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Comments
I would definitely go back to the salesman and ask for the owner of the dealership to be present, that is ridiculous that your remote start doesn't work. If they can't fix the problem then they should replace the remote start and the starter, I would threaten to get the District Attorney involved. I don't know about your state, but my state has a lemon law and I would invoke that right away and make sure the owner gets this car fixed and working like new because that is what you paid for, don't let them waste your time coming back over and over for useless diagnosis, the starter and remote start have to be covered under warranty still, demand a replacement. These GM dealers are horrible. Over and over again online I hear horror stories about GM service departments that have no clue how to diagnose a problem or even fix a problem, at my local dealership every time i'm there, which is way too many times to begin with, I hear a new horror story about being there the 4th and 5th time to fix a problem. I used to own Mitsubishis, Mazdas and Nissans and I've never experienced such a terrible service department until I decided to buy a car from a floundering American company in order to show my support for what I thought was a great car, the Equinox. I hope someone from GM is reading these forums and passed this message on, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU PRODUCE A GOOD CAR IF YOUR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE TERRIBLE AND HAVE NO ABILITY TO SUPPORT THE CARS AND YOUR CUSTOMERS. A BMW wouldn't be a BMW without high quality service and maintenance, for some reason GM still hasn't gotten that clue and we all should not accept anything but exceptional service and demand the service we pay for and hold GM responsible for ensuring that dealerships hire quality service technicians who treat our cars like it was their own car and actually SERVICE the cars, not run a diagnosis tell the customer to come back when the part comes in 2 weeks later and then run another diagnosis and repeat this process until months have gone by without a valid fix. Stand up to your dealership and Service departments, voice your opinion, fill out those customer surveys they send home and tell them just how crappy they are.
Fast forward a few months, about sept 2010,.....the check engine light would still pop on sometimes but now the car was stalling sometimes, running rough ect. It also was using more fuel than usual. Took it in and finally they figured out our fuel pump was faulty. They told us that our car was basically flooding itself, gas was getting on the crankshaft? That was fixed and the car runs was better now, all is good.
Then last week, according to my wife who is the primary driver of the car, was driving to work and while in cruise the car started to jerk and stumble. She said the 'red check engine light" came on for a brief second but then the car was running like normal like nothing happended.
Any idea what could of happened?
Eventually we were able to get the vehicle out of park, and once on the road it acted fine. Keys are still stuck in the ignition. Cannot lock vehicle, even with spare set of keys. Removed battery so it cannot be stolen... Has anyone heard of this happening? The OnStar rep said to "jiggle the key in the ignition", which we did to no effect.
Thanks
I had something really weird happen to my '10 Nox this weekend. I drove the car and turned it off. Sveral house later I got back in and turned it on, and the vehicle information window was now in German. I went to the main language menu, but Enlish was selected...and German was not even an option. I could choose English, French and Spanish...but German was not even on the list. I guess I;m going to have to learn German..at least until I can get this in to the dealer. By the way...if this happens to you,"Geschwindigkeit"... is speed in German.
Were you provided a technical bulletin number referencing this firmware/software update? I know that my dealership will ask this question. I'm also aware that my dealership has had a representative from GM's red team (ENG staff for QA & trouble shooting problems like this one)
As far as the the official update, did they mention any specific date in November?
Thanks
Sorry for the late response...haven't been checking the posts lately
yes I did take my car to Commonwealth Motors in Law. MA
the update was done, and I can't hear the noise any more-well
atleast all the time like I was...I hear it on occasion , not enough to make a stink
like it was before................. BUT
the vibration is still there which is really annoying!!! I think I am
happy with the update??? Not really too sure yet.....it's just that the way the nox's downshifts
it's kind of awkward, I feel like the car is going to give out while I am
driving, I don't like that feeling.
As far as a bulletin number...I don't have one I may be able to get it and get back to you on that, As far as the official update that is due out soon in November I hope
No specific date that I know of.
Since the re-program that was done to my Nox, Yes I have seen a decrease in the fuel...BUT.... I am no mechanic ..I was told though If I didn't have this done over time that in fact since the timing was an issue and misfiring that overtime this would harm my engine and cause holes in my pistons? I was using a higher grade
and it did help with the pinging/rattling but that was a temp fix and it came back within weeks. I still think there is more to this issue than prevously thought. I still think something is still off a bit, my nox's downshifts at weird times and vibrates so hard that when I look in my rear view mirror the car behind me is not clear and very blurry. Since the update the noise had came for a split sec one or 2 times but nothing major. I don't know what to do about this anymore?
