Chevy Cruze Turbo Problems. How to Recognize and Fix Them?

In the US and international markets, the Chevy Cruze had a good showing. In this article, we are going to talk about the problems with the Chevy Cruze.

From the time it hit the market until it stopped production in the USA, this has been one of its most prominent issues.

There are turbocharger problems in the Chevy Cruze when the actuator pin on the wastegate malfunctions. This causes power to fall gradually until it becomes noticeable.

After it was launched in the US, the Chevy Cruze became a big player in the compact car niche, but it stopped production in the US in 2019.

It was being manufactured in other markets outside of the US.

The popularity of the Cruze can be attributed to its fuel-efficient design. It was good for budget-conscious individuals and families.

Compact cars aren’t as powerful as they could be. In a market where big engines are so popular, this is more felt.

They are not fast and struggle over hills. The manufacturers decided to use a turbocharger to give the car a bit more kick.

This solved the power issue but opened up a new challenge. The Cruze’s turbocharger system malfunctioned and this is what it happened to.

There are a lot of problems with the Chevy Cruze. It doesn’t happen on every vehicle, but it happens often enough to warrant attention.

Nature of Turbo Problems

Loss of power is the most common symptom of failure.

In different ways, this can manifest. You will most likely get a dash signal before you experience a physical performance improvement.

We’ll talk about these later. Weak or delayed acceleration can happen to you. The Cruze will delay or hesitate before responding.

A malfunction of the actuator pin in the wastegate is the most common cause of a Chevy Cruze’s demise. It will eventually lead to wear and tear on the blades.

You may experience abnormal levels of smoke coming out of your exhaust due to the malfunction.

How Can I Recognise Turbo Problems on Chevy Cruze?

We are going to look at how to tell if the problem you are having is a turbo problem or something else.

The first signs will be visible on your dash. As a check engine light will show up, this will usually show up.

It may come with a DO299 code alert. If you see this, then it is a problem.

It’s possible that the warning lights on the dash don’t come on with a loss of power.

You need to have it looked at as soon as possible, even if you are tempted to not take it seriously. Failure of the engine may cause it to burn oil.

You will see smoke coming out through the exhaust when this happens. When this happens for a long period, the oil may burn out and cause more damage to your engine.

Is It Possible to Fix a Bad Turbo?

People are often wondering if a bad engine can be fixed. To get a better understanding of how the mechanism works, we need to look at how it malfunctioned and how it was made.

When the wastegate is malfunctioning, the malfunction happens.

Transferring power to the engine and releasing the pressure when it opens is accomplished by the wastegate, which is responsible for holding in pressure when shut.

Pressure doesn’t build up leading to no power being transferred to the engine when the pins malfunction because the gate is no longer able to close.

People are wondering if it is possible to change only the wastegate. This is not possible at all. The wastegate is a part of the turbochargers.

It means that the whole unit needs to be replaced with a new one. To be done properly, this has to be done by a qualified mechanic.

Depending on your dealer, the cost of replacing a turbo unit can be as high as $2,500.

The manufacturer is responsible for the cost of the drivetrain warranty if the car is less than 100,000 miles.

Chevy Cruze Turbo Replacement Time

The Chevrolet Cruze has been on the market for a few years now. It will need some parts replaced eventually.

The turbocharger is a common part that needs to be replaced. You may be wondering how often you need to replace the Chevy Cruze with a turbocharger.

The rule of thumb is that you should replace your turbocharger every 50,000 miles.

You may need to replace your turbocharger sooner if you drive your Cruze harder than the average driver.

If you take good care of your car and don’t drive it too hard, you may be able to get away with not replacing the turbocharger as often.

If you don’t know when you need to replace your turbocharger, it’s best to go to a mechanic. If it is time for a new turbocharger, they will let you know.

There are some things you can do to prolong the life of your engine. Make sure that you use the right oil. The wrong oil can shorten the life of your turbocharger.

Cost to Replace a Turbo in a Chevy Cruze

Depending on a few factors, the cost of replacing a Chevy Cruze’s engine can be different. The model year of the Cruze is 2011.

The cost of replacement for a 2011 Cruze is likely to be less than the cost of a 2020 Cruze. The trim level of the Cruze has two factors.

The cost of replacement for a Cruze with the base LS trim level is likely to be higher than for a Cruze with the LTZ and Premier trim levels because the turbo is standard. The engine size is one of the factors.

The turbo is available in both 1.4 L and 1.8 engines. The cost of replacing the 1.8 L engine is higher when compared with 1.4 L engines.

The transmission type is considered the fourth factor.

The cost of a replacement for a Cruze with the manual transmission is likely to be higher than a Cruze with the automatic transmission because of the availability of both the 6-speed automatic and the 6-speed manual transmission.

The region where the replacement is being done is one of the fifth factors.

The cost of replacement for a Cruze in the Northeast region of the US will be higher than for a Cruze in the Southwest region of the US because of the different labor rates and parts prices.

The cost of labor and parts is included in this. The labor cost will be between $1000 and $1500, while the cost of the parts will be between $1000 and $1500.