I'm 95% sure I have a faulty wastegate actuator but in all my searching I could not find any posts that described a procedure that I can do at home to test the actuator itself to determine if it's good or bad, does anyone have a simple procedure to follow?  Second, I read of others having actuator problems but again, I can't find one post that gives a part number or a source of where someone actually got a replacement.  Can I hear from someone who has actually replaced theirs?  Third, and this will have to be quick, does anyone know if this part I found on ebay would work for our turbo?  ebay wastegate I know there would have to be a few modifications made but could it work?

#1 http://www.netavalanche.com/tgp/viewtopic.php?t=1346

#2 There is no off the self replacement I was ever able to find for less than $100. Most places needed to match it up. Everyone I know has gotten theirs from another person with a turbo.

#3 no, base pressure too high and probably won't physically fit

Thanks Chris.  I actually looked at that post but I was looking for a way to test it without the vacuum pressure pump (since I don't have one).  I have emails out to about 5 companies and so far the only place that has given me a ray of hope is Turbochargers.com.  They say they can rebuild it for $150 (gasp!).  I'm hoping for a better outcome from some of the other places.

if you take the actuator off, or disconnect it from the wastegate, you can pull the rod out, and it should have a good bit of resistance. you should then be able to hold the rod by placing your finger over the boost port. if the rod completely retracts, or you can hear air leaking its bad.

whats the symptom anyway?

Quote from: Chris Aif you take the actuator off, or disconnect it from the wastegate, you can pull the rod out, and it should have a good bit of resistance. you should then be able to hold the rod by placing your finger over the boost port. if the rod completely retracts, or you can hear air leaking its bad.

whats the symptom anyway?

The car is over boosting and cutting out.  I don't have an aftermarket gauge but the stock boost gauge reads about 13-14 PSI when it happens.  The solenoid has been replaced so I'm pretty sure it's the actuator.  I have the actuator off the car right now and like you said Chris, when I pull on the rod there is a good bit of resistance.  Let me make sure I understand the bolded part above.  If I pull out on the rod and place my finger over the boost port, the rod should not retract all the way back to it's resting position until I remove my finger, correct?  If that is what you are saying then my actuator fails that test big time.  It jumps right back.  I also just tried blowing into the boost port and it's definitely not air tight in there like I think it should be.  Thanks for the help.

yep, all the makings of a bad actuator.

This might be sick but :lol: ....wipe off the port on the WG Actuator and wrap your lips around the port and suck, you don't need some fancy vacuum pump though they are handy, if you can hold a vacuum while sucking on the port then its good, if not then bad/the internal rubber diaphragm is leaking, time to shop for another  :).  Tell us how the outcum was on these tests :P

Jeff M

The actuator will not hold any pressure or vacuum.  With the help the two of you have given I'm sure I have a bad actuator.  I'm still waiting on a few companies to get back with me.  Has anyone ever tried to open one of these things up to see if there is a chance at repair on our level?

I got lucky and found the place below, check them out, they guys are also top notch to talk to, know some serious shit, impressed, I have an actuator from them, too good to put on my engine but can be used if you just pop off the spot welds holding the wastegate can onto your bracket, you have and drill holes for their can though its too cool to be called "canned"  :lol: .  Theirs is adjustable with different springs inside and a threaded rod, and is rebuilding where ours is NOT.  DO LET US KNOW if you find a source, I have at least been hounded off and on for years by people wanting to find a stock replacement one!!!

http://www.forgemotorsport.com/content.asp?inc=product&catalog=0001

Jeff M

Ha, Jeff your getting old. :lol: I gave you this source years ago.
http://www.mddistributors.com/   You should ask god910 (Jay) how he files his stuff cause he can find anything. :roll:

I have one, it was on the car about a year. Bought it from the above source. 75 shipped, new was over 90 with no shipping. It's also slotted for easy installation and drilled for a spring for more boost. don't know where the spring is though but hardware stores have them.


Jud

Man if you did I still don't remember :lol: , unless because I never got to see what they had/they don't list pics on their web site, I didn't make a mental note on it :? Got to see it maybe own it to recommend it 8) .  Thanks (again) for the link, will make a note on it better this time :).  

Any pics, since you bougth "this one" is it like the one on the TGP or??  And its "drilled for a spring for more boost" meaning you can open it up to swap different spring pressures?  And that spring it came with worked on your TGP?  Might not have a memory but am sweating the details here with these questions, that I know 4pasnu will be asking next :lol:

Jeff M

I'm pretty sure he's talking about putting a spring on the outside of it like he showed me how to do.

Shawn

That ForgeMotorsports unit is sweet!!!!

i found a dealer close to me but unless my W/G dies im in no rush to spend that kinda cash on it....

Quote from: Jeff MI got lucky and found the place below, check them out, they guys are also top notch to talk to, know some serious shit, impressed, I have an actuator from them, too good to put on my engine but can be used if you just pop off the spot welds holding the wastegate can onto your bracket, you have and drill holes for their can though its too cool to be called "canned"  :lol: .  Theirs is adjustable with different springs inside and a threaded rod, and is rebuilding where ours is NOT.  DO LET US KNOW if you find a source, I have at least been hounded off and on for years by people wanting to find a stock replacement one!!!

http://www.forgemotorsport.com/content.asp?inc=product&catalog=0001

Jeff M

Jeff, I'm guessing you are talking about the adjustable race actuator they sell on that page.  Well, it's a beautiful unit and for the price it seems like a good deal.  Since I have somewhat limited knowledge here I wouldn't know how to adjust something like that so it performs as stock (or maybe a little better if possible).

*edit* I don't know if this is what you were asking Jeff...but...

If I had my digital camera here (in Hungary at the moment) I would take a pic of my pressure syringe that I used to adjust my past adjustable wastegate actuators.

Another idea a friend had was a manual blood pressure bulb with a different gauge on it (don't think we need 300 mmHg of pressure! :wink: ). It was converted (just a different gauge threaded in) to a PSI gauge (0-20 psi with 1 psi increments) and worked like a charm.

Breakover ( 0.0250" of movement of the actuator arm) is set by watching the arm for the slightest movement really. Move the jam nut out of the way completely (just loosen) with it connected to the wastegate hinge...put pressure to the actuator and watch for movement. You then turn the collar that is connected to the actuator arm and the wastegate hinge. Any adjustable arm I have ever dealt with was normally 1 pound increase for every 1.5 turns in (making the shaft SHORTER). Not all are the same so some experimentation would be in order of course.

Once the preload is set to breakover it will not matter what the wastegate solenoid was calling for...the preload on the actuator would not move until the preset psi load was achieved on the actuator...then it would move.

Stock the wastegate actuator is set to 4 psig. I have seen a few breakover at 3.8...some at 4.6 psi. Depends on the internal spring preload.

Once you have the preload psi set...tighten down the jam nut and you are cruising to your set psi... 8)