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P0049: Turbocharger or supercharger turbine overspeed

The turbo is spinning faster than its safe limit; usually an air leak or a sticking wastegate or variable geometry mechanism is behind it.

Code P0049 at a glance
CodeP0049
SystemEngine and transmission
GroupP00xx, Air, fuel and emissions
TypeGeneric: it means the same on every make
Can you keep driving?Better not

What P0049 means

The ECU either reads turbo speed from a sensor or, on most engines, works it out from boost pressure and air flow. This code appears when the turbine goes past its safe limit. It usually happens because boost is not being controlled properly or because an air leak forces the turbo to work harder.

Most common causes

  • Loose or split intake or intercooler hose
  • Very dirty air filter
  • Split or loose vacuum pipes on the boost control solenoid
  • Sticking boost control solenoid
  • Seized wastegate or variable geometry vanes
  • Boost pressure or turbo speed sensor giving a false reading

Symptoms

  • Engine warning light on
  • Loss of power or limp mode
  • Louder turbo whistle than usual
  • Hesitation under acceleration
  • Smoke from the exhaust (diesel engines)

Can you drive with P0049?

Better not Only drive when you really need to and avoid full throttle: an overspeeding turbo can fail, and that failure can sometimes take the engine with it.

How to check it

Look over the hoses between the turbo, the intercooler and the intake: a loose one, or oil on the outside, is a strong clue. With a scan tool, compare actual and desired boost pressure while accelerating.

How to read and clear P0049 with Final OBD

Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0049 with this same explanation and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.

With Free you read this code with its short description for nothing, and clear it if the engine stores it over standard OBD. With Pro you get the full explanation, how the car was running when it was logged (revs, temperature, load) and clearing in every control unit.

Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before the ITV. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in the ITV and OBD.

Similar codes

P0049 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Audi, Fiat, Mazda, Opel / Vauxhall, Peugeot, Toyota. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.

What does code P0049 mean?

The ECU either reads turbo speed from a sensor or, on most engines, works it out from boost pressure and air flow. This code appears when the turbine goes past its safe limit. It usually happens because boost is not being controlled properly or because an air leak forces the turbo to work harder.

Can you drive with P0049?

Only drive when you really need to and avoid full throttle: an overspeeding turbo can fail, and that failure can sometimes take the engine with it.

How do you clear P0049?

With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0049 comes back.