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2013 EQUINOX TRANSMISSION QUESTIONS


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corvairbob
Novice

Nov 26, 2021, 6:31 PM

Post #1 of 11 (1578 views)
2013 EQUINOX TRANSMISSION QUESTIONS Sign In

Year of vehicle 2013
Make of vehicle (Ford/ Chevrolet) CHEVY
Model of vehicle ( Taurus/ Cavalier) (DX, LX, SE, R/T, ect.)EQUINOX LT
Engine size (2.0/ 5.7) 2.4
Mileage/Kilometers 180K MILES

i just did an overhaul on my girl's equinox. it was going thru oil like a sub. and it needed rings, timing, and balance shaft chains so they got done. plus ream main and trans input shaft seal, so i had the converter out.

anyway now she is complaining of the car acting like it is not shifting correctly or the torque converter is locking up and low speeds. now i have very little experience with transmissions but i looked up this site to see if someone here can help guide me thru some troubleshooting steps to see if this is an easy fix or do i need to have a trans shop just find the issue and fix it? i do not ahve a trans scanner just the harbor freight unit.

now i looked up the fluid and it take dextron v or vi anyway when i go the parts store they will get me the correct fluid and i want to change the filter. so i guess a few youtubes will get me to that unless you have some links for that.

i checked the fluid the other day and it appeared to be way over full but to be fair i was going to remove the oil pan to reseal it and i may have started that and did not have the engine running and in park. i think i did that and if i did and it is overfull should i let it drian out of the check hole until it stops draining? it looks like it is the way you check the differentials by. taking out the plug and if the fluid runs out a bit it is good. if it is overfull you let it run till it stops.

also, the fluid looks almost black to me. but if the fluid is normally a dark color then i can't tell as i'm color blind. but tell me if i find it is over full to let if run out the check port until it stops and then plug it back up? and running warm in park. also how high should i have that side of the car? the last time i had it just high enough to get the wheel off. so do i have to lower it some so it appears to be level?

also if it does turn out to be overfull can that be some of the issues she is having. this is what she told me today what it was doing. she said it has done this for some time, but now because i redid the engine she is looking for other issues to get fixed.

she tole me today
(((It didn't do it as bad when it was just sitting in the driveway. {{this was a video showing the tach moving about 100 rpms}} It does it after it warms up and after it gets warm it has a hard time shifting when I'm driving. I tried it with the eco off before and it was worse. It almost stalls after I'm at a stop, let off the brake and press the gas. ))) she did tell me if she puts in in neutral the engine smooths out and the rpms go back to normal about 750 rpms.

so can this be from over full fluid or maybe fluid that is 180k miles old? i would expect it to be that way with 180k miles on it. also, can someone point me to a youtube showing how to do this and change the filter?

a bit long-winded but now you have all the info to help guide me to a fix. thanks for the time and any help you can offer to me.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Nov 26, 2021, 10:37 PM

Post #2 of 11 (1563 views)
Re: 2013 EQUINOX TRANSMISSION QUESTIONS Sign In

I'm flabbergasted at what you've done already.
You first noted it needed "rings" if so that repair to me is now so dated was done to engines to buy another year at best and still consume oil just more in control.
I'll do more watching than input for you would have hunted down repowering this both matching engine and trans from a known salvage source for a good and well documented originals put to salvage for some other reason than worn out.
Note on dark fluids in general now knowing you said "color blind" I'm not but know several people do tell gradients of lighter or darker well for fluid in vehicles (any) that's not the way any should look. Dark is either burnt or friction materials overwhelmed the color usually marks time to give up depending on what item where IMO.


See what some others have to say on this project to me a lot would matter how the rest of this thing is overall to go this far with it?


Good luck, Tom



corvairbob
Novice

Nov 27, 2021, 6:31 AM

Post #3 of 11 (1542 views)
Re: 2013 EQUINOX TRANSMISSION QUESTIONS Sign In


In Reply To
I'm flabbergasted at what you've done already.
You first noted it needed "rings" if so that repair to me is now so dated was done to engines to buy another year at best and still consume oil just more in control.
I'll do more watching than input for you would have hunted down repowering this both matching engine and trans from a known salvage source for a good and well documented originals put to salvage for some other reason than worn out.
Note on dark fluids in general now knowing you said "color blind" I'm not but know several people do tell gradients of lighter or darker well for fluid in vehicles (any) that's not the way any should look. Dark is either burnt or friction materials overwhelmed the color usually marks time to give up depending on what item where IMO.


