Exhaust valve actuator replacement

[Rossida92]

I own an AWE switchpath exhaust and recently, the passenger side motor/actuator died cause the valve to be constantly stuck in the closed position and the driver side to cycle open and closed. After contact with AWE, I was told I can buy and oem motor which I did. After installing the new motor, one valve now opens while the other closes. I tried reinstalling the motor and adjusting the valve to be open but no matter what I seem to do, it constantly just keeps going into the opposite of the other valve. Does anyone have better knowledge as to how I can reset these? I’ve tried unplugging one at a time and changing the setting but nothing works. At this point, I plan to unplug the one side and just leave it open.

[Dsobczak]

[QUOTE=Rossida92;15045626]I own an AWE switchpath exhaust and recently, the passenger side motor/actuator died cause the valve to be constantly stuck in the closed position and the driver side to cycle open and closed. After contact with AWE, I was told I can buy and oem motor which I did. After installing the new motor, one valve now opens while the other closes. I tried reinstalling the motor and adjusting the valve to be open but no matter what I seem to do, it constantly just keeps going into the opposite of the other valve. Does anyone have better knowledge as to how I can reset these? I’ve tried unplugging one at a time and changing the setting but nothing works. At this point, I plan to unplug the one side and just leave it open.[/QU

Here is what I would try.

1. Leave the new motor unplugged, and make sure the valve is opened.
2. Put the car in Dynamic and then, Sport to ensure the side you didnt change is open.
3. Turn the car off while its still in Dynamic + Sport.
4. NOTE - The above action is how you would normally set the car up to unplug both the values and have them open all the time.
5. With the car off, and both valves open, I would then plug in the new motor.
6. I would then turn the car on but NOT start it. Let the car do its normal stuff till all the lights on the dash are off (this will allow the ECMs to do their thing to include, seeing the feedback from the values)
7. I would then start the car and let it warm up. ( if the valves are plugged in and the normal operation code is functioning correctly, the valves will stay open until the cold start fuel map times out)
8. NOTE - if the car is cold and has not been running, the fuel map tables will tell the ECMs to add more fuel to get the car to "proper operating paramotors". during this time, the valves are open to allow the increased exhaust space to move. Once this "command" is done and the car is at normal idle, the valves will adjust to the car now being in Dynamic mode. (this is the default mode the car should be in b/c you set it to Dynamic and then Sport before you shut it off)
9. I would then cycle the drive modes to see if this worked.

My thought driving the above tasks and notes is, you are setting the car up to start back up in the correct function that you would if everything was operating correctly.

If this doesn't work, I would repeat the first few steps HOWEVER, I would plug the new motor in BEFORE You shut the car off while its in Dynamic Sport and then complete the rest of the list.

I don't know enough about electronics but, some motors do operate in the apposing direction depending on the polarity you apply, maybe you'll have to look into that b/c the wiring pins are backwards.

Best of luck.

[Rossida92]

I followed your steps but since I have the Bluetooth controller, I had to make a few changes to the steps. I got them to sync at one point after unplugging and plugging it back in afterwards. The problem now is it reverts that sync for some reason. I can get both of them to be closed at the same time. The moment I open , the driver side opens and stays open. The passenger side opens, closes, opens then closes and stays closed. It’s like it double cycles. I’m waiting to hear back from AWE. I was told oem motor is what works but the one I pulled off the exhaust is not oem. Part number is S1150004011D. I wonder if the circuit board is telling it to do something different from the other motor… I can’t figure this out but probably will just unplug it and say screw it

[CookieHas]

Same here AWE switchback exhaust. My exhaust actuator went bad and I tried to replace it it with an OEM one. turns out that only one side uses the B9 S4 OEM actuator The other side uses and Audi actuator but from a different model they open in opposite directions not saying this is your exact fix but this is what works on my B9. Look into it. I didn't record the part number but I'll see if I can pull numbers off the ones I have and post up for you

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Audizine Forum mobile app

[Rossida92]

I can get them to be in the same state as in open at the same time by unplugging the one side and then manually opening the other. I would think since the signal is sent, it would then be in sync but for whatever reason, the one I plug in opens, closes, opens, closes and stays closed. It’s like it runs through the process of trying to learn the open and closed spots but doesn’t end in the correct position. I just unplugged the motor and will run it open since this is just a pain and a waste of money.

[slyter485]

Just curious, how many miles do you have on your exhaust? I keep going back and forth between the Switchpath and the touring (had the AWE touring on my previous B8 and was super happy). I feel like more of these posts are popping up with switch motor issues and needing to lube the valves, I'm kinda leaning away from the Switchpath.

[Rossida92]

I love the sound of the awe. I got the switch path to keep the factory like exhaust that had valves but wanted to control them. If I had someone else in my car, I didn’t want it to be loud, which is still really isn’t bad but still a nice plus. I probably have 35k miles on the exhaust. Bought it in 2020 and besides the motor, never had an issue.