High idle at stops >= 1k

[GoVdubSPEEDGo]

well to update everybody on this: mine still has the issue after a new battery and new alternator, by this point it's something I live with...

[Slave IV]

well to update everybody on this: mine still has the issue after a new battery and new alternator, by this point it's something I live with...

That's bad news...luckily, I haven't had the issue in a while but I guess this is still a bit of a mystery.

[AmRando]

I mentioned elsewhere that my high-idle issue seems to have gone away after getting my HPA tune reloaded. I'm sticking to that, it's been ~3 months since and I can't recall it happening since. Whether this is a result of a higher default idle (700-750) or just that it's now above freezing outside I can't say.

[mach gti]

anyone with final conclusion on what is causing this? Started happening to me the past few weeks.

[xbr80bx]

I've stated my fix many times in this thread.

[GoVdubSPEEDGo]

get a UM tune, got a tune a few months back and never had the problem since...

[mach gti]

I've stated my fix many times in this thread.

So far it came down to two likely remedies:

1. the battery
2. get a tune (UM)

[oldracer]

Got as UM tune in April, never happened again

[xbr80bx]

So far it came down to two likely remedies:

1. the battery
2. get a tune (UM)

Neither was my issue. Power related? yes. but it wasn't the battery.

[JRutter]

Have UM tune, still have high idle at times when the car is warm and parked.

[mach gti]

Neither was my issue. Power related? yes. but it wasn't the battery.

Care to elaborate on the power problem?

[macdaddy548]

So, I'm just thinking out load here so bear with me. This problem seems to be pretty universal and I'm sure it extends to the world of cars outside of this board. Who knows, it may effect other cars with similar engine. Yet at least my local dealer claims no knowledge of the problem, is not inclined to fix it and told me to call VW tech support on my own if I wanted to try to find an answer. Yeppers, not very helpful

So, I'm thinking this issues needs to get escalated and VW needs to come up with an remedy or at least an explanation if it's 'normal'. My thought in getting their attention is that this COULD be an emissions related problem - that is the high idle either causes higher emissions or is the result of some programming or equipment meant to control emissions. If that were the case, the fix for many would then become a warranty issue.

I'm sure it would take a coordinated effort to raise the visibility of this problem and get attention. I don't think trading messages on Vortex will get it done. Anyone up for a campaign?

[JRutter]

Care to elaborate on the power problem?

He said earlier that it was a loose wire at power distribution terminal. Check at battery, I think. This might be why a fresh battery helps some people - if this is checked/tightened during install???

[mach gti]

He said earlier that it was a loose wire at power distribution terminal. Check at battery, I think. This might be why a fresh battery helps some people - if this is checked/tightened during install???

Thanks. Will be checking the terminals and cleaning throttle body this weekend. If no remedy, booked an appt at the vw dealer for next weekend.

[jfiddy]

Used to have it until I did the 40k service.

Haven't had it since.

[sjc123]

My car has just started doing this in the past couple of months too... thinking I'll go ahead and replace the battery. Anyone know what the OEM battery is? Thanks...

[rhcp4life]

My car has just started doing this in the past couple of months too... thinking I'll go ahead and replace the battery. Anyone know what the OEM battery is? Thanks...

There is a goo thread on own battery's look in the optima battery install thread or something like that..

[ZPrime]

Same battery that a BMW X3 uses. Most auto parts places will have a book that will tell you what battery size you need.

[Ikey3125]

So read parts of page 1, and parts of page 5. Mine just started doing this recently, almost 59k, and still original battery, so everyone is saying battery? Right?

[Slave IV]

So read parts of page 1, and parts of page 5. Mine just started doing this recently, almost 59k, and still original battery, so everyone is saying battery? Right?

It seems to fix the problem but I have a feeling there is something else involved. I haven't had the issue in months and my battery should only be getting worse, right? Someone mentioned it went away with the UM tune, which I now have as well but I didn't notice the issue for a while before I got the tune.

I'm just going to chalk it up to something the dealership f'd up because the only time they touched the car was for my Mech recall. I never had the issue before they touched the car and it showed up a few days after they did.

[helement2003]

I didn't read through this entire thread, but I recall the Passat 3.6 VR6 guys having high idle issues as well.

Their fix in most cases was also a new battery. Haven't read up on it in a while though, so maybe they've figured something else out that could be helpful to R32 owners.

