p1171, ecl, loss of power

[megantbs]

2001 1.8l turbo auto. it's an aph I think.
I have yet another problem with my bug! A week ago when I was driving down the road my cel started flashing and my car felt like it was missing. Replaced coil on 3rd cylinder and fixed the problem. Now, a week later, when I start my car at times it feels like it puts to start and then when it does the epc light comes on and I can't accelerate in any gear. Sometimes I can get it to accelerate a little, with hardly any power, and sometimes it starts with no problem or epc at all like a champ! This is a problem because yesterday I could not get it to go into it's "good" mode and couldn't drive it to class (I am a teacher). I think this is because it was about 34 degrees in the morning and 64 the rest of the day. This morning it starts fine because it is 47 degrees. the check engine codes I got were
p1171 : throttle actuation Potentiometer sign. 2 range/performing throttle.
p1542 : throttle actuation Potentiometer range/performance.
p1559 : idle speed control throttle position adaptation malfunction.
I also had the brake switch replaced recently under warranty.
Any help would be amazing! thanks

[wawalker]

Sounds like a throttle position sensor/actuator and/or throttle body alignment is needed.

[megantbs]

Would the throttle body come out of alignment on it's own? because I have had this car for over a year and this just popped up. Is it possible I need an entirely new throttle body? and if so, is it possible to just clean it up with tb cleaner? I am also wondering if there is a way to test the sensor? Thanks for giving me a place to start! This beetle has been a nightmare!

[wawalker]

I have heard that sometimes an alignment is needed when the battery is disconnected--perhaps it was when the coil was replaced? I suppose that if the throttle body is in need of cleaning and an alignment was then done you might be gold--maybe there is enough junk in there that the actuator just can't go through its full range of motion.

[SilverSportNOLA]

I would say TPS .... but since you just had the brake switch replaced .... I would go there first. When you press the brake it kills the throttle .... can't powerbrake in a new beetle. With the problems I heard when people had the monkeys change the brake switch on the last recall ... I would say that it is highly probable that is the cause.

[megantbs]

cleaned the throttle body this evening. It is starting great right now, but we will see in the morning. I have a feeling I am not out of the woods yet. I also looked at the MAF, but it was completely clean. I think the TB is properly aligned, because it is idling great! I'll cross my fingers and let you know, but I'm pretty sure I will be asking for a bit more advice. I will probobly look at the sensor next. Is there a way to test it, or is it one of those things I just have to replace and hope fixes the problem? Thanks- Megan

[megantbs]

Here is an update. since I cleaned it, I haven't had those lights come on since. The wierd thing is that one of my coil packs went out 2 weeks ago, then this problem happened, then today another coil pack went out. That is cylinder 1 and 3, I'm guessing the others will go soon. I have also had my cel on for a while now with a "camshaft crankshaft position sensor out of alignment" changed the cam sensor, but cel keeps coming on for this. The car shows nothing at all being wrong in regards to the cam/crank code, except maybe sometimes not starting the first time I turn it over every once in a blue moon, but I now I am wondering if this is all related? I know that my "camshaft adjustor" is not hooked up, but I have had the car for a year like this and the code only came on 6 months ago. What does the cam adjustor do? If it is not hooked up, could it be what is causing my car to keep breaking?
Thanks- Megan

by the way, last night after I replaced 3, # 2 went. I'm just gonna do them all tonight!~