Ask the Car People.SM


2010 Chevy Equinox Problems

2022 messages,  Last post on Jun 17, 2013 at 7:26 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Equinox Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Equinox, SUV

Messages Page 79 of 203

#779 of 2022 Oh Well problem after all by jrcket

Jan 25, 2011 (11:04 pm)

Kept my fingers crossed hoping no problems happen with my 2010 Equinox 2LT V6 which we purchased last March.
 
2 days ago I started the car up and while warming up the door locks went berserk locking and unlocking about 5 or 6 times. When I looked at the DIC it showed service stabilitrack and service rear parking assist.
 
Shut it down and waited for a few minutes and started it up again, DIC showed same messages (service stabilitrack and rear parking assist) with the check engine light and stabilitrack light were on the dash. Called OnStar and asked them to do a diagnosis and they found out that the transmission was not communicating with the engine control module. They asked me to shift to R and see if the indicator on the DIC showed the gear, I did and no indicator showed. I tried to rev the gas pedal and no response either. So the car isn't drivable had to be towed to the nearest dealer.
 
Dealer calls me up and said there is a switch on the transmission that was not working so the transmission can't communicate with the ECM. It will take 3 days for the replacement switch to arrive.
 
Arrrgh, not even a year and a switch goes out making the car undrivable. Good thing I wasn't driving with my kids when this happened! Oh on top of that I found out that the rear liftgate won't work either as I tried to retrieve my stuff from the trunk prior to towing
 
Sorry for the long post but I am seriously thinking of trading this car in even at a loss. I won't be comfortable driving it when i know a simple switch can leave the car stalled and in a possible accident.
 
Anyway, I gave GM a chance but its looking gloom right now.

#780 of 2022 Re: Oh Well problem after all [jrcket] by dmathews3

Jan 26, 2011 (4:33 am)

Replying to: jrcket (Jan 25, 2011 11:04 pm)
I doubt there is a car on the market that don't have a electronic (computer) controled transmission. There are millions and millions of cars on the road and most operate well. You just got a little bad luck. As emissions get stricker and stricker more and more electronics are going to be on cars. Only way around it is getting a old car from the 60's.

#781 of 2022 Re: Oh Well problem after all [dmathews3] by jrcket

Jan 26, 2011 (10:28 am)

Replying to: dmathews3 (Jan 26, 2011 4:33 am)
Well I don't doubt that everything now is electronic and there are alot of bugs that affect the cars. I guess I expected more from the Equinox because I own a 2002 Suburban which is a trouble free car, not one problem on it till today.
 
I guess I can chalk this one up to bad luck and wait and see if this will happen again

#782 of 2022 Re: Oh Well problem after all [jrcket] by colt_hero

Jan 26, 2011 (11:24 am)

Replying to: jrcket (Jan 26, 2011 10:28 am)
I bought my '97 Taurus wagon brand new at the beginning of '98. About a year or so later, the transmission started doing some weird shifting while my wife was driving it. Speedometer would drop to zero while cruising on the highway, cruise control wouldn't work, and the car would shift up and down erratically. After a couple of test drives, it happened for me. Check Engine light came on, code showed bad vehicle speed sensor ($35). Changed it myself and the car's been fine for 12 years now.
 
Same problem occurred with my Dad's '97 Taurus sedan, so it was a bad batch of sensors. It can happen with any car, but maybe some manufacturers have better quality control over the production of these sensors - any one of which can fail and degrade your vehicle's performance (if not stop it all together).
 
That's why I'm not a big fan of all the electronics they're putting in vehicles today. I think they've gone WAY too far already. OK, put the sensors in the engine to make it run more efficiently (if you have to), but what about things like that STUPID electronic touchpad on the liftgate of the Equinox. Now who's the IDIOT designer (or group of designers) who came up with THAT one? Totally unnecessary and doomed to fail. Not to mention that's it's awkward to use! An old-fashioned mechanical latch should've been installed. They last forever with little or no trouble and are easy to replace if they fail. But it MUST'VE been about the money (again)! It must've been less expensive to put the touchpad in (both in terms of part cost and installation time), and if it lasts 5-6 years, that's good enough because most people don't keep their cars longer than that.

#783 of 2022 Re: Oh Well problem after all [colt_hero] by gimmestdtranny

Jan 26, 2011 (11:57 am)

Replying to: colt_hero (Jan 26, 2011 11:24 am)
I see there are others who feel the same as I do. Glad to know I'm not alone on this. At least in the examples you just wrote.
 
