2013 Chevy Equinox - unclogging PCV intake and fuel pump issue

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bradpotter47

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Hi - this is my first post on this forum as I'm new to the Equinox model.

I have 104,000kms on my Equinox and recently took it into the dealer for an oil change. They identified a possible oil leak around the rear main seal and recommended replacing the seal and cleaning the clogged PCV intake (and expanding the air intake hole).

This is covered under GM Service bulletin# 14882 with extended warranty coverage for Equinox and Terrain (including my 2.4l 2013 model). Of course, as many have discovered, the GM dealer wouldn't honor the warranty, claiming that my VIN was somehow not covered (shocking that GM get's away with this - my service advisor suggested I join the class action lawsuit against GM.....but whatever.....).

Anyway.......

I booked my Equinox in for the bulletin# 14882 repairs a couple weeks after the initial diagnosis. After having the Equinox in the GM shop for 2 days to perform the rear main seal and PCV valve fix, the dealer called to inform me they had found a new problem. Apparently, the check engine light was on when I brought it in to GM two days earlier (this wasn't true) and they had determined that the high pressure fuel pump was now faulty and the Equinox would only run at low power due to inadequate fuel supply.

Funny how we had never noticed any issues at all with the Equinox performance (for that matter it had never leaked a drop of oil either).

My question is this: since unclogging the PCV intake valve requires removal of the fuel lines and high pressure fuel pump, am I being unfair to suggest that the newly diagnosed fuel pump problem may have been a result of something done incorrectly by the GM mechanic during the PCV intake repair?

Total cost is now: $2500 (PCV intake + rear main seal) + $1,500 (fuel pump replacement) = $4,000

I don't mind paying this if the work was done properly. But since there was absolutely no indication that the Equinox was having fuel pump issues (i.e. no check engine, no rough idle, no low power, no engine run on) - it seems unlikely that a fuel pump issue would suddenly occur after the dealer removed the fuel pump to get at the PCV intake.

Sorry about the long post. Picking the Equinox up tomorrow from the dealer, just curious what others think on the whether I should be paying for what appears to be a "dealer induced" fault.
 

bradpotter47

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Update from the dealer. The dealer clarified that the fuel pump issue was not the high pressure fuel pump in the engine compartment, but the fuel pump located in the fuel tank itself. This is a $950 part compared to the pump in front which is a $186 part. The fuel pump in the fuel tank also requires that the fuel tank be dropped to access the pump.

I find it suspicious that I never experienced a fuel pump issue until after the GM dealer performed repairs to unclog the PCV intake which also required removal of a fuel pump. How could these two events not be related? However, that's what the dealer is suggesting.

Will pick the Equinox up tomorrow now. GM is suggesting another night in the shop as they noticed there was still some moisture coming from the PCV intake hose. The dealer wants it to sit overnight and dry out completely to confirm that everything is satisfactory and the intake manifold has proper air flow.
 

NOX4ME

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I created a modification so you won't need to worry about the OE PCV system clogging.
Here's the video I did on YouTube:
I di this after they refuse to clean out my PCV!
 

TDW1954

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I smell a rat. If indeed your in-tank fuel pump partially failed while at the dealer the cost of replacing it sounds rediculously high IMO. If there is a problem with fuel flow from the tank it's more likely to be a fuel filter issue than the pump IMO. I'm with you on the problem, if it really exists, was caused by something done at the dealership, accidentally or otherwise. The problem would be easy to simulate by crimping the fuel line.

I don't trust dealerships as far as I could throw one. I found out a dealer wasn't changing my oil filters out when I had my Equinox in for oil changes so I marked one and caught them red handed. So they offered me a free oil change LOL. Good luck finding one you can trust.
 

NOX4ME

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Hi - this is my first post on this forum as I'm new to the Equinox model.

I have 104,000kms on my Equinox and recently took it into the dealer for an oil change. They identified a possible oil leak around the rear main seal and recommended replacing the seal and cleaning the clogged PCV intake (and expanding the air intake hole).

This is covered under GM Service bulletin# 14882 with extended warranty coverage for Equinox and Terrain (including my 2.4l 2013 model). Of course, as many have discovered, the GM dealer wouldn't honor the warranty, claiming that my VIN was somehow not covered (shocking that GM get's away with this - my service advisor suggested I join the class action lawsuit against GM.....but whatever.....).

Anyway.......

I booked my Equinox in for the bulletin# 14882 repairs a couple weeks after the initial diagnosis. After having the Equinox in the GM shop for 2 days to perform the rear main seal and PCV valve fix, the dealer called to inform me they had found a new problem. Apparently, the check engine light was on when I brought it in to GM two days earlier (this wasn't true) and they had determined that the high pressure fuel pump was now faulty and the Equinox would only run at low power due to inadequate fuel supply.

Funny how we had never noticed any issues at all with the Equinox performance (for that matter it had never leaked a drop of oil either).

