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Chevrolet Equinox Maintenance and Repair

1515 messages,  Last post on Nov 02, 2009 at 10:33 AM

You are in the Chevrolet Equinox Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Equinox, Electrical, Engine, SUV


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#1208 of 1515
Lunging forward by thatpricekid
Aug 20, 2008 (10:34 am)
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I have a friend who has a 2005 Equinox (bought new). She has had a problem with vehicle making a terrible sound when she puts the vehicle in gear. Last week, she put the car in reverse and it lunged forward and cut off. Dealer can't find anything, does anyone have a suggestion?
#1209 of 1515
Re: Warranty on repairs [grosloup] by staycee03
Aug 21, 2008 (11:10 am)
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Replying to: grosloup (Jul 12, 2008 7:15 pm)

Warranties usually last 1 yr from date of repair. How do I know? Well, as of just yesterday, I had radio #5 put into my '05 Equinox. #5 in the last 12 months, not 5 since 05. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. On top of that they are still trying to figure out why my car decides to sometimes start, and sometimes not. Grrrr! I only have 42k on it, for an almost 4 year old car, that's not bad.
#1210 of 1515
Re: Warranty on repairs [staycee03] by grosloup
Aug 21, 2008 (2:58 pm)
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Replying to: staycee03 (Aug 21, 2008 11:10 am)

Oh no! Dear Lord, poor you... 5 radios in 12 months. Ouch! I hope mine doesn't do the same? Mine starts well but sometimes the starter seems to over turn, like the engine has started but the starter is still turning and sometimes it starts normally, it kinds of freaks me out when it happens. Never own a car that was doing that except my Equinox.
#1211 of 1515
Re: Warranty on repairs [grosloup] by staycee03
Aug 21, 2008 (7:46 pm)
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Replying to: grosloup (Aug 21, 2008 2:58 pm)

Yeah, mine does the same thing. When I bring it in, they can never duplicate the problem, so don't know what to do to fix it. If it didn't look so nice, and have so much interior room, I would dump it.
#1212 of 1515
The Use of Cheap Gas Causes Starting Problems by jim_dandy
Aug 22, 2008 (1:31 pm)
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I had this happen a few times with the use of cheap gas. Low-grade gas can add clogging deposits to fuel injectors. This is a common issue with alot of cars out-there having fuel injectors and computer controlled starters. This is more of a maintenance issue, than an Equinox problem issue. Also, replace your Air Filter every 15,000 miles. Dirty Air Filter can cause starting problems.
 
Since the Equinox is as hi-tech as any other foreign car, it's "main brain" is the computer. There are alot of sensors from which it receives engine data, safety data, and vehicle data.
So with that information, the computer has to then make proper engine control adjustments to start.
With the correct & proper mixture it will start right away, unless there are clogged fuel injectors, which will cause poor starting, or "starter run-on".
 
Cheap low grade gasoline will slowly clog your fuel injectors even with 10,000 miles on a new vehicle. This is true with all newer vehicles, foreign and domestic, due to stricter emission standards. Cheap or bad gas can cause deposits and "totally" clog fuel injectors. (Very Expensive Repair!)
 
The solution to your starting problems are to use quality gasoline with detergent additives and high quality Fuel Injector cleaner like "Chevron Techron Injector cleaner" at every oil change.
 
I used one bottle of Chevron Techron Injector, my starting issue was Gone!
Now I use it as regular maintenance with oil change.
 
If your problem is bad, try two treatments.
 
Check out this link for high quality Gasoline Retailers:
-Top Tier Gas- www.toptiergas.com
 
I use only regular "Top Tier Gas" in my newer vehicles. At my location,little difference in price.
jd
#1213 of 1515
Re: The Use of Cheap Gas Causes Starting Problems [jim_dandy] by staycee03
Aug 22, 2008 (3:12 pm)
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Replying to: jim_dandy (Aug 22, 2008 1:31 pm)

I always use high test gas, regularly change the air filter. This is an electrical issue, not a fuel issue at least in regards to my car. I have had many other GM vehicles and have NEVER had an issue like this before in any other car. Thanks for the alternate ideas to help problem solve.
#1214 of 1515
Re: The Use of Cheap Gas Causes Starting Problems [jim_dandy] by packer3
Aug 24, 2008 (6:15 pm)
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Replying to: jim_dandy (Aug 22, 2008 1:31 pm)

