OBD-II trouble code
P0243: Turbocharger/Supercharger Wastegate Solenoid "A"
SAE J2012 APR2002: wastegate solenoid A. The printed pair is RepairPal's boost-pressure solenoid. The 34 kPa figure is one Ford pneumatic description, not a stepper motor.
Quick facts
- System
- Powertrain
- Category
- Fuel & Air
- Severity
- Medium severity
- Drivable
- Usually safe to drive short-term
- Repair cost range
- $206 – $241 (turbocharger boost-pressure solenoid replacement, parts and labor, RepairPal national average updated 3 September 2026; a MAP sensor, a hose, and a turbo are outside this pair)
- DIY difficulty
- Intermediate DIY
Browse every code in P0200–P0299, or start from the full code library.
What does P0243 mean?
SAE J2012 APR2002 names P0243 Turbo/Super Charger Wastegate Solenoid "A". It is the general solenoid row. P0244 is range/performance, P0245 is low, and P0246 is high. Section 3.8 assigns the letter. Solenoid B is P0247 and is not this part until the diagram says the calibrator used two.
Ford Tech Tips volume 2, number 2, 2020, describes a pneumatic wastegate solenoid that is free-flowing when it is off, so full outlet pressure reaches the actuator and boost is limited to about 34 kPa (5.0 psi). Fully energized, that solenoid passes no pressure and the article says the turbo can make its maximum. The same article then describes a vacuum-reservoir control and an H-bridge stepper as other designs. The 34 kPa sentence is the off state of the pneumatic solenoid in that article. It is not a specification for the stepper, and it is not a pass/fail voltage.
RepairPal's turbocharger boost pressure solenoid page, updated 3 September 2026, says the diagnosis starts with play at the wastegate control rod and the actuator, then a scan-tool command that vents boost. If the overboost remains, the MAP and the boost sensor are tested before the solenoid is replaced. The same page says older turbos are pneumatic without this solenoid, and some external wastegates put the solenoid somewhere else. A command that never moves the rod is not yet a failed coil.
GM PIP5812B cleans a frozen regulator solenoid for P0234 and P0299 on a printed model list, at 15–20 PSI (103 kPa). That bulletin does not list P0243. Do not start this code with that air test. PIP5495B's turbo-replacement paragraph is conditioned on P0299.
Common causes
- A pneumatic solenoid stuck so that it cannot pass outlet pressure when off, on the design the Ford tip describes
- An H-bridge stepper diagnosed with the 34 kPa pneumatic sentence
- A wastegate rod with no play, which RepairPal inspects before the solenoid is commanded
- A MAP or boost sensor that RepairPal tests only after the command fails to vent boost
- PIP5812B's freeze cleaning, which that bulletin attaches to P0234 and P0299 on listed models
- Solenoid B, which the SAE table numbers as P0247
Symptoms
- P0243 stored
- P0245 or P0246 stored, which are the low and high rows and leave this page
- A commanded vent that does not move the rod, on the RepairPal sequence
- No 15–20 PSI cleaning step, because PIP5812B does not name this code
Diagnostic steps
- 1.Confirm the code is P0243. Low and high have their own SAE definitions and are not proved by a mechanical rod check.
- 2.Identify the control from the diagram: pneumatic solenoid, vacuum reservoir, or H-bridge stepper. Keep the Ford tip's 34 kPa (5.0 psi) on the pneumatic off-state only.
- 3.Look for play at the rod and the actuator before the solenoid is replaced. RepairPal's sequence does that, then commands a vent, then tests MAP and boost sensor if the overboost stays.
- 4.Do not blow shop air through the solenoid as the test for this code. PIP5812B's 15–20 PSI (103 kPa) procedure names P0234 and P0299.
- 5.A coil resistance check, if the vehicle's chart asks for one, is done with the connector off and the ignition off. An in-circuit ohm reading includes the driver.
- 6.The printed pair is the solenoid average. A sensor, a hose, and a turbo are outside it.
- 7.Verify by commanding the vent again and recording boost. Do not watch the tool from the driver's seat.
Repair cost
$206 – $241 (turbocharger boost-pressure solenoid replacement, parts and labor, RepairPal national average updated 3 September 2026; a MAP sensor, a hose, and a turbo are outside this pair)
RepairPal's turbocharger boost pressure solenoid replacement, updated 3 September 2026, is $206–$241 (labor $75–$111, parts around $130). The printed pair is that national average. RepairPal says not every turbo uses this solenoid. The boost-sensor average is $236–$273 and is outside the pair. Diagnosis is $125–$183 labor and is separate. PIP5812B's 0.3 hr is warranty time on a different code list, not a second dollar price.
Estimate your repair
Run the numbers for your vehicle
Open the Repair Cost Estimator with boost control solenoid replacement preselected. Adjust labor rate and vehicle category to fit your situation.
DIY vs shop
This is an intermediate DIY job. It usually involves diagnostic steps, specialty parts, and some careful work in tight spaces. If you have the tools and a service manual or trustworthy video for your specific vehicle, it is achievable in a weekend. Otherwise, a competent independent shop will be faster.