I have a 2011 Cruze eco with a manual transmission and 150K miles. I was getting a bad smell, especially when idling after the engine was warm. Diagnosed oil leaking on cat and fixed it by replacing the oil cooler seals. Biggest job I've attempted on my own and the air is clean now. Heat is your friend when trying to break loose the bolts connecting the cat to the exhaust system, especially after 150K miles and 7 years!!!
Anyway, I'm now getting P0234. When I took it out for a test drive I took it real easy for a mile or so (<1800 RPM) but then ran a little harder for another big mile, then I tried WOT. I could feel the turbo kick in for a short time and then the power really fell off and I backed off the throttle. I thought that was strange but maybe just a bubble working it's way through. I drove the car to work the next day and again when I really got into the throttle I felt the turbo kick in and then back off and that's when the check engine light came on. Babied it back to the garage. I've confirmed the waste gate linkage isn't bent, the waste gate actuator spring retracts the linkage with good force and that the waste gate actuator linkage will extend when air pressure is applied to it (used a hand pump). The three hoses are connected and clamped to the Turbocharger Wastegate Solenoid Valve. The hard line is connected to the Turbocharger Bypass.
I have a repair manual for the vehicle but don't have the scan tool to run the tests (just a cheap ODB2 diag tool and the "torque" android app).
Any thoughts on how to diagnose?
Thanks,
Curt