Hi, I'm new to the forum as well to diesels. I bought a 98 about 9 mounts ago & it has been great on the farm & daily driver. I picked up a 5th. wheel about 3 weeks ago & headed to the Dakotas & Colorado & Have had a heck of a time since. The trailer weighs about 7600 dry. The truck had little power & smoked most of the time and Fuel mileage was cut in half After reading on this forum for the last couple of days, I think I have learned a lot? The waste gate dosent seem to have any vacumn to it, most of the time.I dont have a vac. gauge, but ideling when I pull the hose off the actuathor ....No vac. I pulled the hose off the solinoid & the red hose from the pump is strong. When I plug that back in it starts making a rapid B.B.ratteling noise & then has vac. @ the sol.& actuathor? Do I have a bad solinoid? or some other problem? Thanks, Hope someone out there can help

Solenoid is bad replace it. Add a small spring to the wastegate arm will help hold the valve closed and boost performance a little.

Thanks Diesel Pro, I was hoping that was all. I can handel a $31 solinoid. The actuator is $330.00 from dealer & Parts stores dont have aftermarket. I will get this on tommorrow & hopefully be able to pull the 5th. wheel this weekend....Thanks again

Not a bad idea to check those vac lines either. My boss has a 98, and the hard plastic vac line was ribbed and chaffed where the wire loom over it wore it away.


If you get a vacuum gage, you shoud have 20" at vacuum pump, and 18" at the actuator. If you get less, your wastegate won't hold shut to give you the boost you need.