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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: golfyste on 29 May 2012, 09:03

Title: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: golfyste on 29 May 2012, 09:03
Ok, my managers gttdi isnt runnin right and I had a little look around and found that the actuator is very soft, I have advised him of this and then he took it to a Vw specialist who also said this may be the problem but says that If the actuator has gone then it is a whole new turbo job....is this right???
Can you not just swap the actuator like on the gti?

Cheers for any new knowledge   :cool:
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: Wazzzer on 29 May 2012, 17:15
You can buy Forge actuators for the TDI
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: littco on 29 May 2012, 21:04
When you say soft what do you mean? Unlike petrol turbos, these work opposite in so much they use vacuum to adjust and when pressure or more than 0 pressure then it falls back to its static state, so if you make more boost it doesn't adjust anymore. These also work by adjusting the airflow over the blades rather than opening a port.
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: golfyste on 29 May 2012, 22:34
You can buy Forge actuators for the TDI

I thought this but it turns out my manager just didn't listen to the mechanic right as he is car dumb and got confused  :laugh:

When you say soft what do you mean? Unlike petrol turbos, these work opposite in so much they use vacuum to adjust and when pressure or more than 0 pressure then it falls back to its static state, so if you make more boost it doesn't adjust anymore. These also work by adjusting the airflow over the blades rather than opening a port.


I mean soft as is when I reached round and pressed the actuator in I could move it in and out with my little finger with next to no spring resistance, is this right?? I didn't expect it to be anywhere near as hard as my forge one but not that soft surely???
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: scarr89 on 29 May 2012, 22:42
You can buy Forge actuators for the TDI

I thought this but it turns out my manager just didn't listen to the mechanic right as he is car dumb and got confused  :laugh:

When you say soft what do you mean? Unlike petrol turbos, these work opposite in so much they use vacuum to adjust and when pressure or more than 0 pressure then it falls back to its static state, so if you make more boost it doesn't adjust anymore. These also work by adjusting the airflow over the blades rather than opening a port.


I mean soft as is when I reached round and pressed the actuator in I could move it in and out with my little finger with next to no spring resistance, is this right?? I didn't expect it to be anywhere near as hard as my forge one but not that soft surely???

Don't get the forge actuator, only really for remapped cars. Rhyso write up pretty much says it all...Way OTT even compared to the standard actuator.

You should be able to press the actuator in. There should be some resistance, and it should retract to normal position smoothly without any sticking/juddering. If it was stickying in one place or taking ages to return to normal resting position (which is full out) then this could suggest sticky VNT.

How soft is soft? If really really soft to push down then the diaphragm could be split/have a hole in, neither being good. But would only require an actuator chage, I THINK  :undecided:

This is a pig of a job to do on the car apparently and would probably need turbo out, new one on, then you would have to set the actuator to the correct length which would require a RR sesh. Almost certain your boss WILL NOT need a new turbo if the actuator has had it. :smiley:
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: golfyste on 29 May 2012, 23:46
Yeah u read rhysos right up and it's only a standard car so I defiantly wont recommend the forge unit .

It's soft as ii if you imagine (ad crazy as it sounds  :laugh:) pushing down a toilet flush before it gets harder and is easy to push its like that  :grin:

I know about the sticky vnt's as thats what I was checking for when I found the actuator seemed Soft and it's nice and smooth.

Yeah I didn't think he would need a new turbo  :laugh:

Cheers lads
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: littco on 30 May 2012, 09:34
With the engine running at idle the actuator should be fully retracted. Won't matter if it's soft as it just needs to retract under vacuum. On boost and with engine off it should be extended.
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: scarr89 on 30 May 2012, 17:26
With the engine running at idle the actuator should be fully retracted. Won't matter if it's soft as it just needs to retract under vacuum. On boost and with engine off it should be extended.

This. A good way to test it is get the vac line that goes down to the turbo actuator and suck on it. Stick your tongue over the end to keep the vacuum there and get a mate to have a look and see if it moves...it shouldn't until you take your tongue off it.
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: golfyste on 30 May 2012, 17:45
Hmmm ok will tell him cheers  :cool:
He is being advised by a "Vw specialist" that he needs a new turbo  :laugh:
It's not stickin and there are no usual symptoms like smoke etc
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: scarr89 on 30 May 2012, 17:58
Hmmm ok will tell him cheers  :cool:
He is being advised by a "Vw specialist" that he needs a new turbo  :laugh:
It's. It stickin and there are no usual symptoms like smoke etc

Ask him what the VW specialist says specifically. I am no diesel oracle, ask rhyso/steve for sure, but I don't think new turbo will be needed!
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: Rhyso on 30 May 2012, 21:44
In what way is it no running right?

Does it surge? Power tail off rapidly? Holding back?
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: golfyste on 30 May 2012, 23:34
In what way is it no running right?

Does it surge? Power tail off rapidly? Holding back?

He said it sort of judders and struggles low down and goes into limp mode (dunno if this is true as he isn't to clued up) but goes but then goes back to normal if he turns it off and on but then after driving for 20secs goes underpowered and juddery lowDown again.

It's had a new bosch maf on

Cheers
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: scarr89 on 31 May 2012, 12:12
In what way is it no running right?

Does it surge? Power tail off rapidly? Holding back?

He said it sort of judders and struggles low down and goes into limp mode (dunno if this is true as he isn't to clued up) but goes but then goes back to normal if he turns it off and on but then after driving for 20secs goes underpowered and juddery lowDown again.

It's had a new bosch maf on

Cheers

Is it at all drivable? Could it be a boost pipe popped off and half in the hole?
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: golfyste on 31 May 2012, 13:29
In what way is it no running right?

Does it surge? Power tail off rapidly? Holding back?

He said it sort of judders and struggles low down and goes into limp mode (dunno if this is true as he isn't to clued up) but goes but then goes back to normal if he turns it off and on but then after driving for 20secs goes underpowered and juddery lowDown again.

It's had a new bosch maf on

Cheers

Is it at all drivable? Could it be a boost pipe popped off and half in the hole?

He is driving it I think it's mainly at slow speeds.
And I checked but couldn't see any boost pipes disconnected and surely if the pipe was only half on it would through up a loss of boot code??
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: Rhyso on 31 May 2012, 14:14
In what way is it no running right?

Does it surge? Power tail off rapidly? Holding back?

He said it sort of judders and struggles low down and goes into limp mode (dunno if this is true as he isn't to clued up) but goes but then goes back to normal if he turns it off and on but then after driving for 20secs goes underpowered and juddery lowDown again.

It's had a new bosch maf on

Cheers

Is it at all drivable? Could it be a boost pipe popped off and half in the hole?

He is driving it I think it's mainly at slow speeds.
And I checked but couldn't see any boost pipes disconnected and surely if the pipe was only half on it would through up a loss of boot code??

All depends where the pipe pops off; mine popped off several times and never threw a code.  I don't think the car threw a code even when the turbo went pop
Title: Re: Soft turbo actuator
Post by: scarr89 on 31 May 2012, 19:33
I happened to luckily discover my lower boost pipe, which you cannot see unless you remove the under tray, while changing ARBs. The clip had broken and I reckon it was ready to pop off at any moment, luckily I always keep 322564 spare of those crappy C clips in my box!  :smug:

I also found this with my mums, she had been driving it around for a week complaining of juddering under acceleration, I looked, the pipe wasn't seated correctly and venting some of the air out where it was half hanging out! :shocked: