X15 Turbo Actuator failure?

[SquareOne]

Wellll... an update on the reman actuator from {after-market turbo company} that I put on my International...
Made it about 20k miles before it the check engine light came on and I lost the turbo assistance when using the engine brake. These are the codes it threw...

Code 1897- VGT actuator controller (bad intelligent device) - SPN 641,FMI 12
Code 1894- VGT actuator driver circuit (Abnormal update rate) - SPN 641, FMI 9
Code 6432- VGT actuator Controller (Special instructions) - SPN 641, FMI 14

Basically once it started, nearly every key cycle produced a randomization of one of these codes.

I'm hoping this is just a fluke, but Yiyito over at YTS did say he uses only new Cummins actuators due to the remans having too high of a failure rate.

On another note, I contacted {after-market turbo company} and they immediately approved the warranty replacement and overnighted one. Just installed it today....we'll see how long it gets before another issue. Top notch service from them so far, but still sucks that the reman failed in just about 3 months.

[amermextrucker]

The company that sold you the reman actuator, where they out of Illinois?

[marek4792]

Elk Grove Village on Estes Ave.

[SquareOne]

(04-20-2025 )amermextrucker Wrote:  The company that sold you the reman actuator, where they out of Illinois?

Yes, they are... Marek4792 has the correct address

[amermextrucker]

(04-20-2025 )marek4792 Wrote:  Elk Grove Village on Estes Ave.

Ok well , I have an X15 now I know where not to go . You ever buy any turbo parts from that outfit in Minooka IL ?

[marek4792]

Nope, but the actuator it's easier to just buy from dealer, less headache.

[Stoneman]

(02-10-2023 )Josiah Harder Wrote:  

(02-10-2023 )Bengy88 Wrote:  Ok to start… is this truck demandated?

Second. In my experiences (I’m not saying it can’t) but I’ve never had a vgt actuator cause the exact issue you are describing…. I have had a turbo clogged with soot cause something really similar to this and 90% of the time when a turbo is giving issues the first thing to code is the vgt actuator. I know you said they checked the turbo but who’s to say they actually knew what they were checking. We will all tell you that 90% of dealership mechanics are just parts changers and just throw parts and guess. I know from experience…. I used to be a dealership mechanic. I would also be interested in the health of the circuits to the vgt actuator and the ecm it’s self. Just thinking out loud here. Some of us could tell you a little bit about what’s going on if you had insite hooked to it but without it we can only play guessing games.

Also. I wonder what the condition of the fuel pump is with over 500k miles on it. The problem you are having could be completely un related to the turbo or vgt and more fuel related.

Thanks for your thoughts. The truck is not deleted and youre right the turbo could be going bad since it has almost a million km or 600 miles and Im not sure I trust the thoroughness of the last Cummins shop I was at. I will get Peterbilt to inspect it well. I myself tried to inspect the circuit and couldnt see any possibility of it being bad since the whole circuit is well covered in tubing and secured to the engine with no way of rubbing through. It all looked good to me unless maybe the pins in the plugs are bad.

I guess its pretty hard to figure out from just a description and few video clips yeah. Do you know if its even possible for the actuator to completely close the turbo and choke the engine? Seems odd there would even be a setting to suffocate the engine like that. Maybe its a fuel pump is that something that should be giving a code though for low fuel pressure?

I made the mistake of thinking circuit should be good, just like you and it almost cost me $20,000 dollars. Finally out of pure frustration i checked the wiring myself and found 3 rubbed through wires, just under the turbo speed sensor connector.