Throttle position switch - microswitch replacement

[jpennington]

Help.
The microswitch which sits under the throttle body on my 2.1l DJ series engine failed a while ago. I replaced it using a microswitch from Maplin and a thin aluminium plate. This is similar to a switch assembly available from somewhere in the US (I forget the details but they use a steel plate).
However the actuating lever on my switch is rather thin and has bent - probably due to the road surfaces I experienced in the west of Ireland recently!
Has anyone here done a similar fix and can suggest a better source for the microswitch?
Alternatively does anyone have a source for the OEM part?

Always hopeful
jp

[Aidan]

Parts are still listed from VW but you are looking at £50 plus vat for the whole everything plate cover bolt the lot, but the switch itself from them is nearly £45 plus vat

[jpennington]

Aidan,
thanks for the info. I am sure I read somewhere that the TPS was no longer available, but maybe that was on a US website and therefore not relevant for Europe. I'll pop down to my local VAG dealer on Monday and see what they can do. £50 is a bit steep for a switch, but the original lasted 22 years so it's just over £2 per year. And since the effect of a non-closing switch was to increase the fuel consumption from 25 mpg to 18 mpg, I guess it is VFM.

BTW I have shied away from VAG dealers since I was charged over £60 for a pair of tin rocker covers a few years ago!

jp

[jpennington]

Just back from a fruitless trip to my friendly VAG dealer.
Turns out that Aidan was right about the price but wrong about availability. The throttle switch was discontinued by VW in 2008.
So back to my original question: can anyone recommend a source for a suitable microswitch?

Becoming less hopeful,
jp

[Aidan]

I'll ask classicparts

did tps do an all dealer search and a order screen search as well as check etka where it said discontinued ?

later

[Aidan]

ok so yes no stock uk anywhere...awaiting response from the fatherland

[Aidan]

and unfortunately only the plastic cover is available so you're looking for a throttle body complete s/h, bound to be someone with the injection system spare

[jpennington]

Aidan, many thanks for digging for the info.
Amusingly, my 1986 DJ engine never had a plastic cover - and I'm sure 'cos I've had it from new.

In case it's of interest to anyone else with the same problem; here's a link to the US firm that makes the repair kit:
http://www.shoebox-electronix.com/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and this is the firm that sells the kit:
http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van_128075 ... witch.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's about $70 in US, but I suspect postage to UK might be steep.

I reckon I can make something about the same as the Shoebox kit from scrap and a micro-switch, so I've just got an assortment of sealed (IP67) micro-switches from RadioSpares and I'll experiment to see which works best.

jp