P0243 – Turbocharger (TC) wastegate regulating valve A circuit malfunction
| Code | Fault Location | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|
| P0243 | Turbocharger (TC) wastegate regulating valve A circuit malfunction (Buy Part On Amazon) | Wiring, TC wastegate regulating valve, ECM |
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Table of Contents
- What Does Code P0243 Mean?
- Where is the P0243 sensor located?
- What are the common causes of code P0243 ?
- Get Help with P0243
What Does Code P0243 Mean?
OBD II fault code P0243 is a generic code that is defined as “Turbocharger (TC) wastegate regulating valve “A” – circuit malfunction, and is set when the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) detects a malfunction in the control and/or signal circuit of the valve that regulates the operation of the turbocharger wastegate.
The sole purpose of a turbocharger is to compress the intake air the engine uses to increase power delivery and improve fuel economy, particularly on small-displacement engines. As a practical matter, a turbo charger consists of two chambers that are separated by a metal division- one chamber containing a turbine wheel, and the other containing a compressor wheel that is attached to the turbine wheel with a shaft that passes through the division. The turbocharger is therefore a self-contained assembly that is attached to the engine in such a manner that the exhaust gas exiting the engine has to pass through the chamber containing the turbine wheel.
In terms of operation, the exhaust gas that exits the engine serves to drive the turbine wheel, which then drives the compressor wheel that is attached to the other end of the shaft. As the engine speed increases, the volume and velocity of the exhaust gas also increases, thereby increasing the speed of the compressor wheel to the point where the intake air is highly compressed by the compressor wheel before it enters the engine. This is known as the “boost pressure”, which has to be controlled to prevent engine damage caused by over boost conditions.
While design specifics of these control measures vary slightly between manufacturers, the most common such measure involves dumping excess pressure into the exhaust system via a controllable valve that is built into the turbocharger casing, and which is known as a “wastegate” that can be controlled either electronically, or with a system that uses engine vacuum.
Regardless of the actual control mechanism though, the PCM obtains input data either from a dedicated boost pressure sensor, or from the MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor. In both cases, the resistance of the sensor changes in response to changes in the boost pressure, which changes the PCM then interprets as actual pressure values. Thus, when the PCM detects a pressure value that approaches or exceeds the maximum allowable boost pressure, it activates a control valve/mechanism that opens the wastegate to dump excess boost pressure into the exhaust system.
In a fully functional boost control system, the PCM will activate the wastegate control valve/mechanism continually, and to varying degrees in order to maintain the boost pressure at the optimum level (for that particular application), taking into account the engine speed, throttle position, throttle pedal position sensor, rate of throttle movement, and several other values such as intake air temperature, among others.
Thus, if the PCM detects a malfunction in the turbocharger wastegate control valve’s control and/or signal circuits, it recognizes that it cannot control the boost pressure effectively, if at all, and it will set code P0243 and illuminate a warning light as a result.
Where is the P0243 sensor located?
The image above shows the location (circled) of a typical wastegate in a typical turbocharger. The linkage/control arm at the top of the frame (arrowed) connects to an actuator that is controlled by the PCM via a control valve in the case of a vacuum operated actuator, or to a stepper motor that is controlled electronically. In both cases, the actuator will be located on, or close to the turbocharger, but note that on vacuum operated systems, the actual vacuum control valve may be located some distance away from the turbocharger.
Note that due to the large number of boost control system designs in use today, it is important to refer to the repair manual for the affected application to locate and identify all turbocharger-related components correctly to avoid misdiagnoses and the unnecessary replacement of parts and components, some of which can be very expensive.
What are the common causes of code P0243 ?
Some common causes of code P0243 could include the following-
- Damaged, burnt, shorted, disconnected, or corroded wiring and/connectors in the turbocharger wastegate control valve’ control/signal circuits
- Split, dislodged, degraded, or hardened vacuum hoses/lines
- Defective wastegate control valve
- Defective boost pressure sensor
- Defective MAP sensor
- Defective wastegate actuator – both vacuum and electrically operated
- Defective vacuum check valves
- Failed or failing PCM, but note that this is a rare event and the fault must therefore be sought elsewhere before any control module is replaced.
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Bekomme den Fehler p0243 und p0299. Vorglülampe blinkt auf sobald der Fehler da ist. Fehler lässt sich in der Regel wieder löschen aber kommt meistens wieder beim Starten des Autos.
Was kann das sein und wie kann ich ihn beheben?
Translation:
Get error p0243 and p0299. The pre-glow lamp flashes as soon as the error is there. The error can usually be cleared again, but it usually comes back when the car is started.
What can this be and how can I fix it?
Hello Julian. This can be a bad glow plug controller/ glow plugs. An easy way to test the controller and glow plugs is to connect a test light to the battery positive terminal. Then unplug the glow plug controller, and probe each terminal of the glow plug connector to see if you have continuity to each circuit. Then, test each glow plug by placing the test light on the glow plug. This will tell you which ones are bad and which ones are good, if the test light doesn’t illuminate, that is a bad glow plug. Let me know how it goes.
Zudem geht ab und an die tankanzeige nicht. Wenn diese nicht geht, schmeißt der mir die wastegate Fehler nicht mehr rein. Das passiert nur wenn diese wieder funktioniert.
Translation:
Also, the fuel gauge doesn’t work from time to time. If this doesn’t work, he won’t throw the wastegate errors in anymore. That only happens when it works again.
I think the inop fuel gauge is a separate issue from the turbo boost performance code. The code can be a clogged air filter, leaking waste gate, or even damaged turbo.
Heißt, es kann auch am dpf liegen?
Weil wenn der Fehler kommt, blinkt die vorglülampe.
Hey. Yes it can be because of dpf recirculation. So a little update, I have found a Technical service bulletin for this issue. Apparently the rubber diaphragm gets ruined on these turbo recirculation valves. On your particular make and model, I believe it is called an exhaust recirculation valve. But I believe that may be the problem. It’d be good to remove it and inspect it for tears or inoperative parts. Best of luck, and tell us how it goes.
I am getting these engine codes p0243 and p2002 and my car is getting sluggish what does that mean and what do i do to fix it please?
Hello Tony. It sounds like you have an underboost issue. The wastegate controls how much excess boost gets blown off. If it is stuck open, or cracked in any way, this drivability symptom will happen. I’d get your wastegate looked at or any vacuum leaks taken care of. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Este código genérico de problemas de diagnóstico del motor / tren motriz generalmente se aplica a los motores turboalimentados y sobrealimentados, incluidos, entre otros, ciertos vehículos Audi, Ford, GM, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, VW y Volvo. El Módulo de control del tren motriz (PCM) controla la presión de sobrealimentación en un motor a gasolina o diésel al controlar el circuito de salida al solenoide de control de la presión de descarga / sobrealimentación “A”.
Cada vez que haya un problema eléctrico con este circuito que no pueda identificar de otra manera, el PCM configurará el código P0243. Este código se considera una falla de circuito eléctrico solamente.
Would anything to do with this code make the engine not start, the truck started up,ran for about 5secounds then shutt off,now the truck won’t start back up