2023 Equinox Lt Transmission at 100k Miles Having Problems

[jermhoosierfan]

I am new to the board, but I have a feeling I know what my problem is. I UBER a lot on the weekends in this car, and I have drove it a lot to pick up my son 90 minutes away every 2 to 3 weeks. It is starting to slip or jerk when I come to a stop a few days now, and I have it scheduled to be looked at by the dealer in a week. I have 100K miles on it, and I haven't had the transmission fluid changed. I change the oil between 5 and 6k pretty regularly at local non dealer place. I have been looking for the transmission dipstick to check the fluid, but from reading on here, there isn't one. From Googling the problem, it looks to be low or dirty fluid or a sensor or solenoid in the transmission is bad. No matter what, I am having it changed, and I was wanting to confirm that it is more than likely the problem. Otherwise, there is nothing else wrong with the car outside of didn't know the plugs were 60k plugs and not 100k plugs till 2 months ago, and I had them changed. I take it that the tranny fluid needs to be changed at about the same time as the plugs.

 

[PoManNox]

Once it starts acting up as you describe it, a fluid change may not help unfortunately. It is worth a try though. You typically want to do 2 successive drain and fills. It takes about 4.5qts per drain/fill. Too bad you cant DIY to save the cost. Castrol Transmax Universal ATF/CVT fluid and/or Valvoline Maxlife ATF are what I use in my GM 6 and 9 spd ATs. They're under $20 per gallon.

 

[ricklack]

Looking at my 2022 manual, which should the same as your 2023, curiously on the NORMAL schedule, there is no mention of trans fluid change - ever! However, in the SEVERE maintenance schedule it says to change ATF every 72,000km / 45,000 miles . I've always wondered if this was an oversight to omit it from the normal schedule.

Many here change the ATF even more frequently than the severe schedule. These are the guys who usually don't have trans problems down the road.

 

[jermhoosierfan]

I have had cars in the last several years that I didn't have to change it that often. I know it is recommended, but I had a 2014 with 200k miles that I never changed it. I did check it regularly though, and I am not a fan of not having the ability to check it once a month.

 

[ricklack]

I have had cars in the last several years that I didn't have to change it that often. I know it is recommended, but I had a 2014 with 200k miles that I never changed it. I did check it regularly though, and I am not a fan of not having the ability to check it once a month.

Yeah, I never grasped why they removed a way to check the trans fluid level. Maybe they weren't having enough trans failures?

 

[PoManNox]

Yeah, I never grasped why they removed a way to check the trans fluid level. Maybe they weren't having enough trans failures?

So you're "forced" to use dealer service. At the end of the day, these 6 and 9spd ATs are easier to drain/fill the ATF than doing an engine oil/filter change. Even the level check procedure through the front left wheel well isn't a big deal, although I've never gone that far. I drain them. Measure what came out and put that same amount back in. Now if you had some type of leak, you'll want to use the level check plug.

 

[sdhow]

The fluid is lifetime. As it's over 100k miles and out of warranty, you've reached GM's definition of "lifetime". If you go to the Chevy dealer, the service writer will direct you to the sales floor.

 

[jermhoosierfan]

The fluid is lifetime. As it's over 100k miles and out of warranty, you've reached GM's definition of "lifetime". If you go to the Chevy dealer, the service writer will direct you to the sales floor.

Fluid is lifetime? I was planning on going to a transmission shop to see about having the fluid and filter changed. I am hoping that, if there is something wrong with it, I can get through till my wife is out of school in a year from now. I am also hoping changing both or a sensor will be the fix for it and not a rebuild or the like.

 

[sdhow]

I'm being sarcastic. Are you under 40 yrs old?

Don't know about the newer transmissions, but on the previous generation Equinoxes, you have to remove and disassemble the entire transmission to R&R the filter. All you can do is drain about half the fluid and replace; drive it about 3k miles and drain and refill again.

Replace the fluid by dilution.

Seriously though, GM says it's a lifetime fluid.

 

[jermhoosierfan]

No, I am in my 50's, and I used to hang with a friend who used to work in a auto shop who would change transmission filters and fluid. He sold it about 10 years ago, and I haven't kept up with the new stuff. I stopped by an AAMCO at lunch and picked their brains. The filters don't get changed, but the fluid can be drained and refilled. That is $240, and they would have to do a diagnostic on the car to see what is wrong with it. I am hoping to get through till next spring when my wife is out of school. I should have some cash available to something with it in case it is major.

 

[sdhow]

I wouldn't go to AAMCO. They have to do a diagnostic because they're going to find something catastrophic wrong. They always do. It's like going to Midas for brakes.

Find a general auto repair shop you can trust. This doesn't require a transmission shop to drain and refill fluid. Like I said, I'd do this twice, within 3-5k miles. You can do it yourself, it's no harder than an oil change.

 

[jermhoosierfan]

I wouldn't go to AAMCO. They have to do a diagnostic because they're going to find something catastrophic wrong. They always do. It's like going to Midas for brakes.

Find a general auto repair shop you can trust. This doesn't require a transmission shop to drain and refill fluid. Like I said, I'd do this twice, within 3-5k miles. You can do it yourself, it's no harder than an oil change.

I went there to just pick their brain more than anything. I have an appointment with the Chevy dealerships service department that I bought it from to have it checked out. I was looking for a possible answer than anything.

 

[sdhow]

Review this video:

It's really not worth what the dealer will charge you. Most likely, they're going to say that it's a "lifetime fill". As far as the diagnostic goes, any OBD II reader can do this. Any Advance, AutoZone or O'Reilly's will do this for free. Ask for a print out of the test.

 

[jermhoosierfan]

Update, the dealer updated the ECM and the TCM which helped quite a bit, but not entirely at a $250 bill attached. They recommend the fluid being changed out at a $450 cost including tax and service fees. I called a friend who is a lab tech at a school for automotive students. They will more than likely be doing the fluid part far cheaper than the dealer. FYI, the ASE certified tech teaching the class was the manager of a service department at a dealership for several years.

 

[sdhow]

Yeah, good move. Make sure they use the proper fluid; I bought the synthetic Valvoline at Walmart. As I said before, it's a drain and refill, so you're only going to get about 1/2 the old fluid out on a single change. I'd do it a second time at your next oil change. That should get you about 75-80% fresh fluid in there.

 

[jermhoosierfan]

He will do it in the shop I believe with the machine to recirculate the fluid. He will do it to show the students how they are supposed to do it according to the proper method according to the manufacturers and whoever. It should be good for about 50k miles. I will probably get it done about when I change out the spark plugs at the same time.

 

[jermhoosierfan]

According to GM, they only recommend doing the partial drain and fill that is mentioned on the forum here in a couple of threads. I had that done, and it does shift much better. The problem of it revving between 25 to 45 mph is still happening. There are no codes showing, so in a few weeks, it will be taken out with a computer module connected. They want to see what is exactly happening while it is going down the road.