Soft turbo actuator

[golfyste]

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   

[Wazzzer]

You can buy Forge actuators for the TDI

[littco]

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.

[golfyste]

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 

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???

[scarr89]

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 

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 

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.

[golfyste]

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  ) pushing down a toilet flush before it gets harder and is easy to push its like that 

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 

Cheers lads

[littco]

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.

[scarr89]

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.

[golfyste]

Hmmm ok will tell him cheers 
He is being advised by a "Vw specialist" that he needs a new turbo 
It's not stickin and there are no usual symptoms like smoke etc

[scarr89]

Hmmm ok will tell him cheers 
He is being advised by a "Vw specialist" that he needs a new turbo 
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!