2018 Equinox battery/charging operation

[chasfm11]

I have a 2018 Equinox that I've been flat towing behind an RV. Even though I have a charging line installed from the RV and have verified that it is providing voltage, the Equinox battery has gone dead a couple of times. I've tried to troubleshoot the problem but everything that I thought that I knew about batteries and charging systems does not seem to apply to this car

I installed a battery monitor and use it when I'm not towing. It shows a constant 12.22 volts and a battery that is 66% charged. I understand that the engineers did this to try to preserve battery life. But is is really hard to figure out when I might be in trouble with the battery charge level when towing. I follow the instructions to put the transmission in neutral and it takes about 30 minutes while towing for the highest current drain items in the Equinox to "go to sleep", taking the battery voltage down further.

I have very large wire feeding the Equinox from the RV and it comes (fused) directly from the RV batteries. I would expect to to charge the Equinox battery above its normal level after several hours of towing because I'm seeing 14.v+ on the charging line. The voltage monitor will show 12.55vs while Equinox is being towed.

Driving the Equinox around town has no issues. Start/Stop works normally, even with what seems to be a low battery voltage.

Ideas?

Thanks

Charlie

 

[PoManNox]

How old is the battery in the equinox?

Have you run a load, crank and charging system test on the battery?

 

[chasfm11]

How old is the battery in the equinox?

Have you run a load, crank and charging system test on the battery?

The battery was replaced after the first dead battery situation. At that time, the crank and charging tests were run and passed. June 2022. That was the original battery and the new one is the same type AGM

 

[ricklack]

I've read elsewhere that there are issues with batteries draining when towing. Sorry, I can't provide a link.

 

[cavell]

Is motor off when flat towing?
I’ve heard of issues due to car being in gear or not in neutral and do not know if ign is “on” and motor not running.
Interesting thread is in towing section but car is not towing, it is being towed. Close.

 

[chasfm11]

Is motor off when flat towing?
I’ve heard of issues due to car being in gear or not in neutral and do not know if ign is “on” and motor not running.
Interesting thread is in towing section but car is not towing, it is being towed. Close.

The owners manual instructions for flat towing include putting the transmission into neutral and then pressing the start button to turn off the engine.

I didn't see a "being towed section so this is where I put it. Perhaps admin can move it to a more appropriate place if this one is wrong.

 

[BobbyG]

I have a 2018 Equinox that I've been flat towing behind an RV. Even though I have a charging line installed from the RV and have verified that it is providing voltage, the Equinox battery has gone dead a couple of times. I've tried to troubleshoot the problem but everything that I thought that I knew about batteries and charging systems does not seem to apply to this car

I installed a battery monitor and use it when I'm not towing. It shows a constant 12.22 volts and a battery that is 66% charged. I understand that the engineers did this to try to preserve battery life. But is is really hard to figure out when I might be in trouble with the battery charge level when towing. I follow the instructions to put the transmission in neutral and it takes about 30 minutes while towing for the highest current drain items in the Equinox to "go to sleep", taking the battery voltage down further.

I have very large wire feeding the Equinox from the RV and it comes (fused) directly from the RV batteries. I would expect to to charge the Equinox battery above its normal level after several hours of towing because I'm seeing 14.v+ on the charging line. The voltage monitor will show 12.55vs while Equinox is being towed.

Driving the Equinox around town has no issues. Start/Stop works normally, even with what seems to be a low battery voltage.

Ideas?

Thanks

Charlie

Not sure this is 100% related to your post but I have a 2020 equinox that goes dead about 1/2 time even though I follow the same protocol to put it in tow mode. I have an invisibrake system in the equinox and I recently found out that I need the battery connected to the car so the invisibrake system works. I did a ChatGPT and found there a couple of ways to keep the battery connected to the car, but by pass the car system but keep the battery charged so the invisibrake system works
You might try ChatGPT. Simply ask questions and you will get the solution, I believe.
Hope this helps

 

[cavell]

Ha, being towed section. I like that. Flat towing an awd seems fraught with danger.

 

[chasfm11]

Ha, being towed section. I like that. Flat towing an awd seems fraught with danger.

My Equinox is FWD gas. it and the diesel from the 2018 model year can be flat towed, The AWD from that year cannot be flat towed. It took me owning an AWD for one day and 5 hours with a dealership to confirm that. I buy my towing parts from Roadmaster and they won't even sell parts for and AWD in 2018. What is interesting is that AWD could be flat towed in earlier and later model years.

 

[chasfm11]

Not sure this is 100% related to your post but I have a 2020 equinox that goes dead about 1/2 time even though I follow the same protocol to put it in tow mode. I have an invisibrake system in the equinox and I recently found out that I need the battery connected to the car so the invisibrake system works. I did a ChatGPT and found there a couple of ways to keep the battery connected to the car, but by pass the car system but keep the battery charged so the invisibrake system works
You might try ChatGPT. Simply ask questions and you will get the solution, I believe.
Hope this helps

Thanks for your idea. My charge line from the motor home goes directly to the positive battery terminal in the Equinox. I expected that with enough current on that line, the battery would stay charged. "Enough current" means that it is more than the systems on the Equinox use. I bought a good amp meter and plan to put the Equinox in tow mode with that meter connected to see exactly how many amps of usage that is.

I have a braking system, too, but it uses air pressure from the motor home to engage a piston that pushes on the Equinox brake. There are no electronics involved. It does have a break-away feature to push the Equinox brake pedal down and hold it there in case the car is ever separated from the motor home while towing. That takes battery voltage to activate so I want to make sure that my charging problem gets solved or the system won't work in an emergency.