See what some others have to say on this project to me a lot would matter how the rest of this thing is overall to go this far with it?


Good luck, Tom


thanks tom but the car is in great shape over all. and the cost for a salvage engine that may be in the same shape is pointless. as most complain that like me they had rings done and a few years it ws back to the same place. so yes this may by her some time to save for another car or at least to trade it. also it nneded the chains done and that is the case with a lot of these engines.

but as for the trans yes i can see graduants of shades but the little bit that go on the floor i just could not tell. but in more research that i did is appears that i will be better off leaving it alone and look for either a rebuild kit or another trans. i opt for the trans as i have little experience with rebuilding autos. but there is a youtube that the guy shows rebuilding different auto trans and maybe he has one on the 6t45 trans and if it looks like it will not be a hard rebuild then i may tackle it. thanks


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Nov 27, 2021, 7:35 AM

Post #4 of 11 (1535 views)
Re: 2013 EQUINOX TRANSMISSION QUESTIONS Sign In

You've taken on a LOT. AYOR with youtube suggestions, demos of how things are done can and are misleading or sometimes plain WRONG!

Not to discourage you AT ALL you show strong motivation to do this.
Unsaid in lots of things at a glance are patches not making it new again. The fine machine work it takes new with matching parts at that time isn't duplicated again later just close enough to work again.

Have you looked for matching well know used? They are out there maybe not close by with a listed history of care, repair, miles and what services were done. Then "game over" the bad luck a tree falls on one gem of really must match this one exactly.

After done not Harbor Freight but acquaint the parts, whole or some replaced need that.

Used vehicles are at an all time premium folks are fixing lots more than just a couple years ago.

You've "reamed" out parts to fit for some things? I get it but depending on just what and how with what tools that's a final patch IMO up to that whole component no longer a useful core to pro redo as close to new as could be done not in sight but places that do that for high demand major components.

To finish this post I dare say after being here so long doubt is equipped for proper and detailed whole unit overhauls vs one at a time fixes has been very helpful - hit or miss with the caliber of the person who comes by.

A+ for energy on your part - no question. If there's another site to walk you thru you probably have to pay for it then have access to specialty tools.

That's why I said look at least for whole units that need nothing hopefully?

Last: You are not lacking energy but need some unreal help, info and tools. Experience you just can't short-cut that's plain time doing it over more than once what and where tougher spots are.

Wait for another here now fewer than long ago perhaps some totally different idea.

A trans expert I hope comes by "Gary" I hope can shed some light it's all the rest that also need be right also that's overwhelming ME already,

Tom



corvairbob
Novice

Nov 27, 2021, 8:16 AM

Post #5 of 11 (1532 views)
Re: 2013 EQUINOX TRANSMISSION QUESTIONS Sign In

tom that is kind of what i said i think. i have don lots of engines but they are simple machines. trans are another fellow altogether. and it may be to her best interest to just go to the shop or if i can find low miles trans then i will swap it out myself. the engine, on the other hand, they are all about the same so if i was to get a junkyard engine i may wind up putting back it the same problem i took out. so by doing rings at least i have a fighting chance.

that you tube it old you about is a guy that rebuilds them for a living and he shows how to do transmissions and the tools needed. so if i was to find the 6t45 he is rebuilding and it takes more tools than i have or specual adjustments then i will not even bother.

and you are correct about how fussy they can be. years ago in auto shop we had autos sitting on benches and the teacher said those are there to show the difference between manuals and autos. we rebuilt manuals but looked at the autos. he said they were another animal altogether. thanks


corvairbob
Novice

Nov 27, 2021, 9:08 AM

Post #6 of 11 (1528 views)
Re: 2013 EQUINOX TRANSMISSION QUESTIONS Sign In

so tom this is what i will do for now. the first step for me will be to check the fluid level. i did that once but i must or may have missed a step so i found a YT that shows how to do it from gm. i have to get the trans temp and maybe my scanner will get that. if not i will scan the fluid temp with my inferred scanner.

then put the trans thru the ranges and back in park and take the plug out. then if it is running out they said to let it run out until it is just about done and put the plug back and that is it. but if it is low to fill it until it flows out that port.

then if she still has problems i will have her stop at a trans repair shop and have it scanned for any issues. if i can fix those codes i will if not she can make an appointment and have it either changed out with a junkyard unit or have them rebuild it.

i'm still going to check out that guys YT on rebuilding these just so i have an idea. this guy does it for a living and teaches a shop class on trans repairs and does these YT to show others. he is in Texas.

anyway, if the trans has no codes then it is still engine-related and i can work at getting that fixed. the engine has no codes.

thanks bp.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Nov 27, 2021, 10:57 AM

Post #7 of 11 (1523 views)
Re: 2013 EQUINOX TRANSMISSION QUESTIONS Sign In

I need be be out of here in a while so please understand the "codes" are sensors everywhere to monitor conditions there on to "computer" to make fine tune adjustments by the nanosecond.

