Author |
Message |
SCM Samba Member

Joined: January 26, 2011 Posts: 3365 Location: Bozeman MT
|
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 1:25 pm Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
MSGGrunt wrote: |
Reading these posts has me wondering if going with a GW throttle body was the best choice. Not installed yet, still waiting on a new rubber plenum seal. |
Mine was a simple plug-and-play that I installed 2 or 3 years ago. It immediately fixed my wandering and high idle issues. Easy peasy. If you already have it on hand I wouldn't hesitate to install it. _________________ '91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
bettingonvans Samba Member

Joined: October 29, 2017 Posts: 87 Location: Seattle
|
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 12:28 pm Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
GW says you can pretty much just throw away the plastic cover and do the adjustment there. Procedure the same as OEM; drawback is you have to remove it to do this, but that's not a big job.
I don't have a reason to fault GW on the throttle body yet. The initial improvement over my original was pretty impressive. I love the look of Mansi's throttle body, and am happy with a set of his injectors that I have on my van - but that throttle body still must have a microswitch to install/adjust.
I've been pleased with every replacement part I've bought from GW that I can think of, after a time if not right away... _________________ 1990 Westfalia, GW2.2, Peloquins TBD |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Altoona Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2011 Posts: 590
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 9:22 am Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
MSGGrunt wrote: |
Reading these posts has me wondering if going with a GW throttle body was the best choice. Not installed yet, still waiting on a new rubber plenum seal. |
I have installed many GW TB's and they work great. Yes, sometimes you have to adjust the switch at some point, but once that is done, its great.
That being said, MansiSpeeds new TB's look pretty sweet and I would probably go that route on my own van, but I haven't handled one myself yet.
. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
MSGGrunt Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2023 Posts: 245 Location: Western, MA
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 4:19 am Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
Reading these posts has me wondering if going with a GW throttle body was the best choice. Not installed yet, still waiting on a new rubber plenum seal. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
bettingonvans Samba Member

Joined: October 29, 2017 Posts: 87 Location: Seattle
|
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
I recently installed a GW throttle body. Immediate improvement over my old one, mostly because my old throttle body's switch was inconsistent.
After two long trips, the GW throttle body switch does not return to idle (WOT still works). Anyone have a copy of the PDF dabaron linked describing how to adjust?
It sounds like you remove the plastic cover and it's pretty self explanatory? Going to attempt to sort this out tonight, otherwise reinstalling my spare/used OEM... _________________ 1990 Westfalia, GW2.2, Peloquins TBD |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Igeo Samba Member

Joined: September 25, 2018 Posts: 898 Location: Oakland, CA
|
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 3:24 pm Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
Sounds like you are on the right track! _________________ 1987 Westfalia 2.1 WBX Manual |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Gauche1968 Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1561
|
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 3:21 pm Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
Igeo wrote: |
Yep- it has to work each and every time. The switch they use is open and easily observed (at least in your hand) is it not? You can verify the electrical make and break with a common Volt-Ohm meter. Are you checking the operation on or off the engine? Once you are satisfied that it's working on the kitchen table, you do need to verify its operation after the TB is tighened down to the intake manifold because just the pressure from the mounting screws can touque the TB enough to tickle the switch adjustment.
And another yep to the possibilty that a newly manufactured switch won't work due to inevitable manufacturing goofs. |
Had it on the proverbial kitchen table to adjust. Reinstalled in van and it now idles, so I suspect the switch was misadjusted out of the box. I still need to road test it to make sure I didn't go to far and introduce a hesitation off idle and to verify that the switch is in fact functioning consistently. _________________ 1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy
Last edited by Gauche1968 on Tue Jan 28, 2020 3:25 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Igeo Samba Member

