was just told by the vw tech that my waste gate is stuck / bad. what are my options from this point? He doesn't have the free time to work on it as a side job, and the dealer wants to replace the entire turbo. is that my only option? can i pick up a different waste gate and install that instead?

 

wastegates are just c-clipped at the flapper and bolted to the housing. You can a used turbo online, used wastegate, or a new forge wastegate. Only thing is did you overspin the turbo with it being stuck? If you think you did, i would just spend the $150 for a good used turbo

 

how do i know if i overspun the turbo with it stuck?

i just know that right now the car is barely drivable and limps around making zero boost and drives slower than a geo metro.

im tossing codes:
4 Faults Found:

17524 - Oxygen (Lambda) Sensor Heating: B1 S1: Open Circuit
P1116 - 35-00 - -

17511 - O2 Sensor Heating Circ Bank1 Sensor 1 Output too Low
P1103 - 35-00 -

17704 - Error in Mapped Cooling System (Check Temp-Sensor and Thermostat)
P1296 - 35-00 -

17964 - Charge Pressure Control: Negative Deviation
P1556 - 35-00 - -

 

If your not building psi, then you cant overspin the psi. If it was stuck closed, you are fine. You turbo should be fine if it was stuck open. It not building psi like it should would set off other codes. Now you have to pick what solution is best for you.