I'm not a scientist, I worked part time for an unbranded family gas station for over 25 years until they sold the gas part of it. I did however get a good education, gas is gas no matter who refines it, it's all the same.
Now on the other hand each gas company uses different additives, which can make a difference in cleaning properties if anything.
Using High Test is a waste if your car doesn't call for it.
At the station I worked at over the years, I leased new cars and bought old cars and none of my cars ever had any problems.
The main key was that we changed the filters in the gas pumps once a month, and pumped out residual water build up in the tanks once a month.
One thing I highly recommend is is to never, never, get gas at a station if you see a tank wagon unloading fuel, that can be the beginning of some of your problems to come.
Most important change your fuel filter every 20,000 miles no questions asked and use the Chevron Techron that J Dandy recommended it's the best.
#1215 of 1515
Re: The Use of Cheap Gas Causes Starting Problems [jim_dandy] by grosloup
Aug 25, 2008 (9:51 am)
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Replying to: jim_dandy (Aug 22, 2008 1:31 pm)

I never, ever put "cheap" gas in my Equinox. It's a 2005 with only 24,000 milles on it and the maintenance is done according to owners manual. It doesn't overstart everytime, it did it maybe 20 times (more or less) in 3 years, but still.... it's not suppose to.
#1216 of 1515
The Use of Low Grade Gas Can Cause Starting Problems by jim_dandy
Aug 26, 2008 (2:52 pm)
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Sorry, didn't mean to offend anyone by using the term "Cheap Gas".
 
Unfortunately, even the more expensive gas may not have the appropriate additives.
  
Gasoline quality is an issue few people think about.
The formation of harmful deposits can be controlled by adding detergent-dispersants to gasoline, the most common of which is polybutene succinimide. Used with a petroleum carrier oil, detergent-dispersants help keep the intake manifold and ports clean. These chemicals are more effective than the carburetor detergents that were once used in gasoline, but they must be used at concentrations that are three to five times higher than the older carburetor detergents.
 
At the "High" end of the fuel quality spectrum are "Top Tier" gasolines. These fuels are recognized by the vehicle manufacturers as having the most effective additives and in the highest concentrations. Gasoline retailers must meet the high Top Tier standards with all their grades of gasoline (not just premium) to be designed as a Top Tier supplier. In addition, all the gasoline outlets carrying the brand of approved gasoline must also meet the same standards. Gasoline retailers who are currently on the Top Tier list include Chevron, Chevron-Canada (B.C. only), Texaco (Chevron supplied only), Conoco, Entec Stations, Kwik Trip/Kwik Star, MFA Oil Company, Phillips, QuikTrip, Shell, The Somerset Refinery and 76.
 
Unfortunately, fuel quality isn't something that is easily policed. Many states have programs in place to monitor fuel quality on either an ongoing basis or "incident specific" basis. Most are run by the state's "Department of Weights and Measures". Even so, the focus of most of these programs is to make sure consumers aren't being cheated at the pump and get the full gallon they pay for. Some programs also check fuels to make sure they do not contain too much alcohol. The specific density of gasoline can be field tested to determine its volatility and alcohol content. But testing octane and the amount and type of additives in the fuel requires expensive laboratory testing. So this type of quality testing is rarely done.
 
Most gasoline refiners don't want to sell the public bad gas because they obviously want repeat customers. Even so, they also know that deposit formation is a gradual thing that occurs over time. So if they cut back on the additive package to save a few cents per gallon, nobody is the wiser -- and least not right away.
 
The problem occurs when people buy the lowest priced LAC gas they can find every time they fill their tank. The low level of additives (or low quality additives) in the fuel will not be adequate to keep their engine clean, and sooner or later they'll start to experience driveability problems.
 
Worse yet, if a bad batch of fuel leaves a refinery and ends up in people's vehicles, it can cause even more serious problems. There have been instances where too much residual sulfur in a bad batch of gasoline has caused a rash of fuel pump failures.
 
Here are some resources:
 
Gasoline quality
 
Techron
 
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
jd
#1217 of 1515
Re: The Use of Low Grade Gas Can Cause Starting Problems [jim_dandy] by commuter10
Aug 27, 2008 (10:35 am)
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Replying to: jim_dandy (Aug 26, 2008 2:52 pm)

I completely agree with Jim Dandy. After finding out about Top Tier gas in the owners manual (and having gas related carbon buildup problems with a previous vehicle) I have used the brands listed on the Top Tier website almost exclusively in my 2006 Equinox. It starts and runs great. I have only had it turn over more than once or twice before it started a few times. The Top Tier brands are the way to go.
 
My Equinox has about 24,000 miles and had been very reliable.

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