So I seen AaronCakes guide to testing the actuators, putting a dab of grease on them and driving it and seeing if it smears. Problem is every grease I have just returns back to its original position when released, leaving no evidence of having moved.

Can you not just test them by manually pressing the rod down? Or is it possible that they still turn while being manually moved, but don't turn when operated by the engine? Before I waste my time going on any more drives trying to find a grease that smears when the rod is depressed.

Id assume if you can manually move the rod, that the actuators must be good. I could be wrong though, probably am.

 

I put some touch up paint on the shaft and manually pressed it down 6 times to get a baseline as to what it should smear like. Threw some on the other actuator and drove it hard for a bit, probably 10+ pulls past 4k. Didn't look the same, pressed that one down about 6 times and it started to smear. I think my ports are stuck lol.

 

i push them by hand, if i can't do that its stuck for sure. i've had the shaft stick to the actuator, so fix was easy

 

Its worth noting that the actuators require a fair amount of force to press down, there's definitely some resistance in pressing it down. Should they turn fairly easily?
I seen in one thread that the air pressure required to operate them is so low, youre better off blowing into the hose rather than using an air gun. As they are right now I cant imagine being able to blow into the hose and have them operate. I suppose ill try that once the car cools down and I can get it back in the shop.

Arent these exhaust backpressure operated? I had to gut my precats and my car because they were all melted out, could that be causing them to not open?

 

if you have the actuator off the shaft should spin pretty freely, the actuator is hard to push. it takes about 2.75psi to make it move the whole way, i can't do that... you can also put a pressure gauge inline with the 6 port hose, and see what it does. you need 2.75psi, but more than 3psi and you have too much back-pressure