you can run and set up an actuator without an amel valve but the boost is then controlled solely by the spring in the actuator rather than the ecu.

If Rand wants to bypass the amel valve to check it, simply take the vacuum pipe thats on the actuator and plumb it straight in to the back of the turbo, bupassing the valve. DONT FORGET to wind the actuator OUT (lengthen the threaded bar) to reduce the boost level first just incase its too high. If the boost is then steady, adjust the actuator to the correct level buy winding the adjuster bar back in (make the bar shorter. If it still over boosts then it must be a jammed actuator but that rearly happens.

Good luck