It's under the air filter housing. This just lifts off once you have disconnected the hoses.

However it is most probably the electric wastegate actuator which is behind the inlet on the turbo.
If you feel behind the turbo you can feel the flat bar that connects the actuator to the wastegate lever.
The linkage pivots can seize up and prevent the actuator from controlling the wastegate accurately.

You can remove the circlips and remove the connecting linkage which should be easy.

Otherwise you may need a new actuator. It is held on by 3 torx screws but access is a bit tight.

Hopefully it is just a stiff linkage.

PS the sensor on the duct is the boost pressure sensor, the one on the inlet manifold under the air filter is the manifold pressure sensor.

 

Farmergiles thanks, I found the sensor under the airbox eventually. I've read about the wastewater linkage but I would have thought getting rid of the code and the car driving like normal would rule that out, maybe not. I might replace the sensor under the airbag also

 

The actuator has a position sensor so the ecu can tell if a stiff linkage is preventing full movement but it could be the map sensor.

 

Thanks again, I'll give it a going over at the weekend, is it a case of removing and oiling/greasing up?

 

You can lubricate the actuator end, but the turbo end gets very hot, so rub the pivot with pencil lead after you've cleaned it up.

 

Hi all thought I would update on the EPC light, turns out the wastegate on the turbo has siezed and in turn the actuator isn't doing as it should be, to cut a long story short i need a new turbo. these are £900 from VW but i have bought a second had turbo from a Passat with 30k (2016) miles on for £270 delivered. wondering how difficult it would be to change, has anyone changed a turbo on the GTE?

 

VAG won’t sell you an actuator on their own, but it is possible to replace just the actuator.

They usually either seize like yours or the diaphragm splits meaning a vacuum can’t form.

I changed one on a mates Audi, got a recurved wastegate from eBay, but it was a pain to do on a transverse engine, very little access. Is the Passat engine still longitudinal in the GTE?

 

@farmergiles is your man, he did his about a month ago.

 

I have an actuator if this failed and your didn't get one with the turbo.

 

Thanks, The turbo i have bought comes with the actuator so i should be ok but will certainly keep this in mind. Did you replace your turbo or just the actuator?

 

£700 seems steep for a cambelt too.

 

What is the benchmark price?

 

Farmer, you were right again, the EPC light come on a couple of times while doing short trips, now the actuator has aligned and the light is no more. Stretched it's legs on the A1 today and all is good. Cheers to all for the advice, saved myself £1000 doing it myself

 

Hi mate what did you do in the end to fix your problems?