dreaded P00AF - Actuator module being "stuck"

[calimustang]

yep.... got the CEL on and off yesterday then last night it stays on and infamous limp mode.

here's the graph.

Log #549340

log.tunezilla.com

 

[calimustang]

sometimes I turn it off, 10 seconds then restarts... code gone. sometimes come back on after starting up. sometimes fine.

 

[GTD170]

sometimes I turn it off, 10 seconds then restarts... code gone. sometimes come back on after starting up. sometimes fine.

Bit out of my league if i'm honest but sounds as if it's definitely a replacement job.
Best of luck


BTW i see darkside intercooler soon for your jetta SW......if you have plenty of clearance, for £30 extra you can get their beefed up intercooler, the one i wish i got.
standard s3 intercooler aluminium ends one is more than ok but yeh £30 is worth the extra........Normal s3 is 40mm thick......beefy one is 55mm thick.
check clearance though because if i did opt for it......already my fans shroud is 5mm from touching a few things xD

 

[DivineChaos]

Welp, time to clean the turbo....

 

[GTD170]

Welp, time to clean the turbo....

Just a thought but......wouldn't an oil catch can prevent this issue ?

Still waiting on my heater hose

 

[DivineChaos]

Just a thought but......wouldn't an oil catch can prevent this issue ?

Still waiting on my heater hose

It's the vanes in the turbo Getting stuck. Granted it could be an actuator or the n75. Which all should be checked first. This code is exhaust, not intake. So I dont believe a catch an would help.

 

[MrCypherr]

Check for vacuum at the wastegate. See if its holding, then check if the N75 is cracked/damage/leaking. Make sure all the vacuum lines are okay and not kinked or damaged. If all of those check out, You can get the actuator separately.

 

[calimustang]

Bit out of my league if i'm honest but sounds as if it's definitely a replacement job.
Best of luck


BTW i see darkside intercooler soon for your jetta SW......if you have plenty of clearance, for £30 extra you can get their beefed up intercooler, the one i wish i got.
standard s3 intercooler aluminium ends one is more than ok but yeh £30 is worth the extra........Normal s3 is 40mm thick......beefy one is 55mm thick.
check clearance though because if i did opt for it......already my fans shroud is 5mm from touching a few things xD

Yep I already have the intercooler but yet installed. will install once my back is doing ok, scatia nerves for 2 weeks now. LOL

 

[calimustang]

Check for vacuum at the wastegate. See if its holding, then check if the N75 is cracked/damage/leaking. Make sure all the vacuum lines are okay and not kinked or damaged. If all of those check out, You can get the actuator separately.

Yep I have step daughter's 2013 Jetta TDI, can "borrow" her's and test it and go from there. I also have one "shot" CKRA turbo with good actuator. if it ends up being the actuator then swap it. it moves nicely. I couldn't reach my actuator as it sits too close to the firewall and turbo. 2 of N75's are being ordered via FCP Euro to be safe.

 

[calimustang]

it seems I found the issue. actuator vane area was caked in oil. just cleaned it up with brake cleaner spray. hope it solves that for now and see where the leak is coming from then go from there.

 

[DivineChaos]

it seems I found the issue. actuator vane area was caked in oil. just cleaned it up with brake cleaner spray. hope it solves that for now and see where the leak is coming from then go from there.

How many Mali's are on your jsw? May be time for a turbo... Because if it's wet with oil.. just have to stretch it's legs more.

 

[MrCypherr]

Ive seen the actuators be the cause of the issue most of the time if it isnt the N75 or charge sensor in the intake pipe.

 

[calimustang]

How many Mali's are on your jsw? May be time for a turbo... Because if it's wet with oil.. just have to stretch it's legs more.

my JSW itself 130k miles and cr170 turbo is approaching 100k miles now. I drive a ton of miles. Installed on Feb 2018 at 48k miles.
So she have a lot of exercise.

just drove her to Texas and back to Florida in a week on Dec 26-Jan 5th 2022, zero issues.

 

[calimustang]

Ive seen the actuators be the cause of the issue most of the time if it isnt the N75 or charge sensor in the intake pipe.

Valid points. Will check on those

 

[DivineChaos]

I'd check all your vac lines.

 

[calimustang]

I'd check all your vac lines.

Yep I have a kit that will show me the leaks.

AutoLine Pro Automotive Smoke Machine Leak Detector EVAP Vacuum Diagnostic Tester | Shop Series | Made in The USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JVT1NG...t_i_KHHBWZ7GDPXFSAPBRK27?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[calimustang]

Hello,

there's an update.... its the danged actuator! I used mityvac and tested it on blown ckra turbo with good actuator, it held pressure as I stopped at 15.

tried it on my step daughter's 2013 Jetta TDI, held pressure.

tried it on my JSW, dead. doesn't hold pressure at all.

 

[DivineChaos]

Hello,

there's an update.... its the danged actuator! I used mityvac and tested it on blown ckra turbo with good actuator, it held pressure as I stopped at 15.

tried it on my step daughter's 2013 Jetta TDI, held pressure.

tried it on my JSW, dead. doesn't hold pressure at all.

Glad for the update. Remember to set it correctly

 

[calimustang]

Glad for the update. Remember to set it correctly

Yup I have original CJAA turbo with 48k miles sitting. Nobody wants to buy it. So be it. It’s already marked. I will not move the nut and move it into my JSW. The hard part is to remove the bottom nut off the bad actuator so I can slide it out

 

[DivineChaos]

Yup I have original CJAA turbo with 48k miles sitting. Nobody wants to buy it. So be it. It’s already marked. I will not move the nut and move it into my JSW. The hard part is to remove the bottom nut off the bad actuator so I can slide it out

I know the feeling. I have a jsw turbo too. *Shrugs*

 

[MrCypherr]

Glad to see it was something simple to replace and nothing major.

 

[calimustang]

Me too. The impeller and everything is like brand new at 100k miles. Very impressed. I rode her hard. Lol

 

[calimustang]

I saw’ed the old actuator arm off. Bottom nut was bolt in too tight! I tried everything and ended up Stripped it a bit so I knew it…metal saw is the only way. That was a nightmare.

 

[TurboABA]

I'm a little confused.... are you saying that vacuum didn't move the actuator, or that it did move it but it just leaked back down?

 

[DivineChaos]

I'm a little confused.... are you saying that vacuum didn't move the actuator, or that it did move it but it just leaked back down?

If you read. He said it didn't hold pressure at all. What does it matter if it leaked down. It didn't hold. Therefore it's bad. Kaput. Dunzo. Kicked the bucket. It's dead Jim.

 

[TurboABA]

OK. I'll give you my answer after he replaces it and it doesn't fix the problem... then you'll understand why I asked. I'll wait.

 

[DivineChaos]

I saw’ed the old actuator arm off. Bottom nut was bolt in too tight! I tried everything and ended up Stripped it a bit so I knew it…metal saw is the only way. That was a nightmare.

As far as I know the actuator is meant to hold vaccume. I'm sure you checked to make sure your vanes we're moving. Apologies for our resident know-it-all. Is there a difference between the two actuators?

 

[calimustang]

first of all... it barely moved. it was way too stiff.

I tested 2 other actuators in 2 other TDI's plus my old CR140 stock turbo, they were easier to move. I tested it with mityvac, all 3 held vacuum.

mine didn't. completely dead.

 

[calimustang]

OK. I'll give you my answer after he replaces it and it doesn't fix the problem... then you'll understand why I asked. I'll wait.

ok, do share away.

 

[DivineChaos]

ok, do share away.

It's also why I asked if the lever on the turbo moved freely. Or meant to. Hopefully you checked.