heinzsky7

Spark turbo boost leak

I've got a 2018 Chevrolet Spark with a gasoline engine, and I'm running into a weird issue. The check engine light is on, and the car feels like it's lost a bunch of power. Acceleration is terrible, and there's this whistling noise that turns into a loud hiss when I try to speed up. Sometimes it even stalls at idle, and my fuel consumption has definitely gone up. It's done 92342 km. I'm thinking it might be something to do with the turbo system, maybe an actuator fault? Anyone experienced anything similar?

A 2018 Chevrolet Spark owner experienced a loss of power, poor acceleration, a whistling noise turning into a loud hiss, stalling at idle, and increased fuel consumption, suspecting a turbo system issue. The symptoms suggested a boost leak, likely due to a defective boost pressure actuator or electrical bypass valve. After consulting with others, the owner confirmed the issue was a faulty electrical bypass valve, which was replaced, resolving the problem and restoring the car's performance.

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4 comment(s)

Sounds like a boost leak to me! That whistling and hissing are classic signs. An actuator valve could definitely be the culprit, especially with the reduced power and poor response. Is the noise constant, or does it only happen when the turbo is supposed to be kicking in?

Good call on the boost leak! The noise definitely gets worse when I accelerate, so I think it’s when the turbo is trying to do its thing. Could it really be just a defective electrical bypass valve, or is there anything else I should be checking before I start tearing things apart?

While it could be something else, those symptoms – combined with the boost-related noise – really point towards a boost pressure actuator issue, especially on a Spark. Given the mileage, it's not unexpected. I'd recommend getting it properly diagnosed at a workshop; they can confirm the fault and give you a solid repair estimate. But yeah, brace yourself for an actuator valve replacement. It's a common issue, sadly.

Thanks a lot for the insight! I took it to a local garage, and you were spot on. The electrical bypass valve was indeed defective. Got it replaced, and the car is running like new again. Total cost was around 250€, so not too bad. Really appreciate the help!

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CHEVROLET

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SPARK