The touch pad will cost less no doubt, but is also lighter which they are also trying to keep tabs on. The hatch on a Kia Forte i checked out a month ago, had something similar by the sounds of things. (I have not seen the Nox one) If you pressed it too lightly or slowly, it would unlatch but only part way! You had to be quite deliberate with the press. Plus they are always in a really dirty place. Who wants to have to get their hands or gloves that dirty to have to touch a pad? At least if they don't dry out in time, and are sealed welled, they may resist corrosion longer than a keyed latch.
 
I say bring back the cable pull, or button operated electric solenoid even if they do add some weight. The trunk lid 'pops' and usually u can find a cleaner place to open it the rest of the way with a finger on the inside edge where it is clean.

#784 of 2022 Re: Oh Well problem after all [colt_hero] by jrcket

Jan 26, 2011 (11:48 am)

Replying to: colt_hero (Jan 26, 2011 11:24 am)
Hahaha colthero, that is exactly how I feel. What the heck the TCM switch fails and I can't open the trunk.

#785 of 2022 Re: Oh Well problem after all [jrcket] by dmathews3

Jan 26, 2011 (2:59 pm)

Replying to: jrcket (Jan 26, 2011 10:28 am)
Good idea. Trading cars everytime you have a problem and you may be in debt as much as this country is

#786 of 2022 Re: Oh Well problem after all [dmathews3] by jrcket

Jan 26, 2011 (4:24 pm)

Replying to: dmathews3 (Jan 26, 2011 2:59 pm)
damthews3,
 
Who said I trade cars everytime I have a problem? In fact we have a 1997 E320 that we owned since new and a 2002 Suburban we owned since new. These two cars have been trouble free since we bought them. I mean no out of the ordinary problems, but we kept them up to date with all services.
 
Bought a new Equinox and a simple TCM switch going out causes undrivability- the car dosen't even have a limp mode to allow you to drive it to safety. Plus the damn rear hatch won't open and I can't get my tools out of the back.
 
So my friend I am sorry if I might contributedto the country's debt because I am considering a trade even at a loss. I believe as long as I pay my bills on time I am golden.
 
Joey

#787 of 2022 Re: Oh Well problem after all [gimmestdtranny] by colt_hero

Jan 27, 2011 (11:24 am)

Replying to: gimmestdtranny (Jan 26, 2011 11:57 am)
Seems like with the touchpad on my Equinox, I have to press it twice to get it to unlatch. I haven't completely read the Owner's Manual yet ... maybe that's the way it is, but it's awkward to use. It also says NOT to press on the pad after the liftgate is opened. Well, THAT'S pretty stupid. Your hand is reaching into this "pocket" to open the liftgate. What are you supposed to be doing ... grabbing the liftgate by the bottom lip?
 
Here's another stupid one for ya: Unlike the 2010, with the 2011 model they decided to package the power seat with the camera and remote start in what they called the "Driver Convenience Package". Wonderful! I don't want the power seat due to the height difference between my wife and I. Its an inconvenience, a nuisance, and with all the movement back and forth it could fail in a position where one of us could not drive the vehicle. So because of the IDIOTS at GM, I had to forego the camera and remote start.
 
The power seat should ALWAYS be a separately-added option. It should NEVER be bundled with other un-related options.
 
Still don't like the door lock button in the middle of the dash, either. I also can't stand keyfobs on my keyring - especially the MONSTER-SIZED one for the Equinox. WAY TOO BIG! I'm hoping I can get just a standard key for my keyring, but that'll mean using the center door lock button - which is inconvenient when I have to open the back door to take my things out before locking and closing the doors. Should've put the switches on the doors. That's where everyone expects them to be.

#788 of 2022 Re: Oh Well problem after all [jrcket] by dmathews3

Jan 27, 2011 (1:34 pm)

Replying to: jrcket (Jan 26, 2011 4:24 pm)
I never said you trade cars everytime you have a problem, my point was if you take your current attitude (getting rid of the E because of one problem) then going forward if you take that same attitude you will be so far in the red as you will never get what you paid for the vehicle so each time you lose more. This could be the only problem you ever have with it. I could see dumping it if you have had problem after problem but you aren't. I hope you keep and enjoy it for many years to come. I know I really like mine. I have had other G.M.'s with problems and one time dumped it after dealer couldn't fix it right but that was way back when they had price increases many times during the year and I got almost as much on trade as I paid for it orginally. I still stay with the Big 3 even though some don't think they are quality cars but I believe in the bigger picture and can't see substadizing another countrys government, schools and roads when ours needs it more.

Messages Page 79 of 203

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement