Volkswagen Jetta P0507: Idle Air Control – RPM Higher than Expected

P0507 It is quite common OBDII trouble code. This code is usually triggered when engine idle speed exceeds 200 rpm. The generic code means it is the same as the other codes. Volkswagen Jetta Like any other vehicle.

P0507 Symptoms

Like many OBDII codes, P0507 is usually not visible while driving. These are some of the symptoms that the Jetta may present:

• Coming Soon: Service Engine Light– The reason why you are here.
• You can use your Idle speed faster– Assuming that the code has been thrown due to a legitimate issue, you should notice the engine running faster when not pushing the gas.
• Thud Going Into Drive– Transmissions really don’t like to shift from park to drive at an RPM higher than idle. When you put your vehicle into P0507, it is not uncommon to feel the entire car jerk.
• Vehicle takes off faster– With the engine idling higher, people report feeling the vehicle take off when releasing the brake pedal. Driving can become more hazardous.

Volkswagen Jetta P0507 Causes, Treatments

There may be many reasons for P0507. While the code specifically mentions the “Idle Air Control System”, it would be a mistake to just go ahead and replace it without a little due diligence. The code often isn't caused by the Idle Air Valve.

Below are the main causes of P0507 on the Volkswagen Jetta. You can also find how to repair them. Be aware that model years can vary. You might start with looking at a Leakage of vacuum You can then move forward.

Vacuum Leak

Leaking vacuum systems can cause Jettas to idle more. The vacuum system can leak, allowing more air to get into the combustion chamber. This allows for slightly higher combustion rates, an increase in RPM, and the throwing of the code.

How do you find a leak in your vehicle's vaccum? (Popular Mechanics, Article)
Find a Vacuum leak in under a minute (2CarPros, YouTube)

Vacuum leaks can be caused by bad things vacuum hoseIt is the Intake is endless, EGR SystemYou can find it anywhere that air is flowing. It’s not hard to find a vacuum leak though. Use the resources above and you’ll find it in no time.

Valve for Idle Air Control

The majority of modern fuel injected engine are fitted with an idle air control valve. They are not all the same. If you have determined that you don’t have a vacuum leak, the IAC is a great second place to troubleshoot P0507.

How to diagnose an IAC valve (Autozone Guides)

Throttle Body

The throttle body can be opened and closed millions of times during the lifetime of a car's engine. It can collect dust from all the air passing through it. It can alter the characteristics of your vehicle's idle. When dirty, you’ll often feel the vehicle almost stall before the computer compensates and opens it a little more.

Alternativly, the throttle body may have been damaged and may stop regulating the airflow properly. In this case, the code could be thrown.

How to spot signs that your throttle body is going down (Repair Pal)
How to tell if your throttle is bad or dirty (YouTube Auto Repair Youtube)

Conclusion

The P0507 problem is serious. Due to the unsafe nature of driving with an engine that is revving higher than it’s supposed to, we recommend having your Jetta serviced as soon as possible. You're welcome!