help me figure this out

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 1:35 pm

2001 Passat 6cyl with 114k miles

car loses power and start to run "rough", idles rough, won't get over 1400 rpms without sounding like the engine's gonna tank. EPC light comes on at the same time.

any ideas?

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Is "EPC" VW-speak for check engine light?

First (easy) thing to do is read the code(s). I have a scanner here if you want to stop by, if you're in the area.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:09 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

Is "EPC" VW-speak for check engine light?

First (easy) thing to do is read the code(s). I have a scanner here if you want to stop by, if you're in the area.

EPC = Electronic Pedal Control

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:12 pm

Chris Brown wrote:

2001 Passat 6cyl with 114k miles won't get over 1400 rpms without sounding like the engine's gonna tank. EPC light comes on at the same time.

any ideas?

Ryan Holton wrote:

EPC = Electronic Pedophile Control

Yep, keeps them from getting away fast after the deed has been done.

PhilFausz · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:21 am

Mike is right, pulling codes should be easy and may tell you exactly what's going on. The next thing is to start looking for a FSM or a good VW tech forum.

Adam Ligon · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:32 pm

Sure its the EPC light and not the CEL? 01 Passats are Audi A4's underneath. And yes come get the codes scanned and I wouldnt drive it around till you do

ChrisSuich · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:31 pm

Any chance it's an air leak after the Mass Air Flow sensor?

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Any chance it will qualify for the upcoming Federal clunker credit?

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:44 am

Adam Ligon wrote:

Sure its the EPC light and not the CEL? 01 Passats are Audi A4's underneath. And yes come get the codes scanned and I wouldnt drive it around till you do

yeah, positive it's an EPC...says it right there on the dash.

i've got a Ross-Tech scan tool but the software doesn't run on Vista so i have to get my laptop from home before i can go scan it.

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:46 am

ok, i finally scanned the car and got these codes

18057 - Powertrain Data Bus: Missing Message from ABS Controller
P1649 - 35-00 - -
17539 - Oxygen (Lambda) Sensor: B2 S1: Internal Resistance too High
P1131 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
17953 - Throttle Valve Controller: Malfunction
P1545 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
17976 - Throttle Actuator (J338): Mechanical Failure
P1568 - 35-00 - -

i did a little research and found that the first think i need to do is clean the TB and then do a Throttle Body Alignment. Then, for the ABS, i need to check the cable to the ABS pump or just replace the pump all together.

so my problem now is getting it from N. Raleigh to my house in Fuquay...anyone have a tow dolly or a trailer they want to help me out with?

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:50 am

Chris Brown wrote:

ok, i finally scanned the car and got these codes

18057 - Powertrain Data Bus: Missing Message from ABS Controller
P1649 - 35-00 - -
17539 - Oxygen (Lambda) Sensor: B2 S1: Internal Resistance too High
P1131 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
17953 - Throttle Valve Controller: Malfunction
P1545 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
17976 - Throttle Actuator (J338): Mechanical Failure
P1568 - 35-00 - -

i did a little research and found that the first think i need to do is clean the TB and then do a Throttle Body Alignment. Then, for the ABS, i need to check the cable to the ABS pump or just replace the pump all together.

so my problem now is getting it from N. Raleigh to my house in Fuquay...anyone have a tow dolly or a trailer they want to help me out with?

Run away... far away. You ever price out an ABS pump? I bet it's over $1k. Just a cursory search finds them for that car around $1600. I have used one that I had to swap out on the Volvo and it wasn't cheap. - AB

David Teague · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:55 am

Aaron Buckley wrote:

Run away... far away. You ever price out an ABS pump? I bet it's over $1k. Just a cursory search finds them for that car around $1600. I have used one that I had to swap out on the Volvo and it wasn't cheap. - AB

Well his first mistake was buying a VW but Chris is a multiple time offender. My brother in law says you can pull your abs pump and send it off some where to have it rebuilt for around 250, of course the car will not be drivable while its gone and it is a pain in the arse to get out of the passats, I need to do it on mine, its another one of those "known" issues.

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:16 am

yeah, the entire ABS pump is well over $1k but 99% of the time it's just the electronics that go bad, and they sell that kit for $537.

so, just to be clear, i have no intention of fixing the ABS...the brakes work fine, it's just the light that is on. so my plan is to clean the TB to fix the idle issue first. then i will disconnect, reconnect the abs pump to make sure it's getting a good connection (i've been told this fixed it most of the time) to see if that works...then i sell it.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:21 am

Ummm Chris, you might want to reconsider selling a car that you have defeated a safety system on.

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:31 am

Jason Mauldin wrote:

Ummm Chris, you might want to reconsider selling a car that you have defeated a safety system on.

what are you talking about...i'm not defeating any safety system.

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