Vehicle: Skoda Felicia 1.3
Complaint: Motor stalls when running idle
Component: Electromotive throttle body
OE part number: 441.0.4301-416.6
Pierburg part number: 7.22456.01.0
We’ve experienced some common problems with this particular make/model of vehicle with customers complaining of low idle speed, jerkiness, delayed acceleration or the motor stalling when running idle (with the problem persisting, even after throttle body replacement).
Additionally, manufacturer-specific error codes that have been pulled as a result of this complaint are ‘00282’ and ‘1232’.
Following checks in the workshop it is found that the electromotive throttle body is in fact contaminated. This could have been caused by a number of issues, including: leaks in the intake tract; improper servicing (such as uncleanness when replacing the air filter or using incorrect air filters); excessive amounts of oil escaping from the crankcase; or oil particles from oil-wetted racing air filters.
Engine problems – the cause
Modern engine management systems are provided with “adaptive memory modules”, i.e. some of the ignition characteristics’ data necessary for operation need to be “learned”.
In the case of malfunctions, the ignition characteristics are shifted within certain limits (‘adaptation limits’) thereby compensating for the malfunctions.
If the malfunctions become too severe, due to a heavily contaminated throttle body for example, then the engine management cannot compensate for this anymore. The complaints described earlier will then arise or an entry relating to the malfunction is stored in the error memory.
Even after exchanging or cleaning a contaminated throttle body, the engine management system still has the “old, shifted” ignition data in its memory. We don’t recommend cleaning of the throttle body as this may cause damage to the component.
After replacing the throttle body, it is mandatory to match the engine management system to the throttle body, otherwise the complaint(s) will persist!
Adjusting the engine management to a new throttle body 
When driving the vehicle with a contaminated throttle body, the ignition characteristics of the engine management system contain the “old, shifted learned values”. These values must be erased and the values of the new throttle body must be “learned”. This can be done in several ways:
Through the ignition
Turn the ignition key from the zero or locked position to position 1 and maintain it in this position for 10 seconds. At the same time the adjustment for the engine management to the throttle body is run.
By a test drive
During an extensive test drive (for at least 15 minutes) the “old” ignition data is replaced by the new values of the replacement throttle body. For this reason, the engine problems described earlier will still be apparent at the beginning of the test drive, however, in the course of the test drive these will become less and less.
Through a diagnosis tester
This is done through a special programme offered by the engine performance tester (“default setting”, for example). Every time a repair affecting electronic components is undertaken the error memory should be erased, so therefore we recommend this method.
Position ‘1’ for different ignition locks
After adjustment, perform an extensive test drive (at least six miles or 15 minutes), then read out the error memory with the aid of a diagnostic tool.
If the memory still contains errors relating to the throttle body, this may indicate that the engine management software version is too old. In this case, the software in the engine management must be overwritten by an upto-date software version.
With some older engine testers or diagnostic tools, this is not possible. After the software update perform another test drive and read out the error memory again.