Joined: September 25, 2018 Posts: 898 Location: Oakland, CA
|
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 3:13 pm Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
Yep- it has to work each and every time. The switch they use is open and easily observed (at least in your hand) is it not? You can verify the electrical make and break with a common Volt-Ohm meter. Are you checking the operation on or off the engine? Once you are satisfied that it's working on the kitchen table, you do need to verify its operation after the TB is tighened down to the intake manifold because just the pressure from the mounting screws can touque the TB enough to tickle the switch adjustment.
And another yep to the possibilty that a newly manufactured switch won't work due to inevitable manufacturing goofs. _________________ 1987 Westfalia 2.1 WBX Manual |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Gauche1968 Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1561
|
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 2:52 pm Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
I adjusted the plate at the bottom to get a more consistent click on and off the closed idle position, but I can't say the switch is clicking each and every time. Is there a chance that the switch itself is bad on a brand new Go Westy product? _________________ 1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Igeo Samba Member

Joined: September 25, 2018 Posts: 898 Location: Oakland, CA
|
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 11:03 am Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
The throttle stop screw should be adjusted so the butterfly is just barely cracked open. I don't know how Go Westy adjusts them, but I'd say that they'd start with the valve fully closed then put about 1/4 to 1/2 turn on the screw to just crack it open to prevent binding.
Assuming that the throttle stop is set correctly by Go Westy (or after you do it), then you can move on to adjusting the switch so it's closed at idle and opens just as you crack the throttle, then closes again at WOT. _________________ 1987 Westfalia 2.1 WBX Manual |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
dabaron Samba Member

Joined: June 21, 2018 Posts: 2713 Location: Philly, mang
|
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 9:59 am Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
Gauche1968 wrote: |
OK, mine is not clicking in the idle position either. It is clicking in the full throttle position. How exactly did you make the adjustment? By moving the stop screw on top, or by adjusting the position screws on the bottom? My stop screw seems to be held on by two nuts. One is a simple 8MM nut that moves easily, on the other side, however, is a more complex 9mm lock nut looking device that does not move easily. This seems like a quality control issue at GoWesty. |
https://www.gowesty.com/files/GW-TB-N%201-18-19.pdf
there are two screws on the bottom of the TPS assembly. those are not the ones to adjust, they are marked "DO NOT ADJUST" - the other screw, on the other side, also marked "DO NOT ADJUST" is the one to adjust _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Gauche1968 Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1561
|
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 9:10 am Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
plummerdesign wrote: |
Follow up:
I found the GW throttle body problem! The throttle body switch was never actually returning to idle because it was out of adjustment. This meant the EFI was not getting a signal to idle. The throttle return spring should have been enough to work the switch, but the wee little adjustment screw prevented it from doing so. I backed off the nut (6mm I think) and turned the screw just enough to hear the switch ‘click’.
Now the EFI knew to idle.
Testing the disconnected connector FROM the GoWesty throttle body the reading was .4 OHMS. Testing the disconnected connector FROM the EFI wiring harness read ‘infinite’. These readings are proper. When the engine is running and the throttle body switch is initiated by the cam, the signal goes to ‘infinite’, as it should.
This was only part of the problem.
Just purchasing new parts is not a guarantee that they work right. The O2 sensor has been suspect for a couple months, but it was a brand-new Bosch with the factory connector. Yet when I would unplug it, nothing would happen. I had a new Walker brand O2 sensor so swapped them out. Bingo. A definite improvement. I then unplugged the Digital Idle Stabilizer and connected them to each other so the idle adjustment screw could be turned on the throttle body. A single turn counter-clockwise balanced the rumble. The Digital Idle Stabilizer was reconnected and the engine restarted. As Cat-woman (Julie Newmar) would say “Purrfect”.
Now to test it on the road…
A 60 mile drive with numerous sudden stops showed that the engine went from high revs to idle with no problem, and never hunted or died. Freeway exits too. I drove from 35 to 70 mph and found the previous lag in acceleration was gone. This is my old friend again, running without issues.
The solution steps:
(1) Testing the connectors was key to seeing that the readings were correct but that something was not allowing the switch to work as it should. Listen to the switch, is it clicking? If not, adjust until it does. I say this only because the installation manual from GW says to NOT adjust the factory settings.
(2) New parts are suspect. Always. If you have a spare, swap it out to compare. In this engine/transmission drive train project I have purchased new items like a thermostat that did not open, a coolant tank that leaked at the seam, a blue coolant tank pressure cap that did not allow fluid to pass, a Sachs clutch disc that was not assembled correctly, a leaky H-connector (seam leak), and NOS Bosch spark plug wires that came apart.
Money eating, knuckle busting, patience testing Darned old buses anyways : ) |
OK, mine is not clicking in the idle position either. It is clicking in the full throttle position. How exactly did you make the adjustment? By moving the stop screw on top, or by adjusting the position screws on the bottom? My stop screw seems to be held on by two nuts. One is a simple 8MM nut that moves easily, on the other side, however, is a more complex 9mm lock nut looking device that does not move easily. This seems like a quality control issue at GoWesty. _________________ 1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
dabaron Samba Member

