GM Releases Fix For Chevy Equinox, Malibu, Trax And Cruze Charge Air Cooler Icing
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GM has issued a new service update for the Chevy Equinox, Chevy Malibu, Chevy Trax, and Chevy Cruze related to an icing issue for the engine charge air cooler.
The problem: certain units of the Chevy Equinox, Chevy Malibu, Chevy Trax, and Chevy Cruze may exhibit a condition wherein ice or sludge will accumulate in the Charge Air Cooler (CAC) or Closed Crankcase Ventilation (CCV) system while driving in extremely cold weather, or rather, 0 degrees Fahrenheit and below.
The hazards: If ice or sludge accumulates in the vehicle CAC or CCV system, it may result in a number of engine issues, including performance loss, an oil leak, incorrect boost levels, or various Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs).
The fix: to address this issue, a GM technician will install a TCV thermal wrap on the engine and, if needed, reprogram the Engine Control Module (ECM). A new turbocharger wastegate regulator solenoid valve may also be installed. GM technicians are instructed to remove the turbocharger wastegate regulator solenoid valve, test, apply the thermal wrap, and either recalibrate of verify the ECM programming, as well as clear any possible DTCs that may have triggered.
Affected components: vehicle CAC or CCV system.
Affected vehicles:
- 2016 through 2019 Chevy Cruze
- 2018 through 2022 Chevy Equinox
- 2016 through 2021 Chevy Malibu
- 2013 through 2022 Chevy Trax
Number of affected vehicles: it’s unknown at this time how many vehicles are affected by this GM service update.
Owners should: owners can contact Chevrolet directly with any concerns they may have using the contact information listed below. GM has stipulated that this service update applies to vehicles in dealer inventory and customer vehicles that return to the dealership for any reason.
Contacts:
- GM Service Update number: N222372590
- Chevy U.S. Customer Service: 1-800-222-1020
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My 2020 Chevy Trax is going to Chevy dealer for repairs today because I live in Wyoming consistently under -10 degrees daily during winter and I drive 30 miles to work on highway everyday. So my turbo sensor froze up and the whole boost doesn’t work..apparently does it every winter I’m happy gm finally made a fix for it.. I’ve owned this vehicle since day one and am now annoyed of fixing it every winter. Least it’s still under warranty.
Should have got a Toyota.
Hopefully they’ll get all the bugs out of this model before it gets discontinued.
The current gen Trax is already done. The Cruze has already been discontinued, and the current Malibu is done after the 2023 model year. The current generation Equinox is done after the 2024 model year. So they are basically putting a band aid on the issue just to get them to end of life, and then they will just keep applying band aids until the warranty on the cars are all up. Then it isn’t GM’s problem anymore, since a TSB/service bulletin isn’t a recall.
Its not getting discontinued. Its getting electrified.
Note the GMC Terrain is mentioned?
I meant to say “note the GMC Terrain is not mentioned”.: seems strange, same engine, same platform.
What about Canadian vehicles that are listed here?
What about 2017 Equinox, twice this winter the rear main seal has blown out because of this issue. And a friend who works at a Chevy dealership in Vancouver has told me that this has been known since back in 2010 and they have done nothing. Also a problem with paint pealing on the hood. They just hope it lasts for the 3 years so they can tell you NO. Should have stayed with Honda.
I had the same exact problem!!!
GM tests all components and systems to -40 during product development. How does an issue like this reach production?
This is just a insulation wrap on the wastegate actuator/sensor, and it doesn’t fix the issue. Our dealership has installed a few already and the customers are back with the same issue. Just a band aid on the issue that is another failure to fix it. Technicians have suggested a few fixes (running a heat blanket/tape that is temp controlled along the intercooler to prevent the freezing is the most common suggestion), but GM knows they don’t have to fix this as “only a very small percentage of vehicles are experiencing this” (their words).
I’ve always been a GM guy , but these kinds of issues are troubling. Ford isn’t any better with their EcoBoost and internal water pumps. When my OG trailblazer dies I might have to consider Toyota.
Toyota & Honda are the way to go. That’s why smart car buyers own them.
Stubborn out of touch mules dismiss Honda & Toyota at their own peril.
Honda is Japanese version of Dodge.
All manufacturers have this problem. If cars were made to the standards that would eliminate things like this, none of us would be willing to pay the price that would result.
I don’t know what to do. I love my 22 Trax but it is slower than molasses in the winter and doesn’t even have 10k miles yet and the paint is chipping in some places. I’m about to leave gm permanently and go the toyota, Honda of Mazda way of automobiles.