I just knew they went beyond proper parameters in order to get those unrealistically high fuel mileage figures. No vehicle the size of the Nox should be able to get that high a fuel mileage figure unless it was diesel powered. DI gas engine or not.
In reading many other posts of shuddering and engine stalling at lights and rough downshifts, I am beginning to wonder if the Nox has a torque-converter issue in the tranny. (that is what lets the car stop in gear but not stall the engine, serving a similar purpose that a clutch does in a std tranny). Or a software adjustment to do with the torque-converter. Again, another reason why I LOVE standard, manual shift transmissions. All these tranny issues Nox owners are having would be moot.
The electronic controls and intervention has gotten TOO complicated. Every time one turns around, you can't do anything without hooking it up to a computer. And if the technology works, they why in blazes do companies like GM who are in the process of supposedly showing their new and improved best-foot-forward, still using customers as guinea pigs on a car that should not have been released until all these glitches are FIXED? It boggles one's mind that after a government bail out in which we all as tax payers, paid for, the same old stuff and BS still goes on. Sure, they hire spokespeople like Mariah on here to help quell fears and offer encouragement and keep a wet mist on fires, but the 'fixes' should have been done on GM's dime long ago before releasing the car. Not on ours.
I know I am likely preaching to the choir here with some of you, but whomever is ultimately in charge of the Equinox at GM, should be fired. Buick Enclave owners (as an example) are not having these issues and they are every bit as complicated and more, as the Nox and Traverse. There are head reps of each model. Some are good and worth their pay check, others aren't.
Even if they could simply address the outright lying that takes place by service mgrs in the parking lot out front of the service entrance, or behind his kiosk, would be a huge step in the right direction.
Mariah? Are you reading? Pass it on to them. This will be GM's last chance forever you know. It's important. It's your job at stake too.
What I'd like to know is this: would it be necessary to get the knocking/pinging software upgrade if I alraedy run premium? Or is it potentially harmful to have the current software configuration for that regardless of fuel? If the latter is the case, GM should make it a recall and not TSB.
The downshifting issues are with the software. The rough idling some experience is software related as it relates to the torque converter. As best I know, it downshifts when slowing down to keep the RPMs up, so that the fuel-cut off remains engaged. In other words, above a certain speed, the fuel cut off is active above a certain RPM level. On another forum someone mentioned this about the Camry, and it makes sense the same thing is going on with the Nox. The thing is they still don't have it all figured out to be smooth, and as far as I know they do not plan to do another (besides the one last fall) calibration upgrade for this.
How long has it been since you had the vehicle fixed? Can you please e-mail me your current mileage, VIN, and involved dealer? I would like to look into this for you. I look forward to your response.
Christina
GM Customer Service
have about 13,000-give or take. the unofficial update was done and should
be ready in November? (So I have been told).....I really thought though with the
new update that was done that it would have taken care of the serious vibration
issue and the weird downshifting, especially the vibration it gets really annoying
especially when I am looking at my rear view mirror and all I see is a blurry mess
behind me, like that's not a safety issue!!!!-Another poster suggested that your co
really should have tweaked out all the kinks before releasing the nox, and I have to STRONGLY agree... I will email you shortly with my vin.
Just to let you (and GM) know...a lot of Equinox owners are experiencing these issues. My 2010 is pinging and shuddering everytime I drive it. It wants to stall, but then "fights" back and goes again. If I pull away from a stop when it "fights back" the car jumps and bucks forward. It almost seems as if the RPMs are too low.
My 2010 also has the weird downshfting, so dramatic that the car will throw you forward a bit as it slows down too much.
I've taken my car into the dealership a few time regarding this, and the last time they replaced an exhaust acctuator, but the problems are still there. I've asked about a new transmission calibration, but the dealership tells me that there is nothing for my VIN.
It's at a point where I really do not feel comfortable driving this car. It has a really rough idle, and the whole car vibrates when you come to a stop...and it is very bad when the car is in ECO mode. It's gotten so bad that I renewed my OnStar as I don;t want to be stranded on they Highway if the car finally decides to stall.
