Finally got the alpha-bid VAG-COM to work on a friends laptop and got a code for Throttle Valve Controller Malfunction:
1 Fault Found:

17953 - Throttle Valve Controller: Malfunction

P1545 - 35-00 - -

Readiness: 0110 1101

Its pretty dark already so i didn't want to start taking things apart. In general what am i looking at and for? Is the problem electrical or to i just need to do some TBA? General symptoms are rough idle, stalling on start up unless i press the gas, stuttering around 2k rpm. Also is it something that can be fixed or am i going to wind u throwing 300 bucks for a throttle body? What could cause this?
I tried searching for it but most threads in different forums seem to go the "replace it and forget about it" way which is certainly not my first option. TIA

 

What car do you have? Specifically the year. This information relates directly to your problem and you need to provide it.

EDIT: huh if you type all in caps the forum fixes it to proper punctuation... il leave caps lock on from now on so i dont need to capitalize anything lol. but imagine what i typed except in all caps as if i really meant it.

 

i have a 98.5 (the later 98 model) 2.8 liter quattro with manual tranny... its red (sorry don't mean to sound like a smartass)

 

just wanted to know if you were drive by cable or drive by wire. 2001+ cars do not have a throttle cable and are driven by electrical control only. since you have a DBC car, that code would probably be for the idle control motor in the TB (which keeps your car from stalling, etc), which isnt serviceable. you can try a TBA or some TB cleaner but i doubt that would do anything. more then likely your going to be buying a new TB.