Question for you - are some of the AHA motors DBW? I ask because I have an early 99 (pre-facelift) but I have DBW. I can turn the key on after a battery disconnect and hear the throttle body resetting itself. My understanding was that the main difference between AHA and ATQ motors is the DBW setup. I have found that my car is somewhat of a bastard car, with a facelift passenger mirror and tails, but pre-facelift headlights, and 2000-model year calipers (I believe), so I'm wondering if I actually have an ATQ under the hood and not an AHA. Ever heard of this? Or can I find a stamping on the engine somewhere that will tell me which it is? I'm curious about this stuff

 

There should be a tab sticking out on your valve cover(s) that shows the engine code. I've never heard of any 99 or even 99.5 that is DBW. You have no throtle cable?! That is crazy. I have seen some B5's with combinations of post and pre facelift radio/tails/mirrors, etc. But it's unheard of for a 99 to have DBW. You absolutely sure it's DBW?!?!

 

I'll double-check the valve cover tomorrow and see what it says. I'm not absolutely sure but I don't know what else that hum would be from the TB area after a battery disconnect. Hiwords heard it too, I'm pretty sure, at least one time at my house. It's a very distinctive noise coming from the TB area of the motor (top rear of the engine, in the center) and I'm not sure what else it'd be. Doesn't make sense to be fuel-related - if it was fuel pump I doubt I'd hear it that clearly from the underhood area. I'm kind of at a loss as to what that would be if the car is nDBW. I'll see what else I can find out.

 

There should be a label in the spare tire well on the right side. It is a build sheet of sorts. That should have the engine code near the top.

 

its normal for the throtle body to hum/click wether it's dbw or not. That noise is just the throtle position sensor getting juice and aligning. It'd be pretty obvious if you had DBW because there wouldn't be a throtle cable.