Joined: June 21, 2018 Posts: 2713 Location: Philly, mang
|
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
plummerdesign wrote: |
I have written a note to GoWesty for the record. These things are made by humans, no harm no foul : )
Cheers,
Jeffery |
it blows that it was not preset as the instructions painfully point out. glad you sorted it out. _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
plummerdesign Samba Member

Joined: September 04, 2010 Posts: 547 Location: PNW
|
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
The digital idle stabilizer is part of the 1.9 Digijet system. It is a green (or tan) box with two ports below, mounted on the wall next to the coil.
...
I have written a note to GoWesty for the record. These things are made by humans, no harm no foul : )
Cheers,
Jeffery _________________ It is old and green and it makes me grin.
1984 Westfalia 1.9 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Igeo Samba Member

Joined: September 25, 2018 Posts: 898 Location: Oakland, CA
|
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 1:03 pm Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
Glad you found the issue. I considered the Go Westy TB, but decided to have my stock TB rebushed. The TPS can be adjusted with the TB mounted in the intake while the GW one cannot. Plus, in my opinion anyway, the GW unit has an inferior switch that is eposed to the elements.
However, I'm trying to decipher what you mean with the statement: "I then unplugged the Digital Idle Stabilizer and connected them to each other so the idle adjustment screw could be turned on the throttle body."
Can you clarify? _________________ 1987 Westfalia 2.1 WBX Manual |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Gauche1968 Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1561
|
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
plummerdesign wrote: |
Follow up:
I found the GW throttle body problem! The throttle body switch was never actually returning to idle because it was out of adjustment. This meant the EFI was not getting a signal to idle. The throttle return spring should have been enough to work the switch, but the wee little adjustment screw prevented it from doing so. I backed off the nut (6mm I think) and turned the screw just enough to hear the switch ‘click’.
Now the EFI knew to idle.
Testing the disconnected connector FROM the GoWesty throttle body the reading was .4 OHMS. Testing the disconnected connector FROM the EFI wiring harness read ‘infinite’. These readings are proper. When the engine is running and the throttle body switch is initiated by the cam, the signal goes to ‘infinite’, as it should.
This was only part of the problem.
Just purchasing new parts is not a guarantee that they work right. The O2 sensor has been suspect for a couple months, but it was a brand-new Bosch with the factory connector. Yet when I would unplug it, nothing would happen. I had a new Walker brand O2 sensor so swapped them out. Bingo. A definite improvement. I then unplugged the Digital Idle Stabilizer and connected them to each other so the idle adjustment screw could be turned on the throttle body. A single turn counter-clockwise balanced the rumble. The Digital Idle Stabilizer was reconnected and the engine restarted. As Cat-woman (Julie Newmar) would say “Purrfect”.
Now to test it on the road…
A 60 mile drive with numerous sudden stops showed that the engine went from high revs to idle with no problem, and never hunted or died. Freeway exits too. I drove from 35 to 70 mph and found the previous lag in acceleration was gone. This is my old friend again, running without issues.
The solution steps:
(1) Testing the connectors was key to seeing that the readings were correct but that something was not allowing the switch to work as it should. Listen to the switch, is it clicking? If not, adjust until it does. I say this only because the installation manual from GW says to NOT adjust the factory settings.
(2) New parts are suspect. Always. If you have a spare, swap it out to compare. In this engine/transmission drive train project I have purchased new items like a thermostat that did not open, a coolant tank that leaked at the seam, a blue coolant tank pressure cap that did not allow fluid to pass, a Sachs clutch disc that was not assembled correctly, a leaky H-connector (seam leak), and NOS Bosch spark plug wires that came apart.
Money eating, knuckle busting, patience testing Darned old buses anyways : ) |
Have you let Go Westy know about the potential misadjustment? _________________ 1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
plummerdesign Samba Member

