Turbo Issues Fault Code P334B

[drlabman]

The wastegate flap slams shut and is held there by gas pressure whilst the turbo spins up out of control over 250.000 rpm and frags, filling the engine with compressor fragments.

Yes, that wouldn't be good! It was a sort of tongue in cheek comment. I have decided this is not worth playing with, so I'll be off to the garage shortly. Thanks for your help with all this - I think I've learnt quite a bit along the way. I'll let you know the outcome.

[drlabman]

The wastegate flap slams shut and is held there by gas pressure whilst the turbo spins up out of control over 250.000 rpm and frags, filling the engine with compressor fragments.

Imagine my delight and surprise. My local garage send their turbos to ..... you've guessed it!

[Crasher]

I don't blame them, one of the most competent and trustworthy companies I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with; a rare combination of good management and excellent product. I am lucky that they are only a few miles from my house.

[drlabman]

I don't blame them, one of the most competent and trustworthy companies I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with; a rare combination of good management and excellent product. I am lucky that they are only a few miles from my house.

Long story short - my local garage have been a bit useless, and still haven't done what they proposed to do, so I've bitten the bullet and booked it in for diagnostics at the Audi dealer. They charge £60 for diagnostics, even though I can tell them what they're going to find (in terms of fault codes anyway) - but they insist on doing their own. Fair enough, I suppose, and I don't have many options.

I'm loathe to spend thousands replacing a turbo on a 4 yr old car that's just done 12K miles, if that's what they say needs doing. I'd rather part-ex it for a newer one. I guess I'm hoping, in my own little world that they'll fix it for less than the full price as a goodwill gesture.

[Crasher]

We did a 1.8 Leon turbo today, a 2015 model, rebuilt and out the door for around £1k, the only fuss we had was the only tech at Midland Turbo who can do them was pinged from the app and had to isolate for two weeks. I wish I was one of these “unlucky” employees who have had months of paid holidays in the last 16 months, I am self employed and I have to keep going or die…

[drlabman]

We did a 1.8 Leon turbo today, a 2015 model, rebuilt and out the door for around £1k, the only fuss we had was the only tech at Midland Turbo who can do them was pinged from the app and had to isolate for two weeks. I wish I was one of these “unlucky” employees who have had months of paid holidays in the last 16 months, I am self employed and I have to keep going or die…

Which reminds me ... my A1 is now at the dealership. They've diagnosed a P334B (which I already knew) and advised changing the control arm on the actuator due to corrosion on both ends. I suppose the corrosion is a plausible cause of the failure rather than the wastegate itself being sticky. Especially as they mentioned that there was a TPI regarding this failure - no details obviously because it's highly secret. Sounds like the control arm is separately replaceable - makes sense because it's held on at both ends by circlips (prob only available to dealerships though). We'll see, but hopefully this is a fix - and much cheaper than actual turbo issues.

[Crasher]

If the wastegate sidle is corroded, the new motor will strip its gears, make sure they will accept a warranty if this happens as if you fit a new actuator to a seized turbo there is no warranty.

[drlabman]

If the wastegate sidle is corroded, the new motor will strip its gears, make sure they will accept a warranty if this happens as if you fit a new actuator to a seized turbo there is no warranty.

Thanks for the advice. From what I understand though (I'll have to check) they're only replacing the control arm, not the whole actuator - which they can, I suppose, because this design of actuator allows replacing the arm because it's held on by circlips at each end. We'll see. It would be interesting to know what the TPI says, but I guess there's no way to find out.

[Crasher]

If it is being done by the dealer they will have to replace the turbo or the actuator with the repair kit 04E 198 725 G, the parts supply system dictates that they have no other choice unless there is a hidden part number I have not seen inside a TPI.

[drlabman]

If it is being done by the dealer they will have to replace the turbo or the actuator with the repair kit 04E 198 725 G, the parts supply system dictates that they have no other choice unless there is a hidden part number I have not seen inside a TPI.

That's valuable information so I'll know what to ask when I speak to them. Cheers.