So scanning is limited to conditions. If it was to move a tiny part in trans not machined and in lube of ATF also at what temp, speed & 50 more things is stuck or sticky from a mechanical imperfection it's confused or making wrong decisions. Sensor was fine.

Hot burned oils add problems are physically sticky items are no longer fast.

Follow me? The chain reaction is other things will adjust improperly based on the source issue.

That's the collection of time, miles, temps ever changing, lube that loses range of effectiveness and toss in BAD LUCK.

Can be done - anything can it is and was insanely difficult that these things ever worked well never mind last and behave as intended.

Rebuild anything is at best shy of perfect can't compare. Some items yes, some no.

For now I'll be out for a while but hope you at least have a comfortable place to work and think on what's next to make the best of this that is practical time and costs to do it,

Tom



gsferraro
Veteran

Nov 28, 2021, 6:19 PM

Post #8 of 11 (1476 views)
Re: 2013 EQUINOX TRANSMISSION QUESTIONS Sign In

Hello,
Do you know how to check the fluid? No dipstick on this trans.?
Filter is internal, cannot be change unless trans is pulled and split open.
Gary


corvairbob
Novice

Dec 5, 2021, 7:54 AM

Post #9 of 11 (1396 views)
Re: 2013 EQUINOX TRANSMISSION QUESTIONS Sign In

hy gary. i think i do. i have to check and see if her car can send the trans temp to the dash display unless you happen to know. or if my harbor freight scanner will get the trans temp if not maybe i can take a thermal reading with my scanner? i found out the filter is not user-serviceable, that sucks.

i know it has to be level with the driver tire off and running warm and to run it through the ranges. if i recall that has to be done for a minute in each range with the brake on. and then put-in park and take the plug out and see if any fluid runs out of that port. if not then i have to add fluid to the tran thru the black cap on the top of the trans behind the engine.

does that sound like the procedure? i got that from a youtube that was put out by gm. to me the fluid looks black so if any runs out i will catch it and have the wife or girl tell me the color. i think i should be seeing a dark caramel color but what I'm going to do is get a quart of the proper fluid and then ihave the correct color to compare. if it is black then i'm not changing but if it is low i will add to it with new.

am i missing anything? the girl says the engine runs better in normal drive and if she puts the eco back then it runs worse and wants to stall at stops when it is warmed well. i have to change out the vvt solenoids yet and if that does not fix this issue then it might just be the trans giving her issue now.

we will not put a trans in it we will trade the junk off. thanks


gsferraro
Veteran

Dec 5, 2021, 9:05 AM

Post #10 of 11 (1392 views)
Re: 2013 EQUINOX TRANSMISSION QUESTIONS Sign In

Hello,
Yes, procedure is correct, car must be level and operating temp to check the fluid, engine running. If any engine problems fix those first. A bad running engine will affect the way the trans works. Gary


corvairbob
Novice

Dec 5, 2021, 9:18 AM

Post #11 of 11 (1390 views)
Re: 2013 EQUINOX TRANSMISSION QUESTIONS Sign In

thanks gary. yes, your correct on fixing the other issues first. it has a rough idle issue and no codes for this one yet. idle has been relearned and as you may have read i did the chains and phasers also i installed rings and rod bearings, as they go first. had to pull the pan anyway do to a bunch of cam chain parts in the oil pickup. but i did not get to change the vvt solenoids and that is what i think is the real issue. she complains that it starts idling poorly after she had driven it maybe 15 miles and on the xway. and mostly at about the same area. so what i think is the vvt solenoids have had time to get hot and start failing to change the cams and then when she is at stops the cams are a bit out of phase and cause the issues. but i don't know why there are no codes for it.

but there are no codes for the trans yet either on my scanner and i was told my scanner should get some trans codes if the trans throws out p codes. thanks, bp.






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