Turbocharger/Supercharger Boost System Performance
The ECU asks the turbo for a pressure according to how much you accelerate and controls it with a solenoid valve or an actuator. A sensor measures the actual pressure.
What the car has detected
The actual boost does not follow the requested one for a while: the system is not performing as it should.
The car usually goes into limp mode and loses power. It can be driven gently to a garage, but do not push it.
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on
- Loss of power or limp mode
- Whistling or hissing when accelerating if there is a leak
Possible causes
- Split, loose or blocked turbo hose
- Faulty boost control solenoid valve
- Seized turbo actuator or variable vanes
- Leak in the vacuum lines
Checks for the garage
- Compare requested and actual boost in live data
- Look for leaks in the hoses and the intercooler
- Test the solenoid valve and the turbo actuator
Next step
Ask for the turbo hoses, the boost control solenoid, the actuator and the vacuum lines to be checked.
Go to a garage soon and drive gently meanwhile. Before replacing the turbo, ask for hoses and the solenoid to be ruled out, as they are much cheaper.