P0243 on Saab: Causes, Symptoms and Fix Cost

Quick Answer

Not safe to drive

P0243 on a Saab 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

Connect a standard OBD2 adapter (Bluetooth LE on iPhone) to your Saab and Skanyx tells you what P0243 means on that engine, whether it is safe to keep driving, and what the fix should cost. Free on iPhone and Android.

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What does P0243 mean on a Saab?

The Quick Answer above is the generic definition. What follows is the model-specific detail for the Saab models that log P0243.

Saab 9-5 2.0 Turbo

2010-2012

Saab's workshop information for the 2.0 turbo petrol 9-5 (the second-generation car) sets P0243 when the engine computer sees an open circuit or a short to ground or voltage on the wastegate solenoid control circuit for more than 2 seconds. The computer then switches off boost control and limits the engine to mechanical boost only, so power drops substantially. The solenoid gets its supply on one terminal and its control signal on the other, so test both at the plug.

What causes P0243 on a Saab?

Beyond the generic causes listed on the main P0243 page, these are the patterns noted for Saab models:

Open or shorted wastegate solenoid valve
: Saab 9-5 2.0 Turbo
Open or short in the solenoid's supply or control wire
: Saab 9-5 2.0 Turbo

How to diagnose P0243 on a Saab with OBD2

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 on a Saab? (EUR)

Estimated repair costs for P0243 in EUR, compiled across makes. Expect Saab parts and labour towards the upper end of each range.

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.

These codes are often seen alongside P0243 or point to related issues, on any make:

Looking for the full P0243 reference (all makes, full diagnosis flow, complete repair cost matrix)? See the main P0243 guide

Diagnose P0243 on your Saab

Your car logged P0243. Skanyx reads it on a standard OBD2 adapter (Bluetooth LE on iPhone), tells you whether it is safe to keep driving, and breaks down the likely repair so you know the number before a shop quotes you. Free on iPhone and Android, and you do not need to be a mechanic to read it.