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MSGGrunt Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2023 Posts: 245 Location: Western, MA
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 2:49 pm Post subject: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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Going through a new to me 1986 2.1.
New plugs
New ignition wires
New cap
New rotor
New injectors
New idle control valve
New Go Westy Throttle body
New throttle body seal
The vehicle idles fine with the old throttle body but screams with the GW TB. I can't get the idle to come down. No tach, but I would estimate the idle at 2500 t0 3000 rpms.
Is there a procedure that needs to be followed after installing the new GW TB? I assumed it would be a bolt on but seems this may not be the case.
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Lunabus Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2006 Posts: 122 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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I have the same problem, also can't figure it out. Watching this thread closely. _________________ 1986 wolfsburg weekender w/pop top...
1981 FXWG Harley Davidson Shovelhead... |
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syncrodoka Samba Member

Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12295 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:35 pm Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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Adjusting that big fat idle screw did nothing? |
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1988M5 Samba Member

Joined: January 23, 2016 Posts: 843 Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:44 pm Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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Let's think cave man style about this, the old TB (throttle Body) was ok rev wise at idle, but the new TB revs too high at idle.....
I'm confidently guessing the new TB is letting though too much air at idle settings. I could be wrong, but I'm not. To save time, assume I'm correct.
Best way to tackle this is to make sure the single TB butterfly is fully home and closed. Next is screwing the by-pass screw all the way down.
Next is to assure the IAC (idle air control valve) valve isn't interfering, just clamp off the air flow via any tube/hoses.
BK
Ps we will figure this out. _________________ 1991 tin top GL
2002 Winnebago Vista. VW VR6 24V Eurovan front clip powered class C 21' RV.
Some BMWs. |
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Lunabus Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2006 Posts: 122 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:49 pm Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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Don't mean to hijack, In my case that large bypass screws is all the way down and idle still too high. When I clamp that hose, it does resolve the issue. Does that mean the IAC valve is still no good? I replaced mine with a new one from GW. It helped but now I am thinking these after market products may be the problem not being made as well? _________________ 1986 wolfsburg weekender w/pop top...
1981 FXWG Harley Davidson Shovelhead... |
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MSGGrunt Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2023 Posts: 245 Location: Western, MA
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 5:32 pm Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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Is this the "big fat screw" you are talking about? I did not adjust this at all. I will try screwing it all the way down/in. IACV is new, but that doesn't mean anything. I will clamp off the hose and report back my results.
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syncrodoka Samba Member

Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12295 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 5:38 pm Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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Yes. That screw allows air around the throttle butterfly.
It sounds like from others experience that may not be enough though. |
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SCM Samba Member

Joined: January 26, 2011 Posts: 3365 Location: Bozeman MT
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 6:01 pm Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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1988M5 wrote: |
Let's think cave man style about this, the old TB (throttle Body) was ok rev wise at idle, but the new TB revs too high at idle.....
I'm confidently guessing the new TB is letting though too much air at idle settings. I could be wrong, but I'm not. To save time, assume I'm correct.
Best way to tackle this is to make sure the single TB butterfly is fully home and closed. Next is screwing the by-pass screw all the way down.
Next is to assure the IAC (idle air control valve) valve isn't interfering, just clamp off the air flow via any tube/hoses.
BK
Ps we will figure this out. |
To be even more caveman - are we sure the TB is perfectly mated to the intake without any air leaks?
And what about that adjustable bolt around the 12-o’clock position in the photo? I forget but does that set an idle limit of some sort? Maybe that got out of adjustment during shipping etc. _________________ '91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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MSGGrunt Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2023 Posts: 245 Location: Western, MA
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 6:17 pm Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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More info.
I installed a new rubber seal and was careful to tighten each side of the TB down equally. I am pretty confident there is a good seal there.
With the new GW TB installed I screwed the adjustment screw all the way in and then backed out 1/2 turn. Old IACV installed and it started right up, and it idled nicely from cold until up to operating temperature. Unplugging the IACV made the idle drop, but not by a lot.
GW TB with the new GW IACV installed, at operating temperature I started the engine, and it raced as before. Unplugging the IACV and the idle dropped. Could the new IACV be faulty? Any way of testing? Seems strange the old one lets the motor idle nicely whereas the new IACV the motor races, even with the TB adjusting screw turned all the way in.
Pulling off the IACV hose and the engine stalled. |
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Xevin  Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014 Posts: 8592
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 9:14 pm Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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What is the troubleshooting recommendation from Go Westy? _________________ Keep on Busin'
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
Clatter wrote: |
Damn that Xevin...  |
skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
I respect Xevin and he's a turd |
SGKent wrote: |
My God! Xevin and I 100% agree |
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zerotofifty Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003 Posts: 3752
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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If the old one works, install it and send the over priced junk back to gowesty. _________________ Sorry About That Chief.
Give Peace a Chance.
Words to live by. |
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kamzcab86 Samba Moderator

