So just bought a 96 850 turbo, but in order to pass emissions i need to replace the wastegate which is causing engine codes for the 02 sensor and MASS. Now my problem is i have not been able to find parts anywhere. Also i am wondering if the entire turbo could have been blown if the previous owner was running around without the wastegate working properly? Is there any way to test this, or even test the wastegate to assure this is the issue?

 

The wastgate on these cars is internal, unless its cracked or missing it will function. You need to do a pressure test on the waste gate acuator to ensure the actuator is working properly. Ive never heard of the actual waste gate going bad.

If your throwing a code for an 02 and a MAF, it could be the 02 and the MAF... Who told you it was the waste gate?

Have you cleared the codes to see if they come back?

 

well i know for sure that the turbo is not working correctly. the o2 codes are on both ends for high/low pressure, and the mass is also getting a code. i was informed that these issues could all be cause by the waste gate( which has a code for the solenoid) due to pressure not being released. Upon buying the car i found an actuator in the trunk which leads me to believe is was either going to be replaced or already had been at some point in the past.

 

Your mass air flow sensor is a seperate issue and has nothing to do with the turbo operation in relation to the problem you are describing. If you're setting a MAF code you should try to clean it and if that doesn't take care of the code then you likely need to replace it.

Oxygen sensor codes (O2) will have nothing to do with pressure. They will indicate a rich or lean running condition or will fail to respond properly or their heater circuits can fail. An O2 sensor can not sense pressure of any kind.

What makes you thing a bad wastegate can cause engine codes for the 02 sensor(s) and MASS (MAF).

"i was informed that these issues could all be cause by the waste gate( which has a code for the solenoid" Who was that ??
The wastegate is controlled by a vacuum diaphram which gets vacuum from a solenoid controlled by the engine management computer. Volvo refers to it as a BCS, boost control solenoid.
If you are setting a BCS code you may have a bad BCS but that doesn't indicate any wastegate physical problem only that the vacuum actuator isn't getting the right amount of vacuum and the solenoid might need to be replaced.

The purpose of the wastegate is to control the maximum pressure the turbo can build. It's not connected in any way to the functioning of the O2 or MAF sensors. It simply sends exhaust gas past the turbo instead of spinning it even faster. It's built into the turbos exhaust housing.

There is a procedure to test or set the wastegate. You apply a specific amount of vacuum to the wastegates diaphragm and adjust the linkage accordingly.

To replace the wastegate you would need to replace the exhaust housing of the turbo or are you talking about the vacuum actuator for the wastegate which is external and unbolts ?

It would be much more helpful if you included the actual code you are setting instead of your understanding of what you think it says as I think you may have been a bit mislead.

This is a video from IPD on how to adjust:
ipd Volvo Turbo 102 Tech Talk - YouTube

 

I don't know what's going on than. I was told by both places I went to that I had a heated 02 sensor as well. This whole turbo thing is new to me but these are the explanations that I received on how it could be affecting everything. But also can find a place that knows much of anything about Volvos yet. So with this actuator how would I got about testing it?

 

The other problem is no one seems to bring up actual Volvo codes so they all gave me Volkswagen codes saying its the same codes.

 

Opps, they are heated but they still don't sense pressure, only hydrocarbons to tell if the engine is running rich or lean on the upstream and catalytic converter efficiency on the downstream.

Did they give you the codes, the actual code number they came up with ?? You have OBD2 so even a cheap scanner will give you the code number. If you have the number(s) post them and one of us can try to pull them up for a Volvo instead of VW.

Where are you located, it's not shown.

"So with this actuator how would I got about testing it?"
If the actuator is bad it's because the diaphragm inside it is ripped and doesn't move the rod.
This is a video from IPD on how to adjust:
ipd Volvo Turbo 102 Tech Talk - YouTube

If you are talking about the BCS or solenoid I don't know the procedure for it. I'm fairly sure it's just an ON OFF control for the vacuum and the ECM controls when and how long it's on.

 

lets see.... if your getting maf and 02 codes replace the maf and 02's, simple as that..

Go to autozone, or discount and they will read the codes for free..... then post them here.

Does the car go into boost when you press the gas? If it does the turbo is working.

It sounds to me like these shops dont know Sh*t about volvo's and are trying to just throw parts at it..

Start by clearing the codes.... if they come back go from there...

oh and READ THIS>>>>>https://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-...266/#post45966

Where are you located by the way... Knowing your area we might be able to point you in the direction of a good volvo shop in your area