Exhaust flap motor actuator

29306 Views 57 Replies 22 Participants Last post by bigas0623, 6 d ago

2paczek

Discussion Starter · Oct 28, 2020

Hi everyone,
I heard the click noise sometimes from my exhaust flap and I think that spring has failed. The thing is , I’ve checked with the dealer and it’ll cost me round £300 to replace the whole motor. Now my car runs fine and this don’t trouble me much. Should I leave it or replace it what function does it have in my AMG Sport ( not performance) exhaust. Clicking is on idle not too loud.
car seems ok no loss of power from what I can tell. How do I check if it’s an actual issue with this actuator? I don’t know what to do. Would my engine etc be affected if I don’t change it provided it’s broken in the first place Thanks.

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Huey52

· #2 · Oct 28, 2020 (Edited)

These types of spring-loaded exhaust flaps are typically only activated on wide open throttle and are more about sound than performance (although some performance value, again at WOT).

Sometimes all that's needed is cleaning-lubrication of the mechanicals on the exhaust. The actuator itself is easy to test by applying voltage to open and observing the spring-back when de-energized. Here's what the internals typically look like (a Brit-made exhaust btw, with an OEM Audi actuator

Auto part Engine

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2paczek

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 28, 2020

When you say activated on wide open throttle that assuming the actuator is not faulty in any way. I suspect my spring is gone in this actuator so what happens then at high rpm’? Would it be a chance of accidental not opening/ blocking? Can this affect my GLA45 in any way ? Thanks

Huey52

· #4 · Oct 28, 2020 (Edited)

If the spring is in fact gone bad then the secondary exhaust route should simply remain open, since the flap is spring-closed when not energized in WOT. It may be louder in normal driving but that’s about it.

Conversely if the actuator is gone bad then the secondary exhaust route won’t open on WOT so possibly slightly less performance (the other side assumed being ok).

Again, it's more common in these systems to have the flap mechanism fouled and some judicious WD-40 may resolve.

Either way no system damage, just not optimal.

Steiner

· #5 · Oct 28, 2020

www.glaowners.com

wierd noise at startup

Beginning yesterday morning my '15 started making ticking noises just a few seconds after startup. It's always 5-7 loud, distinct ticks coming from the back of the car. No CEL's on the dash yet but something isn't right. My best guess is a fuel pump going out. I'll have to call the dealership...

www.glaowners.com

www.glaowners.com

Had the same issue a few months back. Wasn't a great experience. Even though the car is under warranty the exhaust flap actuator apparently is not. I ended up grabbing my ankles to the tune of about $1K in parts and labor. The dealership had been trying to sell me pre-paid maintenance for months so I told him I'd prepay for a service A and service B if both visits were discounted by 50%. Parlay reached. Still bitter about that flapper though.

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Whiterabbitt

· #6 · Oct 30, 2020 (Edited)

2paczek said:
Hi everyone,
I heard the click noise sometimes from my exhaust flap and I think that spring has failed. The thing is , I’ve checked with the dealer and it’ll cost me round £300 to replace the whole motor. Now my car runs fine and this don’t trouble me much. Should I leave it or replace it what function does it have in my AMG Sport ( not performance) exhaust. Clicking is on idle not too loud.
car seems ok no loss of power from what I can tell. How do I check if it’s an actual issue with this actuator? I don’t know what to do. Would my engine etc be affected if I don’t change it provided it’s broken in the first place Thanks.

You're fine. You check it by pulling the motor, it's 3 bolts under the exhaust. it'll look just like Huey's picture except the clock spring will be snapped in two.

Dealer will not sell you the $5 spring. Only the $300 motor. It was the one and only repair on my car done under warranty at 29k.

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Shadofax

· #7 · Oct 30, 2020 (Edited)

Any part numbers associated with issue? My 2015 had an exhaust flap actuator failer not that long ago, I actually notice no noise difference, and I think it was replaced no charge, I may have still been under warranty. I'll go see if my invoice shows what failed and what part number(s).

Invoice from Dec. 2018 with 19.7k miles says:
Codes pulled - Exhaust actuation non responsive, P13C273, P13C271, P13C270, P13C272 test of exhaust flap, inspection of connector ok, voltage ok, actuator removed, broken spring

Matt65

· #8 · Nov 6, 2020

Hi. I had my spring broke also. The amg actuator and spring cost 350 euros. I bought a Audi RS3 actuator 130 euros. Exactly the same thing.

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caug

· #9 · Nov 6, 2020

wow thats strange, i would just use the spring from audi

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Matt65

· #10 · Nov 6, 2020

My spring was broken. But my actuator was bad also. I change both and it's working well.

Matt65

· #11 · Nov 6, 2020

Audi/vw reference is 4h0133246j

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Whiterabbitt

· #12 · Nov 6, 2020

good find.

At least on MB side, they won't sell just the spring. Not sure if VW will sell just the spring.

MeicalNissyen

· #13 · Nov 7, 2020

Matt65 said:
Hi. I had my spring broke also. The amg actuator and spring cost 350 euros. I bought a Audi RS3 actuator 130 euros. Exactly the same thing.

Great find!
this kind of data is what forums are for.

thanks for the research
More of this, and mebbe some day we can get a dedicated "how to" section.
it is vital to the useful ness of the data that it be correlated and stored in an easy to find place

Like this,..... for example. Mazdaspeeds.org, The New Era in Mazdaspeed, CX-7 & Ecoboost Forums!

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Huey52

· #14 · Nov 7, 2020

Alas Audi will only sell the complete actuator, but at least it’s less expensive than the similar Benz.

Whiterabbitt said:
good find.

At least on MB side, they won't sell just the spring. Not sure if VW will sell just the spring.

Matt65

· #15 · Nov 7, 2020

Yes . Nobody sale the spring alone.

Like I said. Mercedes actuator with spring is 350euros . Audi/vw ref for exactly the same thing 100 euros.

2paczek

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 23, 2020

Whiterabbitt said:
You're fine. You check it by pulling the motor, it's 3 bolts under the exhaust. it'll look just like Huey's picture except the clock spring will be snapped in two.

Dealer will not sell you the $5 spring. Only the $300 motor. It was the one and only repair on my car done under warranty at 29k.

Loud exhaust annoys the crap out of me, so it was necessary. If it broke tomorrow, I would pay the 300. But it didn't hurt anything, it just snapped and kept open. I tried to force it closed, and a high rev was enough "wind" pressure to make it open up again, so it was just permanently open. Very annoying in "C" mode.

I wouldn't worry about damage, just the annoying noise. Sounding like a modified civic when driving 20 mph down the road. Up to you to fix or not.

2paczek

Discussion Starter · #17 · Nov 23, 2020

Thanks mate

Jimbo45

· #18 · May 28, 2021

My MB was getting the flap CEL error. Spring was fine. I replaced the unit with the Audi unit and spring, all is well now. I do have the old unit and GOOD spring if someone wants to buy it, otherwise ill list it on eBay and save someone from having to buy a whole new unit.

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Vladds

· #19 · May 30, 2021

the spring looks to be easily tack welded, if the broken piece doesn't drop off.

firx11

· #20 · Jun 3, 2021

2

i pulled the actuator today on my '15 gla45 and found this:

i knew it was bad when the nuts holding it on looked like this:

i went ahead and ordered the audi actuator, lol. thanks in advance for finding that - didn't want to have to give up a left kidney for the mb one.

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