dTb_Vrs

I've read every forum post, guide, workshop manual etc and almost every single one points to the actuator not holding vacuum. Mines definately is. The "smart" actuator on this turbo takes the pressure and converts it to and electronic signal that is sent to the ecu, I think if I hook a vacuum pump up to it, pump it and then use a an ohm reader to check the voltage of the 3 pins/wires that connect to the sensor on the actuator. The problem is I have neither device nor the knowledge of how to use the ohm reader. I have contacted a gentleman local to me with vcds who said he was happy to help but I am awaiting another reply. Apart from the wire in the image I linked, the rest seem intact. Do you know if the car would be safe to drive in the meantime?. The glow plug is constantly flashing from startup and the turbo is not spooling as the rod on the actuator isn't moving whilst the light is active. I did disconnect the maf, the sensor on the actuator and the vacuum line to the actuator and scanned it and it was exactly the same. I read that the smart part of the actuator can be coded out so it relies solely on vacuum but it's out of my expertese.

I've had a look at the most obvious ones and they are all intact. I even changed the boost control solenoid. Ive had a vacuum pump with a gauge on the actuator and it holds vacuum. The problem started off intermittently then after a few days became permanent. At first it seemed random and became less frequent. Then I could hear the turbo spooling but then the glow plug light would flash and the boost would cut. Now the glow plug is always flashing, even after removing it via a code reader. I'm puzzled and my brain is fried trying to locate the issue myself. I dread paying the £72 hourly rate from the only garage I know that has vcds.

The goal is a race blue fabia vrs to keep the octavia company. I assumed the pd170 would be just as easy if not better to modify/tune as the earlier pd engines but my brothers fabia is sitting at 300bhp and for me to reach that in the octavia is about twice as much money and trouble. So a track/drag fabia and the octavia as a daily. That's the goal! Cheers Gaz

I will do just that. I was going to sell the alloys but a nice refurb, paint and wrap them in some winter tyres and I'll be on my way. It saves the new alloys being chewed up in the winter as well. Thanks for the advice

So, I've spent the last week scouring the forums, YouTube and PD owners club on Facebook for any similar faults. The fault started after a spirited drive last week. The glow plug light started flashing and then disappeared, slowly over the next few days the problem became more frequent and I noticed that whenever the glow plug light was flashing...the exhaust sounded a lot louder and the boost was either non existent or it would stutter. Fast forward a week later and the glow plug light is always flashing, even if I clear it with a generic code reader it just comes back. I have checked the vacuum lines and all seems fine. The actuator rod doesn't move on start up or when revved but it holds vacuum. And I can move the rod by hand and it springs back to its default position. There was no strange noises from the turbo and it was boosting beautifully beforehand. Can the actuator sensor fail but still manage to hold pressure as when I research the fault, it always leads to an actuator that doesn't hold pressure. I'm stuck now and after just spending a fair bit of money on upgrades/repairs I'm dreading another big bill. I found a wire that is going to the actuator has rubbed slightly but I don't think that could be the cause of the issue, is it possible?. I will link an image of the wire. Thanks for any help, I'm at wits end and just want my boost back. I can't afford a new turbo or to throw money at diagnosing it as times are hard at the moment. Cheers

Thank you very much! I'm happy to be here, it's getting nippy in the mornings but that warm welcome makes up for it. I've got some Bridgestone all seasons on at the moment but after swapping alloys I have the standard set just gathering dust so it may be a good idea to have alternating sets. Thanks again fella and I hope life is good considering the current state of the world.

Hey everyone, My name is Dean, I am 26 and I live in Central Scotland. I have live in the west Midlands, Dundee and I am now home again in West Lothian. I have 2 daughters and am a family man with a love for cars. Top speeds don't interest me much but the torque and acceleration is different story. I think that's why I tend to go for diesel cars. I've owned my mk2 octavia vrs for about a year now and I absolutely love it. My brother has always had a skoda fabia vrs and since I'm more sensible and family orientated I went with the Octavia. Which has been the perfect cart horse for the family and even more fun when it's just me in the car. I've always lingered on here and used the forum for troubleshooting and thought it was time I create an account and get involved a bit more. I have no experience with forums but I am on most of the owners clubs on Facebook and pretty active within the skoda community. My car is a race blue mk2 pfl vrs with the pd170 engine. It has a simple remap with, straight through exhaust, airtec induction kit, lowering springs, subtle decals and omanyt phase 2 r32 golf alloys powder coated in white. Anyway, thanks for having me and I hope I can help some people and absorb some knowledge from the resident gurus. Cheers