Purchased car new in 2016, from local dealer. All service was done at same dealer. In July & August, 2020, I took car into dealer, since the engine was ticking. I have several video's of the engine sound for those service visits. I was told by the service man/service manager/sales person that ALL EQUINOX ENGINES SOUND LIKE THAT. My position was "my" Equinox had never sounded like that.
Car had monthly status reports, reflecting nothing wrong with car. When the car's electronic monitorIng system indicated 40% oil life left, I decided to have the oil changed at another dealer. Asked them to check the engine because the engine was ticking. Their service department told me the ticking sound was due to engine had no oil, and needed to be replaced? From that dealer I received 2 quotes... one for $9352, and then a second quote, two days later, for $13,288, with no reason for the nearly $4000 in additional charges.
Decided to take the car to a repair shop my brother/family recommended... a family owned auto repair in Maple Lake, MN. They replaced the engine (new, but with a modification to it, which had caused the engine to fail in the first place). The car's engine had 2 quarts of engine oil in it, and had dropped a valve, which had gone into the piston. Most likely the engine could have been repaired earlier for $2500, when I first noticed the engine ticking. New engine came with a 3 year/100,000 warranty. I had loved this car, and had minimal service necessary during the first 4 years I owned it... replaced rear brake pads, oil filter/oil changes/etc. It drove, and still does drive, beautifully.
If only I had been told, when I first heard the engine ticking, it would have been a minor repair ($2500), but not the major cost of replacing the engine ($8000). The car had never had a red light indicator come on in the entire time I owned it. Monthly reports never showed anything wrong. The day it stopped running was the first time a red light came on the dash. Called GM, went through my story, and never received a call back.
Update from Jul 19, 2021: After the new engine was installed in December, 2020, the engine dripped oil from the moment I drove it home. Took the car back immediately. They thought it was the something to do with the oil filter. This went on every month, returning the car for oil leaks. Leak started with quarter size drops, then 50 cent size drops, then cookie size drops. This car had never once leaked oil from the time of purchase. Now I have oil on garage floor, asphalt driveway...everywhere I drove, I left a path of oil drops. Finally, the dealership the engine was purchased from, was contacted, and I was told to bring it in for warranty work. They had the engine in and out several times, and finally discovered the engine was leaking at a sealant seam. This was apparently done at the factory. Picked car up, drove it home, and next morning had a large puddle of oil on my garage floor. Took the car back in again, with additional search for source of oil leak. Picked it up again and at the moment it is not leaking oil. I can't fault anyone except GM. GM should be sued (again), continuing to sell cars with the Ecotex motor. Their attitude of no communication, and not alerting car owners of the problem with these engines, is unacceptable and dishonest.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Purchased car new in 2016, from local dealer. All service was done at same dealer. In July & August, 2020, I took car into dealer, since the engine was ticking. I have several video's of the engine sound for those service visits. I was told by the service man/service manager/sales person that ALL EQUINOX ENGINES SOUND LIKE THAT. My position was "my" Equinox had never sounded like that.
Car had monthly status reports, reflecting nothing wrong with car. When the car's electronic monitorIng system indicated 40% oil life left, I decided to have the oil changed at another dealer. Asked them to check the engine because the engine was ticking. Their service department told me the ticking sound was due to engine had no oil, and needed to be replaced? From that dealer I received 2 quotes... one for $9352, and then a second quote, two days later, for $13,288, with no reason for the nearly $4000 in additional charges.
Decided to take the car to a repair shop my brother/family recommended... a family owned auto repair in Maple Lake, MN. They replaced the engine (new, but with a modification to it, which had caused the engine to fail in the first place). The car's engine had 2 quarts of engine oil in it, and had dropped a valve, which had gone into the piston. Most likely the engine could have been repaired earlier for $2500, when I first noticed the engine ticking. New engine came with a 3 year/100,000 warranty. I had loved this car, and had minimal service necessary during the first 4 years I owned it... replaced rear brake pads, oil filter/oil changes/etc. It drove, and still does drive, beautifully.
If only I had been told, when I first heard the engine ticking, it would have been a minor repair ($2500), but not the major cost of replacing the engine ($8000). The car had never had a red light indicator come on in the entire time I owned it. Monthly reports never showed anything wrong. The day it stopped running was the first time a red light came on the dash. Called GM, went through my story, and never received a call back.
Update from Jul 19, 2021: After the new engine was installed in December, 2020, the engine dripped oil from the moment I drove it home. Took the car back immediately. They thought it was the something to do with the oil filter. This went on every month, returning the car for oil leaks. Leak started with quarter size drops, then 50 cent size drops, then cookie size drops. This car had never once leaked oil from the time of purchase. Now I have oil on garage floor, asphalt driveway...everywhere I drove, I left a path of oil drops. Finally, the dealership the engine was purchased from, was contacted, and I was told to bring it in for warranty work. They had the engine in and out several times, and finally discovered the engine was leaking at a sealant seam. This was apparently done at the factory. Picked car up, drove it home, and next morning had a large puddle of oil on my garage floor. Took the car back in again, with additional search for source of oil leak. Picked it up again and at the moment it is not leaking oil. I can't fault anyone except GM. GM should be sued (again), continuing to sell cars with the Ecotex motor. Their attitude of no communication, and not alerting car owners of the problem with these engines, is unacceptable and dishonest.
- Andrea E., Plymouth, MN, US