P0246–P0250 Turbocharger Wastegate Solenoid A High
The ECU has logged a fault on P0246. The definition below is the exact wording the standard uses for this code.
Can you drive it? The engine light will stay on and the car may run in a reduced-power mode. Read the freeze-frame data to see the conditions the fault was logged under.
Which code is which
Same fault, different cylinder or bank — diagnosed the same way. Several set together usually means one shared cause.
| Code | Definition | Severity |
|---|---|---|
P0246 | Turbocharger Wastegate Solenoid A High | Investigate soon |
P0250 | Turbocharger Wastegate Solenoid B High | Investigate soon |
The definition
P0246: Turbocharger Wastegate Solenoid A High.
P0246 is a powertrain code (the engine or gearbox), defined by the SAE standard - it means the same thing on any make of car, and any generic OBD-II reader will decode it.
What to check first
Cheapest and fastest checks first:
- Read the freeze-frame data stored with the fault - engine speed, load and temperature at the moment it logged tell you whether this happens cold, hot or under load.
- Check the connector at the part for corrosion, and that it is fully seated.
- Clear the code and see whether it returns, and under what conditions.
What actually causes this on a VAG
Same valve as its "low" sibling: the boost pressure control valve, N75 in VAG naming, which meters vacuum or pressure to the wastegate actuator. "High" means the ECU saw the control line sitting up near supply voltage rather than switching as it should. In practice that most often means the circuit is broken somewhere rather than shorted. Expect reduced boost and a noticeably flat car.
Most likely causes, in order
- Connector unplugged, half-seated or a pin pushed back. Overwhelmingly the first thing to check if anyone has recently had the intake, turbo or front end apart. The plug must click home; gently tug each wire at the back of the housing to check no pin has backed out.
- Broken or corroded wire between ECU and valve. An open circuit anywhere along the run gives exactly this reading. Flex the loom by hand along its length, paying attention to where it crosses from the body to the engine, since that section moves every time the engine rocks.
- Solenoid failed open internally. The winding has gone open circuit, so the ECU can never pull the line down. It looks identical to a broken wire until you test at the valve's connector - looking at the valve itself tells you nothing.
- Short to a positive supply. Less common than a simple break, usually caused by a chafe against another live wire or by badly done previous repairs. Look for aftermarket wiring, taps or scotch locks anywhere near the engine loom.
Worth knowing: "High" on these circuits nearly always means open circuit rather than a dead component. Check the connector is properly clipped home before spending anything. If the car has just been in for intake, turbo or intercooler work, the plug that was disturbed during that job is the prime suspect.
Reading the code is the easy part
A code names the circuit that complained. What tells you why is watching the sensor behind it while the engine runs — and that is where a code reader stops and a diagnostic tool starts.
VAGPULSE reads every module in a VW, Audi, Skoda or SEAT — not just the engine — shows the live measuring blocks behind this fault, gives you the freeze-frame conditions it was logged under, and clears it once you have fixed it. It also does what a generic OBD reader cannot on a VAG: service resets, coding, adaptations, and Stage 1–3 flashing with your original file saved first.
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Common questions
What does P0246 mean?
P0246 means Turbocharger Wastegate Solenoid A High. It is logged when the ECU sees this circuit outside its expected operating window.
Can I drive with P0246?
The engine light will stay on and the car may run in a reduced-power mode. Read the freeze-frame data to see the conditions the fault was logged under.