Joined: September 04, 2010 Posts: 547 Location: PNW
|
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2020 6:05 pm Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
Chris, your notes on the plastic fitting to the boot are well said. That there boot is new and that fitting is a BEAR to get into the hole. It be TIGHT!
Last month I did a smoke test to seek out any possible leaks and found bliss – no leaks. The first place to look when everything is new is for vacuum leaks.
You are also correct in regards to the cloth covered hose. Please forgive me for being the one guy who actually purchases OEM hose to keep the OEM look.
It is chronic. But only for the green camper that seldom goes anywhere unless it is adventure-based (we drive electric cars in the real world).
BTW- so glad to see you still active here on the Samba : ) _________________ It is old and green and it makes me grin.
1984 Westfalia 1.9 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
plummerdesign Samba Member

Joined: September 04, 2010 Posts: 547 Location: PNW
|
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2020 5:49 pm Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
Follow up:
I found the GW throttle body problem! The throttle body switch was never actually returning to idle because it was out of adjustment. This meant the EFI was not getting a signal to idle. The throttle return spring should have been enough to work the switch, but the wee little adjustment screw prevented it from doing so. I backed off the nut (6mm I think) and turned the screw just enough to hear the switch ‘click’.
Now the EFI knew to idle.
Testing the disconnected connector FROM the GoWesty throttle body the reading was .4 OHMS. Testing the disconnected connector FROM the EFI wiring harness read ‘infinite’. These readings are proper. When the engine is running and the throttle body switch is initiated by the cam, the signal goes to ‘infinite’, as it should.
This was only part of the problem.
Just purchasing new parts is not a guarantee that they work right. The O2 sensor has been suspect for a couple months, but it was a brand-new Bosch with the factory connector. Yet when I would unplug it, nothing would happen. I had a new Walker brand O2 sensor so swapped them out. Bingo. A definite improvement. I then unplugged the Digital Idle Stabilizer and connected them to each other so the idle adjustment screw could be turned on the throttle body. A single turn counter-clockwise balanced the rumble. The Digital Idle Stabilizer was reconnected and the engine restarted. As Cat-woman (Julie Newmar) would say “Purrfect”.
Now to test it on the road…
A 60 mile drive with numerous sudden stops showed that the engine went from high revs to idle with no problem, and never hunted or died. Freeway exits too. I drove from 35 to 70 mph and found the previous lag in acceleration was gone. This is my old friend again, running without issues.
The solution steps:
(1) Testing the connectors was key to seeing that the readings were correct but that something was not allowing the switch to work as it should. Listen to the switch, is it clicking? If not, adjust until it does. I say this only because the installation manual from GW says to NOT adjust the factory settings.
(2) New parts are suspect. Always. If you have a spare, swap it out to compare. In this engine/transmission drive train project I have purchased new items like a thermostat that did not open, a coolant tank that leaked at the seam, a blue coolant tank pressure cap that did not allow fluid to pass, a Sachs clutch disc that was not assembled correctly, a leaky H-connector (seam leak), and NOS Bosch spark plug wires that came apart.
Money eating, knuckle busting, patience testing Darned old buses anyways : ) _________________ It is old and green and it makes me grin.
1984 Westfalia 1.9
Last edited by plummerdesign on Fri Jan 24, 2020 6:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
tencentlife Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006 Posts: 10147 Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
|
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2020 10:17 am Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
jlrftype7 wrote: |
plummerdesign wrote: |
Excellent tip!
Now that I know what the OHMS should be it can be tested.
Will follow up with the results : ) |
One small note, your tapered plastic fitting/ port that has the AAR hose on it doesn’t look like it’s really tight and sealed in the rubber intake boot.