I've already ahd to go through GM customer service to get my radio fixed...and that was a 6 month ordeal.
Can you help with this? I'll email you my VIN as well.
- I got my software update (unofficial version) a week ago. It is better, but the clattering/knocking noise (between 1500 and 2000 rpm) coming from the engine still exists! No answer from GM for the official update (software) release date.
and still no fix for the short sharp noise coming from the engine when I start the car !!!!
So it is with the torque convertor eh? I thought so after reading and hearing all the details. Cutting fuel to the injectors at slow downs all helps give the higher mileage figures, but they haven't figured it all out yet. A manual tranny wouldn't be giving everyone this trouble, but i digress..
If it happens at start-up only, it is the process by which they warm-up the catalytic converter that is causing the vibration. If it does it all the time while stopped, it is probably a torque converter software issue. I have the former "issue", not the latter.
For the rough downshifting, the service bulletin number is: SB-09271C (I got it from a web site, supposedly the release date of this TSB was Jan. 1, 2010). Vehicles made since Oct. 2009 should have this update from the factory. I believe it is the software version I got from the GM engineer who came down and reprogrammed my Nox late Sept. 2009 (it is well documented early in this thread, and in other threads in the Nox forums).
They still need to do another update for the tranny downshifting, IMO. The new cal is better than the old one, but still not smooth.
I think I wll get the "pinging" update when it is out to all dealers, even though it isn't an issue for me since I switched to premium gas. Peace of mind.
Mariah or Christine from GM:
Any updates you are aware of relating to the rough idling at start-up for the catalytic converter? The GM engineer said there'd be one soon to smoothen out the idling during that process, and that was last fall. Just an annoyance more than anything.
I think GM also needs to make the "sticky steering" problem a recall. I had it a few times before, but not recently. But who knows when it might pop up again?
Please do e-mail me with your VIN, current mileage, involved dealer, and complete contact information. I would like to look into this for you.
Christina
GM Customer Service
I have none of the pinging or transmission problems currently under discussion in this forum, but I do experience the short burst of clattering noise when I start the car--not every time, maybe 10% of the time. This may be a normal and unavoidable aspect of the engine design. I say this because my Nox is performing well in every other way. Hope your other problems can soon be resolved.
Have you heard anything from the dealer? Has the problem been resolved? If not, could you please e-mail me with your VIN, current mileage, involved dealer, and complete contact information? I will look into this for you.
Christina
GM Customer Service
Picked it up, seems to run fine, but there are three problems with the informational panel readout. Need to take it back again. So not happy about that, but I did make it home without it stalling. I'll let you know what happens.
Check your oil level tho. Very important as I am surprised the number of posters who have said their Nox burns a lot of oil and in some cases, ended up at the dlr with no oil showing on the stick.
As mentioned before in my posts, since my update was done my nox's is still doing exactly what your does, I feel like if I bring this to my dealerships attention with all the issues that I have experienced so far that at this point they will think that I am just a pain in the a--, I was hoping that the update would have taken care of the weird downshifting and obnoxious vibration and bucking and mine also feels like it's going to stall out and fight back again. please keep me posted if yours gets resolved.
Thanks
it happens at low and high -highway speeds
it's so bad at times that when I look in the
rear view mirror the car behind me is so blurry
I can't make out what's behind me, not
to mention that it's extremely loud when doing so
now you mentioned their is a bulletin for the rough downshifting
do you think that will take care of the vibration issue?
every time I have contacted CS I got no where
I actually felt like GM was ignoring me, I have made several
calls in and NO results so I had to take matters in my own hands and
finally got some results, now that I STILL: have further issues with this
vehicle, I plan on going forward hoping all my issues get resolved. At this point
I don't think sending you my vin will help me in anyway I have forwarded much
info to Mariah in the past and I did not get anywhere with that? So how can you help me? At this time I am really bitter and disgusted with this vehicle, I am at the
point that I wish I could get rid of it. Not only is the vibration 88 percent of my driving time it downshifts at the worst times and hard every once in awhile NOT always only has happened 3x -when someone gets out of the passengers side
and the door shuts completely-there is a tinging noise coming from within the inside of the door....at first I thought it was something in the door pocket just vibrating against, but I cleared out my entire car of every thing and still heard it within the door I noticed this in the morning when it's really cold.