Joined: July 26, 2008 Posts: 8438 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 11:29 pm Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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MSGGrunt wrote: |
Is there a procedure that needs to be followed after installing the new GW TB? |
GW has this note on the product page: "Changing out any one part of your EFI system that is faulty with a new or rebuilt part may cause worse running because other settings may have changed over time to compensate for the faulty part you are replacing. Following the baseline settings procedure in the Bentley manual is required after installation."
zerotofifty wrote: |
If the old one works, install it and send the over priced junk back to gowesty. |
If it ain't broke... _________________ ~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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MarkWard Samba Member

Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 18723 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 3:52 am Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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Stock or aftermarket, the throttle switch adjustment is precise. You’ll need a feeler blade set and an ohm meter. As recommended, follow the factory manual procedure. Basically you back off the throttle plate stop till there is an air gap between the stop and the cable arm. This should ensure the throttle butterfly is closed. You then turn it in till it contacts the arm. Ohm meter connected, zero ohms. If that’s true, then you can set about the fine adjustment. I’d rather you check the manual, but memory is with a .004 to .006” blade between the stop and the cable arm you should have no continuity on the ohm meter or infinity.
This is how the ECU knows if you are idling or moving off from a stop. This is an oversimplified explanation. The manual is what should be followed. It’s a set it and forget situation. After that the large screw is your actual idle adjustment. |
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MSGGrunt Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2023 Posts: 245 Location: Western, MA
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 4:00 am Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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Problem solved.
A bad GW IACV. Or at least with the ignition on, but the van not running, the original IACV vibrates as it should whereas the new GW one does not.
GW says no returns on electrical parts, but I hope this will be an exception. As long as the original one is working, I will stick with that one.
Last edited by MSGGrunt on Fri Jun 20, 2025 4:38 am; edited 1 time in total |
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MSGGrunt Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2023 Posts: 245 Location: Western, MA
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 4:03 am Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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Now to go about setting everything according to the FSM, which I thankfully have. |
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DanHoug Samba Member

Joined: December 05, 2016 Posts: 5683 Location: Bemidji, MN
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 6:04 am Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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there's lots of good reasons to keep the GW TB... no more worn bushings sucking air, hanging the throttle plate up as it becomes cockeyed in the bore, and proper switch operation.
some important questions:
- does your old TB work correctly with the new ICV? this verifies the new chinese ICV is responding with at least a ballpark air bypass.
- if you block the hose between the ICV and the rubber intake boot, can you get the idle lowered by screwing in the large idle screw on the TB? this is important because the ICV needs a LOW base idle to work with-- the ICV can only RAISE idle speed.
- if you can't get the base idle lowered with the idle screw with the ICV hose blocked, that demonstrates that the throttle plate adjustment is out of whack, despite that GW says it is adjusted by them and to not touch it. the Bentley and the Pro Training manual give a linear procedure to adjust the throttle plate position, verify switch operation, and set the ICV current by using the idle speed screw. you'll need a vacuum gauge and a meter that can read milliamps in addition to cutting one wire to the ICV to measure ICV current. it is easy and we can walk you thru this when you have questions.
TIP: once you cut one wire to the ICV to measure current, crimp mating quick disconnects onto the wire ends for ease in rechecking the ICV current at a future date. _________________ -dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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kamzcab86 Samba Moderator

Joined: July 26, 2008 Posts: 8438 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 10:21 am Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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DanHoug wrote: |
and a meter that can read milliamps in addition to cutting one wire to the ICV to measure ICV current.
TIP: once you cut one wire to the ICV to measure current, crimp mating quick disconnects onto the wire ends for ease in rechecking the ICV current at a future date. |
For anyone reading who doesn't want to cut the factory wiring, the special VAG 1315/A2 harness is available: https://techtonicstuning.com/product/test-harness-for-vanagon-digifant-injection-vw-1315-a2/ _________________ ~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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MSGGrunt Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2023 Posts: 245 Location: Western, MA
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 6:20 pm Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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I will keep the GW throttle body, but going to return, if they let me, the IACV. Just placed an order for the test harness. Now to dive into the FSM and read up on the proper set up of everything. |
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16CVs Samba Member

Joined: February 22, 2004 Posts: 4231 Location: Redwood City, California
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Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2025 11:42 am Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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Used to be in the olden days when Peter owned Van Cafe he had a guy that rebuilt the TB to better than new. He didn't care if there was a groove worn in the body as he would bore it over and make a new plate. I've have one of his rebuilds in my truck and it's pushing 200K. The new guy that rebuilds them wants a perfect bore before he touches them.
I recently went through trying to get a smooth pedal and consistent idle on a customers van and a new GW TB bolted on and worked a dream. A buddy pointed out that the issue with the TB is that you can not adjust the switch while in place.
Are you sure all of your Vacuum hoses are properly in place?
Stacy _________________ 1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread. |
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MSGGrunt Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2023 Posts: 245 Location: Western, MA
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Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 5:23 pm Post subject: Re: High Idle With New GW TB, But Good With Old. |
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I did check all the vacuum lines and looked for any cracks in the TB to air cleaner boot and IACV rubber hose and they all looked fine. I have it idling fine now with the old IACV and when the test harness arrives, I will try to dial it in following the FSM. I am happy with the GW TB, just not the IACV. I did get an email from GW today saying they will accept it as a return. |
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