My question is this: since unclogging the PCV intake valve requires removal of the fuel lines and high pressure fuel pump, am I being unfair to suggest that the newly diagnosed fuel pump problem may have been a result of something done incorrectly by the GM mechanic during the PCV intake repair?

Total cost is now: $2500 (PCV intake + rear main seal) + $1,500 (fuel pump replacement) = $4,000

I don't mind paying this if the work was done properly. But since there was absolutely no indication that the Equinox was having fuel pump issues (i.e. no check engine, no rough idle, no low power, no engine run on) - it seems unlikely that a fuel pump issue would suddenly occur after the dealer removed the fuel pump to get at the PCV intake.

Sorry about the long post. Picking the Equinox up tomorrow from the dealer, just curious what others think on the whether I should be paying for what appears to be a "dealer induced" fault.
I experienced the same lack of service when I went in to have that service bulletin performed. SO I developed my own repair so I wouldn't have to continually remove and unclog the PCV orifice.
Check out the video tutorial I did.
 

TechJ831

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Hi - this is my first post on this forum as I'm new to the Equinox model.

I have 104,000kms on my Equinox and recently took it into the dealer for an oil change. They identified a possible oil leak around the rear main seal and recommended replacing the seal and cleaning the clogged PCV intake (and expanding the air intake hole).

This is covered under GM Service bulletin# 14882 with extended warranty coverage for Equinox and Terrain (including my 2.4l 2013 model). Of course, as many have discovered, the GM dealer wouldn't honor the warranty, claiming that my VIN was somehow not covered (shocking that GM get's away with this - my service advisor suggested I join the class action lawsuit against GM.....but whatever.....).

Anyway.......

I booked my Equinox in for the bulletin# 14882 repairs a couple weeks after the initial diagnosis. After having the Equinox in the GM shop for 2 days to perform the rear main seal and PCV valve fix, the dealer called to inform me they had found a new problem. Apparently, the check engine light was on when I brought it in to GM two days earlier (this wasn't true) and they had determined that the high pressure fuel pump was now faulty and the Equinox would only run at low power due to inadequate fuel supply.

Funny how we had never noticed any issues at all with the Equinox performance (for that matter it had never leaked a drop of oil either).

My question is this: since unclogging the PCV intake valve requires removal of the fuel lines and high pressure fuel pump, am I being unfair to suggest that the newly diagnosed fuel pump problem may have been a result of something done incorrectly by the GM mechanic during the PCV intake repair?

Total cost is now: $2500 (PCV intake + rear main seal) + $1,500 (fuel pump replacement) = $4,000

I don't mind paying this if the work was done properly. But since there was absolutely no indication that the Equinox was having fuel pump issues (i.e. no check engine, no rough idle, no low power, no engine run on) - it seems unlikely that a fuel pump issue would suddenly occur after the dealer removed the fuel pump to get at the PCV intake.

Sorry about the long post. Picking the Equinox up tomorrow from the dealer, just curious what others think on the whether I should be paying for what appears to be a "dealer induced" fault.
Unfortunately this is a common issue with this engine, not sure what Chevy was thinking but the previous version of it was just as bad, the reason the HPFP ( high pressure fuel pump ) can go is once these things have the PCV clogged up and the rear main is leaking, this normally is followed by a timing issue, there is a certain guide in the timing system that breaks or moves and stretches the chain, I say this because the cam shaft and it’s end lobe is responsible for the HPFP, if the vehicle timing is retard or advanced it will cause the HPFP to run rough, we have come across multiple with this exact issue. The first one we cleaned the PCV system/orafices ( there was zero codes for the timing or HPFP ) finish the cleaning and it still runs bad but now throws a code for the HPFP, it’s keeping PSI, has voltage on sensor. But we end up scoping the timing and comparing it against a known good and see the timing is off. So we did a timing job and replaced the HPFP’s pressure line and the thing ran perfect. What I will say about the timing of them saying it had to be replaced is. To do the PCV job you have to remove the HPFP. So either it was out of timing ( without them knowing because there was no code ) and caused a failure in the pump, or it was bad the entire time but with the reduced power engaged there’s no way to tell
 

comp

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thanks for post,, 2017 w/2.4 at 70k so im watching everything(not to long)
 

ANGLICO

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I experienced the same lack of service when I went in to have that service bulletin performed. SO I developed my own repair so I wouldn't have to continually remove and unclog the PCV orifice.
Check out the video tutorial I did.
Thank you for posting that video. I just saw that last night and came here to see if anyone else was doing this.

This should be a simple fix for most people.

I plan on doing this repair/PVC hole and cleaning this weekend when I replace my plugs and coils. I already bought a P219 Oil Cap (for lower crankcase pressure relief) for "just in case."

I wanted confirmation that this was being done by at least one other person.

Were there any unplanned issues afterwards? I don't think the JB Weld would fail at this low temp and vibration. That should be good to go.
 

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