in the car or near the engine bay and if you listen carefully you can hear the butterfly moving in the new body as the ECU commands about ten different positions according to its learned strategy, once the body has complied it is then registered within the ECU as correct therefore how does disconnecting the battery energy monitor do the adaptation, get it adapted first and it may well save you a pedal sensor and having the same problem when fitted.

Steve.

[Stevey Y]

20 hours ago, Chrisk76 said:

Hi - thanks for the reply. To the best of my knowledge, they “reset the ECU by disconnecting the battery/sensor for a few minutes”. Basically, they weren’t overly reassuring about having done much. All they could tell me was they looked at the values from it and they were what they expected…

I feel somewhat reassured though now, that it’s either not been adapted (is that calibrated?) or that the pedal sensor needs replacing. 
 

(Quote marks as I doubt very much that what they did was correct, however it’s what they said!)

PS you don't have to be a rocket scientist to operate OBDEleven its a cheap diagnostic platform that works on an Android phone, I bought one and it cuts out the Monkeys and bolt on merchants and makes adaptation a piece of pixx and will save you a fortune, I have just changed and re coded my accountants battery on his Q5 it took an hour the unbolting is hardest as the battery is at the back of the boot, registering it took ten minuets.

Steve.

[Chrisk76]

Hi - thanks for the info. I have a Carista OBD device so I’ll try the adaptation using that. I checked online and it supports that functionality. Fingers crossed! 

[Stevey Y]

18 hours ago, Chrisk76 said:

Hi - thanks for the info. I have a Carista OBD device so I’ll try the adaptation using that. I checked online and it supports that functionality. Fingers crossed! 

Hi please let us know how you get on.

[Chrisk76]

Well, I ran the adaptation last night, and have been for a drive today. For sure the throttle response is massively better than it was, and no light. However, it was sometimes going a week without showing so time will tell. Will let you know 🤞🏼

[Chrisk76]

Well, it's been a week, and still no light, so it's starting to look like that was the problem.

I do still have a 'dead' spot in the accelerator pedal though. Obviously I've not measured the distances, but it seems that the first cm or so of travel elicits a throttle response, and then the next cm or so is flat - no additional acceleration, and then beyond that it's all good. 

So, I suspect it still needs a trip to the garage, but thanks to your previous response, at least I won't be paying to have the throttle body adapted!

[Chrisk76]

And spoke too soon. Error light is back. Throttle/pedal position sensor/switch "B" circuit range/performance

Aaaaaargh