I recently had the throttle actuator replaced on my E-320. The car ran better for about a day, then the check engine light came on and it began acting as it did before: slight surging at stop-lights, no cruise control, mis-firing upon heavy acceleration. I figured the used actuator I bought was bad and made an appointment to have my mechanic check it again.

Today, none of those symptoms were present. The check engine light is still on. One more thing: for quite a while there has been a persistant ticking noise eminating from behind the dash on the passenger's side of the car. Today, the ticking was gone, along with all the symptoms I listed above.

Could the problems I've been having be due to something OTHER than the throttle actuator? I'd love any advise before I replace the actutor with a more expensive refurbished one and pay the labor all over again.

Thanks!!

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Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
1980 240-D manual, 297,500 miles. Totaled by inattentive driver.