Picture shows a poor fit? That would be an air leak you want to fix if it’s really there. |
Agree, but that fitting never fits right, and the hard rubber of the 1.9 boots (later ones were a softer material) makes it even harder to get that one settled. It's a really poorly designed fitting, hard to guess how they actually intended it to fit the boot: all the way in? partly in? It never settles in how you would expect something like this to fit.
Then the idiotic layout of the idle air bypass circuits always causes there to be an up or down stress on that fitting because the heater return pipe is directly aligned with it. The hose has to be above or below the pipe and either way it's trying to pry that fitting loose. Really stupid.
It's best to replumb that take-off with an elbow that eliminates that stress, because doing it stock will always work that one loose no matter how you get it situated to begin with. More of that outstanding German engineering for you.
I use a common PVC fitting for use with poly tubing, a 3/4" barbed elbow, it's a little loose so a single wrap of rescue tape or similar over the barb first will give the snug fit that's needed. Then come off that with heater hose to reach the rest of the bypass network and get rid of that cheap cloth-covered garbage hose VW continually inflicted on the world.
And then you run into the next bit of VW idiocy, the fact that they couldn't settle on the hose sizes to use for any particular system. It's this way with the cooling systems, too, they keep changing hose sizes for no engineering reason, and some of their sizes don't match up with any common size. Just look at that tapered nylon intake bypass fitting as an example; why wouldn't they just design the S-boot to take a barb that matches the size hose they wanted to use to bypass air? I've always said the as-built construction of a vehicle is a better window into the corporate culture that built it than into the thinking of the engineers. In VW"s case, the culture didn't value coordination between departments, so in many cases they let each one run wild, and the hose department was tasked with making the various abortions fit together. Good job security for them! _________________ Shop for unique and useful Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/
also available at VanCafe.com!
Please don't PM here, I will not reply.
Experience is death to doctrine. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Gauche1968 Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1561
|
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2020 8:50 am Post subject: Re: GoWesty Throttle Body with automatic weirdness |
|
|
plummerdesign wrote: |
This is an inquiry regarding the GoWesty Throttle body. I have had this unit for over a year, but only in a running vehicle since October. The engine is a fresh rebuild 1.9 with every conceivable ancillary item replaced with new. NOS distributor, new harness, rebuilt ECU, new coil, digital idle stabilizer, wires, vacuum hoses, plastic tubes, electrical grounds, water and coolant lines, hoses and containers. New alternator, starter, relays and more. This bus is an old friend and traveling companion. My intent was to have an as-new camper to start the next 35 years. Suspension, gearbox, radiator, fuel system, CVs and everything else has been done.
But there is a nagging issue.
I have run a 5-gas scan, adjusted everything possible and yet it still hesitates and stumbles.
It just may be with the GW throttle body switch or the signal it is supposed to transmit.
Please allow me to explain…
Digijet system start from cold. The Aux Air Regulator opens and shuts as it should, yet it wants to die. Here is the rub: cold or fully warmed up, if I disconnect the GoWesty EFI microswitch connector NOTHING happens.
This tells me that the throttle position signal is not getting to the controller. How can I further test this signal? I have noid testers and a variety of diagnostic tools.
Thanks for reading and any guidance available.
Cheers,
(pic of the connector below)
|
Having a similar issue after installing Go Westy Throttle Body in a Digijet and converting the connector to the Bosch 2 pin connector. It struggles with a low idle after aux regulator cuts off. Interested to know what you found out. _________________ 1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|