Is the wastegate itself broken with P0243?

Not necessarily. The code covers the solenoid and its circuit. The wastegate or its actuator is checked after the solenoid, wiring and hoses have been ruled out.

Can I drive with P0243?

Gently, as far as a workshop. On many engines boost falls back to the low level the wastegate spring allows, so the car feels weak but is not usually at risk from overboost. Avoid towing and full throttle, and stop if the engine surges and then cuts power.

Is P0243 the same as the N75 valve code?

On many VW group petrol turbos the boost control solenoid is called N75, and a broken wire or a failed coil in that valve can set a wastegate solenoid code such as P0243. Other makes use other names, so check which solenoid your engine has before ordering a part.

How much does it cost to fix P0243?

Cleaning and reseating the plug is often free to 50 euros. A new solenoid costs 50 to 170 euros fitted, and wiring or connector repairs run 70 to 220 euros. A new wastegate actuator, needed only on engines where the actuator itself has failed, costs 140 to 500 euros.

P0243: Turbocharger/Supercharger Wastegate Solenoid "A" Malfunction

Quick Answer

Not safe to drive

P0243 means the engine computer has found an electrical fault in the circuit of the solenoid that controls the turbo's wastegate, the valve that limits boost: an open circuit, a short to ground or a short to voltage. The usual causes are a solenoid with a failed coil, a broken wire or a corroded plug, or a lost supply to the solenoid. Some cars show only a check engine light, while others lose most of their boost because the computer falls back to spring-only boost.

Severity: Moderate · Fuel System

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What does P0243 mean?

P0243 is a fuel system-related diagnostic trouble code classified as moderate severity. When your vehicle's ECU detects this condition, it stores P0243 and illuminates the check engine light.

Where it is on the car

Air filter
Turbocharger
Wastegate or boost control actuator
Intercooler
Boost pressure sensor
Throttle, intake manifold and engine

What are the symptoms of P0243?

If your vehicle has triggered P0243, you may notice one or more of these symptoms:

Check engine light on
Limp mode or a sharp drop in power under load
Boost that rises only to a low level and stays there
Power loss mostly noticeable at higher revs
Slow, flat acceleration when overtaking or climbing hills
P0299, P0245 or P0246 stored alongside on some engines

What causes P0243?

Here are the most common causes of P0243:

Wastegate or boost control solenoid with an open or shorted coil
: high
Wire broken at the solenoid plug, or a corroded or loose connector
: high
Loss of the supply voltage or a fuse feeding the solenoid circuit
: medium
Wiring harness chafed or heat-damaged near the turbo
: medium
Electronic wastegate actuator with an internal fault, on engines that use one
: low
Engine computer driver fault (rare)
: low

Is it safe to drive with P0243?

No - address this immediately. On many engines the computer stops controlling boost when this circuit fails, leaving the turbo on its wastegate spring alone, so power drops sharply, mostly at higher revs. The car is drivable gently as far as a workshop. Avoid heavy throttle, towing and full-load motorway merging, and if boost ever surges and then cuts out, stop and have it checked before driving on, because that points to a wastegate that is not opening.

How do you diagnose P0243?

Follow these steps to pinpoint the root cause of P0243:

Read all stored codes and the freeze frame. P0243 on its own points to the solenoid circuit, while P0299 alongside shows the engine also ran short of boost while the fault was present.
Find out how the wastegate is controlled on your engine: a solenoid that feeds pressure or vacuum to a wastegate actuator, or an electronic actuator. On many VW group petrol turbos the boost control solenoid is called N75.
Unplug the solenoid and look for a wire snapped at the back of the plug, green corrosion and terminals that have backed out. Wires often break right where they enter the connector.
Measure the solenoid coil resistance across its two pins with a multimeter and compare it with the manufacturer's value. An open circuit or a reading far off spec means the solenoid is faulty.
With the ignition on, check for supply voltage at the plug and check the fuse that feeds it.
Solenoid output tests, where the computer clicks the solenoid on command, need manufacturer-level software. A generic OBD2 reader can read the code, the freeze frame and boost readings where the engine reports them.
After the repair, clear the code and road-test under load, confirming that boost now builds past its old low ceiling.

How much does P0243 cost to fix?

Repair costs for P0243 vary depending on the root cause and your vehicle. Here are typical estimates:

Repair	Parts Cost	Labor Cost	Total Estimate	DIY Difficulty
Clean and reseat solenoid connector	€0–€10	€0–€40	€0–€50	Easy
Replace wastegate or boost control solenoid	€20–€80	€30–€90	€50–€170	Easy
Repair solenoid wiring or connector pins	€10–€40	€60–€180	€70–€220	Moderate
Replace wastegate actuator	€60–€250	€80–€250	€140–€500	Professional

Prices estimated as of March 2026. Costs vary by region, vehicle, and shop.

P0243 on specific vehicles

P0243 behaves differently depending on your vehicle. Select your car below for model-specific causes and known issues:

P0243 on Saab

Saab 9-5 2.0 Turbo

See Saab-specific causes & cost

These codes are often seen alongside P0243 or indicate related issues:

Common questions about P0243

What does P0243 mean?: P0243 means the engine computer has detected an electrical fault in the circuit of the wastegate solenoid, such as an open circuit, a short or a solenoid that does not respond. It points to the solenoid or its wiring, not necessarily to the wastegate itself.
Is the wastegate itself broken with P0243?: Not necessarily. The code covers the solenoid and its circuit. The wastegate or its actuator is checked after the solenoid, wiring and hoses have been ruled out.
Can I drive with P0243?: Gently, as far as a workshop. On many engines boost falls back to the low level the wastegate spring allows, so the car feels weak but is not usually at risk from overboost. Avoid towing and full throttle, and stop if the engine surges and then cuts power.
Is P0243 the same as the N75 valve code?: On many VW group petrol turbos the boost control solenoid is called N75, and a broken wire or a failed coil in that valve can set a wastegate solenoid code such as P0243. Other makes use other names, so check which solenoid your engine has before ordering a part.
How much does it cost to fix P0243?: Cleaning and reseating the plug is often free to 50 euros. A new solenoid costs 50 to 170 euros fitted, and wiring or connector repairs run 70 to 220 euros. A new wastegate actuator, needed only on engines where the actuator itself has failed, costs 140 to 500 euros.

Read our detailed guides

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