[Ikey3125]

I'm just going to chalk it up to something the dealership f'd up because the only time they touched the car was for my Mech recall. I never had the issue before they touched the car and it showed up a few days after they did.

Well for me the issue with this is no dealer has touched my car in almost a year, and the high idle just started about 2 weeks ago. And I had the Mech recall done almost 2 years ago now.

Guess I can start pricing out a battery and looking at doing that soon.

[gottiR32]

Hey guys, same issue here hope it works out....anyhow I have a set of '87 1/2 Ford Escort reps for sale...pm me for thread derail...

[sjc123]

I ended up getting a new battery installed at the dealership a few months back and I haven't had the problem since. I'll post back if it does happen again though!

[R32OG]

X2 on getting a new battery, I got my checked and I'm low on cca, and mine only started doing this once I got the low battery warning from my mkvi radio meaning my battery needed replaced soon will post once I replace it

[Ikey3125]

X2 on getting a new battery, I got my checked and I'm low on cca, and mine only started doing this once I got the low battery warning from my mkvi radio meaning my battery needed replaced soon will post once I replace it

I got that before, but it was when I had the radio on and was cleaning out the interior. The radio just shut it self off and didn't have the high idle problems afterwards.

[mach gti]

I got my battery replaced with OEM battery. My car's rpm still fluctuates just not as often.
So annoying.

[1.8T4beng]

ok, scratch all that 50k+ talk. I personally had all that stuff done many miles ago and went for a long while without issue. One suggestion is it happens post fuel tank recall...hard to verify because I don't imagine there are many left out there that haven't had this done (much less owned by a vortex user). Back to square one.

Uh..I don't think I've had my fuel tank recall lol if you want to compare...I haven't done my DSG recall either...but car seems fine at 34K

[Slave IV]

I got my battery replaced with OEM battery. My car's rpm still fluctuates just not as often.
So annoying.

Hmmm, this is the first post I remember seeing where a new battery didn't fix it...more confirmation that there is probably something else involved.

[nab33]

I'm having the same issue... Mine occurs pretty frequently (at least 3-4 times a week) without discretion as to weather temperature or amount of time running. Currently at 58,000+ miles, with stock battery. I'm re-flashing this week with the UM tune, so we'll see if that changes anything. I have a vag-com in the mail, so might look into seeing if there are any odd faults after it occurs prior to flashing.

[ncraba01]

Hmmm, this is the first post I remember seeing where a new battery didn't fix it...more confirmation that there is probably something else involved.

The battery doesn't cause the issue. Low voltage and/or low amperage at idle is a more likely cause. Replacing the battery fixes the tendency for batteries to reduce output as they age/wear. The tendency is enhanced by cooler weather as batteries don't work as good in cold.
There are other conditions that would cause low voltage and/or low amps at idle, like; reduced alternator output, bad connections (loose wiring), faulty grounds, and increased electrical draw (shorts, bad wiring, amplifiers, amateur radio equipment, tablets, PCs, other electrical accessories, etc...).

I tired turning on A/C, fan on high, heated seats all the way up, mirror heat on, interior lights, and parking lights, to try and confirm if all the high usage/draw electrical stuff is going would cause the high idle more often. Results were not conclusive. You might have better luck?

[macdaddy548]

Too many of us have this issue for vw to ignore it. Why are we not pitching a bitch direct to vw demanding a fix or an explanation? This should ultimately be considered an emissions related problem and warrantied.

[nab33]

So i've got the vcds hooked up and i'm getting a fault:

01598 - Drive Battery Voltage
000 - - - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00100000
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 16
Reset Counter: 193
Mileage: 91170 km
DATE: 2005.09.13
TIME: 31.63.63

Freeze frame:
ON
Voltage: 13.20 V
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF

I don't know if this is the cause but... I can't get it to replicate the high idle at this time so I can scan while its doing it. I'll keep trying to see what I find.

[GoVdubSPEEDGo]

Hmmm, this is the first post I remember seeing where a new battery didn't fix it...more confirmation that there is probably something else involved.

battery and alternator didn't resolve mine, it did however disappear after I got my UM tune

[Slave IV]

Update: I've since also gotten a new battery (Sears AGM) and still haven't noticed the issue in months. Never found out for sure what it was but in my case, it went away by itself before I got the UM tune and battery. I think the battery did fix the issue of not being able to roll windows down right after startup but also not sure since I didn't have that issue either for a while before I got the battery. I suspect perhaps just a loose connection that was fixed somewhere along the line may have been the original cause.