I laughed at the guy who said to use a heat gun on a seized turbo actuator, but he was right

For years, I was sure you had to pull the whole turbo unit if the VGT actuator was frozen solid. Last month, a guy at a shop in Tacoma told me to just hit it with a heat gun for a solid minute, then try the key. I thought he was crazy, but I was stuck on a 2012 Duramax and gave it a shot. After heating the actuator housing, I cycled the key and heard it click free for the first time in weeks. Saved me half a day of work and the customer a big bill. What's the most 'backyard' fix you've seen that actually works on these newer engines?

3 comments

3 Comments

shanel131mo ago

What temperature did you set the heat gun to?

hannaht291mo ago

No kidding, right? @shanel13, you don't set it, you just point and pray it doesn't melt.

victorb511mo ago

That guy in Tacoma is onto something. It's always the fix that sounds like you're trying to cook the part that actually works. I saw a guy free a stuck thermostat by tapping it with a socket extension while the engine was hot. Sounded like a caveman repair, but the thing just popped open. Sometimes the simple heat and beat method still wins.