The wastegate opens up to prevent overboost. It is normally closed.

Your gauge never going into the white is an indication of a bad vacuum line. Take off the plastic cover in the throttle and take a good look at the vacuum tree. Make sure there are no problems there, one of the lines goes directly to your gauge.

Also check all of your intercooler piping, the connections must be tight.

Klaus

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Praying for Cynthia Amendt, heaven bound