My 2012 Traverse is in the shop (local chevy dealer) again because it has been intermittently stalling and then not starting issues and weird electrical sounds when it happens. If I wait a couple of hours -- let the car cool down or settle, it then runs fine again... They have already replaced other parts, sensors, theft deterrent system, and have not fixed the problem. I am out a lot of time most importantly, but also towing and rental car fees in addition to putting my wife and 3 children in danger. I have had the car new since 2013, and had the issue for as far as I can remember. Initially just once or twice a year or less with reduced power mode, stability track messages, perhaps then the weather changes, but now it is happening at least every week or two, I am just reaching 99,000 miles...
After the issue initially occurs, I can hear clicking sounds from the fuse box and throttle bottle when the key is in the on position before you engage the starter. And often the engine light is flickering like a candle, not just rhythmically flashing off-on... If I turn the key more to engage the starter it will either not engage at all and not try to start or it will turn the starter and not start or immediately stall. Sometimes it runs rough and will stall out again in just a few hundred yards.
If I let the car sit for a couple of hours or more, it will start up fine and run fine for a few days or more... The dealer doesn't seem to know how to fix or troubleshoot this despite all the information about similar issues online... Like here for instance: https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2020/gm-fuse-block-lawsuit-loose-terminals-cause-problems.shtml ... Please Help Me with this Nightmare of a Problem!
Update from Jul 29, 2020: The dealer called and said they could not recreate the issue after letting idle for 45 minutes but found the battery cable was loose and speculated that was the cause. I informed them that I had done that when checking the issue myself. And at one point in the last couple of weeks replaced the battery... I don't believe this is the issue or that it just happens to cause the same issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
My 2012 Traverse is in the shop (local chevy dealer) again because it has been intermittently stalling and then not starting issues and weird electrical sounds when it happens. If I wait a couple of hours -- let the car cool down or settle, it then runs fine again... They have already replaced other parts, sensors, theft deterrent system, and have not fixed the problem. I am out a lot of time most importantly, but also towing and rental car fees in addition to putting my wife and 3 children in danger. I have had the car new since 2013, and had the issue for as far as I can remember. Initially just once or twice a year or less with reduced power mode, stability track messages, perhaps then the weather changes, but now it is happening at least every week or two, I am just reaching 99,000 miles...
After the issue initially occurs, I can hear clicking sounds from the fuse box and throttle bottle when the key is in the on position before you engage the starter. And often the engine light is flickering like a candle, not just rhythmically flashing off-on... If I turn the key more to engage the starter it will either not engage at all and not try to start or it will turn the starter and not start or immediately stall. Sometimes it runs rough and will stall out again in just a few hundred yards.
If I let the car sit for a couple of hours or more, it will start up fine and run fine for a few days or more... The dealer doesn't seem to know how to fix or troubleshoot this despite all the information about similar issues online... Like here for instance: https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2020/gm-fuse-block-lawsuit-loose-terminals-cause-problems.shtml ... Please Help Me with this Nightmare of a Problem!
Update from Jul 29, 2020: The dealer called and said they could not recreate the issue after letting idle for 45 minutes but found the battery cable was loose and speculated that was the cause. I informed them that I had done that when checking the issue myself. And at one point in the last couple of weeks replaced the battery... I don't believe this is the issue or that it just happens to cause the same issue.
- John D., Somerville, MA, US