[QuonoS]

My wastegates are frozen shut. I can't even move the lever with my hand. What should I do? Do these things go bad often?

 

[John M]

If it still has the actuator attached, it's not supposed to move by hand.

If it's not attached, then it's weird as hell because you've somehow welded cast iron together.

 

[QuonoS]

Well, I should still be able to move it by hand, right? Its just a plunger with a spring.

 

[gliv]

The only reliable way to test is with a vacuum/pressure pump and guage. The common brand is MightyVac-about a hundred bucks and is essential to test cars.

 

[QuonoS]

Well, I noticed in the past that it really doesn't open up all the way, and just yesterday I think they got completely frozen shut because I'm generating a whole bunch of boost. I have a tire pump with gauge on it that I use to apply pressure. It always seems to work well. But I still think I should be able to move it by hand.

 

[maTT]

I can't move mine by hand.

 

[PROFILEVR4]

You shouldn't be able to move it by hand. What does your aftermarket boost guage(if you have one, if you don't this is a real good reason to get one)tell you. If they were frozen shut, you'd boost really high and blow your engine. If you boost guage is reading pretty normal(9psi-12psi) then I'd say it's fine.

 

[QuonoS]

I built an electronic boost guage. Its calibrated to be good for +-1 psi, which is probably a lot better than most analog boost gauges. After I thought they closed shut, the pressure in the plenum starts out about 20 psi and bleeds down to about 17-18. I haven't been reving my engine high in this state at all.