Please do not feel like you are being a nuisance to them. Quite the contrary really, as you are the one that has been inconvenienced and rather substantially out of pocket with all the hassling around with them. Just gas alone has got to have added up by now. The dealer gets reimbursed by GM. If there are incidentals that aren't covered, well that is part of their responsibility in representing GM. Plus they can take it out of the ridiculously rich 'administration fees' they charge now, that they never used to for the past century minus 10 years. In fact the computer age has lessened their paper work. That admin chg is just another last cash grab while they have the chance. I am amazed that customers nationwide didn't ban together and say, simply..."no way, we aren't paying that". The dealers are laughing at us every time that space gets filled in on a contract agreement.
Administration fees-when I first saw that I was like what is this?
I still fully don't understand the ridiculous fees they charge! After reading all the post here I am glad I am not the only one that has had issue with their nox's this site has been extremely helpful.
If any news comes my way I will be sure to pass it on
Thanks again
The "admin" or "doc" fee charged by the dealer is just another scam thought up by the industry's think tank. It's a way to advertise one price and then charge another when the transaction actually occurs. I believe this racket started sometime in the '90s. Back in '98 Quirk Ford in Braintree MA hit me with a $90 "doc" fee when I was purchasing my Taurus (first time I had ever run across such a thing). I tried refusing to pay it, I offered to fill out the paperwork myself (it's not like there isn't time to do it when you purchase a car at a dealership ... you've got all day!), but to no avail. Shortly afterward, I came across an article in the Boston Globe about these fees. Someone at the paper was collecting data to take action. I think the final result was that the State now allows these fees up to some maximum amount (different number for each State) - as long as every buyer pays the same fee amount.
SO - for the dealer, they just set their "doc" fee to the maximum State-allowed amount and conveniently leave it out of their quotes. For the buyer, you just have to remember to ask what the dealer fee is everytime you ask for a quote and then include this number in the overall cost when comparing quotes. If you forget to ask, the dealer will drop the bomb on you at purchase time and there is nothing you can do about it (except walk away - which is exactly what you should do).
I actually emailed you about a week and a half ago. Did you need me to email you again?
exactly. and if we all started doing that, collectively as a buying public, watch them drop the fees fast. There is strength in numbers, but it takes organization, diligence, and the desire to right wrongs. Most just pay. That is why government gets away with as much as they do. Never any accountability.
Think about it though. Tell everyone you know at work that if they are about to buy a car, take the deal the the (almost) end, and just refuse to pay the fee. If some friends and family and co-workers all did the same at say...the local Ford or Honda dealership, the dealer WOULD get the message and either show less bottom-line or none at all. It is like a tax.
But taxes are hard to get reversed. The time to fight it was back at its inception.
I took my car in to the dealership last tuesday, so that they could feel and see what is going on with my Equinox. I had the car in ECO mode, with the A/C off, but the fan and heater running. When the car weas warming up the RPMs would sit at about 750rpm. Once the car warmed up, the car was in drive, but my foot was on the brake (as if you were at a sto psign), the RPMs would drop to 550-600rpms, and the car would start to vibrate and shake. The RPM needed would bounce up and down, from 500-600rpms as the car would "fight" to stay running. The car never stalled, but ran really rough. Basically, the dealership was not too concerned and wanted the car tp actually stall. I'm not to excited about waiting for my car to stall in the middle of an intersection, before this issue gets fixed. I've even switched to GMs recommended "Top Teir" gas, and went up to mid-grade gas (89), but that has not helped.
The downshifting and bucking happens all the time, and is very annoying. I'll be driving down the street and without warning my car will slow down, buck forward and drive again. I have a 2010 Equinox, and my faterh just bought a 2011 Equinox about amonth ago. I toook his car out on sunday, and it bucked just like mine...even worse. I was driving down a straight stretch of road...at a steady pace, and the car bucked without warning. It felt as if I was drving a manual transmission and I popped the clutch.
Not too happy about this. I'm a bit worried about the safety of my family in heavy traffic.
It does beg the question, with all the trouble you are having, why did your father buy one too? Did the bucking not surface on his test drive?
Ronwell,
Please do also put your username from the forum. Thank you!
Christina
GM Customer Service