Noisy VW Taos Exhaust Points to Faulty Flap Actuator

Had similar symptoms on my 2018 VW Tiguan 2.0 TSI. The exhaust flap motor malfunction caused excessive noise and affected engine performance. The exhaust control valve was stuck in the open position, triggering error codes. The repair required replacing the entire flap motor assembly and recalibrating the exhaust control system. This was not a simple DIY job since proper diagnostic equipment was needed to reset the system. The faulty actuator can lead to more serious exhaust blockage issues if left unaddressed. Main symptoms matched yours: Loud exhaust noise on cold start, Error code stored in ECU, Inconsistent exhaust sound A specialized VW workshop had to perform the repair since it involved electrical components and specific coding. The exhaust valves needed proper adjustment after the new flap motor installation. While not the most serious repair, it should not be postponed as it can affect emissions control and potentially cause further exhaust system damage. The repair process took about 3 hours including diagnostic time and final testing. This is a known issue that often appears between 40000-60000km.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the exhaust repair on your Tiguan. Your symptoms sound exactly like what I am dealing with on my Taos. Would you mind sharing what the total repair cost was? Also curious if youve had any other exhaust system problems since getting it fixed? My local shop quoted me quite high, so Im trying to get a sense of the fair price range for this exhaust component replacement.

Following up on my Tiguan exhaust flap repair, I paid 190€ total for the fix, which included parts and labor. The mechanic replaced the faulty flap actuator and recalibrated the entire exhaust system. Since having it repaired six months ago, the exhaust noise has been completely normal and I have had zero issues with any exhaust components. The price you were quoted seems high compared to what I paid for the complete exhaust flap repair. While costs can vary, anything significantly above 200€ for this specific exhaust system repair would be questionable. The main expense is usually the new actuator and the programming time. The exhaust flaps are now working perfectly, no more loud cold starts or error codes. Make sure whoever does the repair includes proper recalibration of the control system after installing the new parts. A proper fix should completely resolve the excessive exhaust noise and prevent future problems with the exhaust valves.

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies. I took my Taos to a different mechanic who specializes in VW repairs and had the exhaust flap actuator replaced. The total came to 175€ which was much more reasonable than the previous quote. The repair process was straightforward, took about 2.5 hours total. They replaced the faulty flap motor and did a full system recalibration. The loud exhaust noise is completely gone now and the error code has cleared. The cold starts are back to normal quiet operation. Definitely glad I switched mechanics. The new shop did great work on the exhaust system and their pricing was fair. Been about a month since the repair and no issues at all with the exhaust flaps or any other exhaust components. The engine performance is back to normal too. Thanks again for helping diagnose the issue and sharing your repair experiences. Saved me from overpaying at my old mechanic.