Engine Cooling System Problems of Chevrolet Equinox - part 2

We have a 2005 chevy Equinox, as my mechanic would say, is a problem child. We have experienced what most have with the odor coming from the cooling system. Our biggest complaint in with the suspension, and now the abs system. It took several visits to figure out why our vehicle was making loud noises in the front end. It all started while I was driving it around a sharp corner. From that day on, which was about six months ago, till present time the car has been load. We have an excellent mechanic. The noise in the front turned out to be the strut plates. This cost us $300 per side. We thought we had solved the issues except for about a week ago a louder noise stared. It felt and sounded like the car was going to break in two. We brought it back to our mechanic. This time it was the suspension system again. I do not know what it is called. There is a rod that is from the top of the strut that goes down to the wheel. These both needs to be replaced. The vehicle is at the shop now. Thank fully theses rods only cost $30 a piece. The vehicle only has 46000 on it. Then we can talk about the abs system. Not every time but quite frequently we would back the car up and they abs would engage. Only way to fix this was through replacing the sensors on the wheels. In not knowing which sensor is bad we would have to replace all of them which would amout to at least $1200. The good news or not such good news, however you want to look at it, the abs system is engaging going forward now, on dry pavement while braking. At least the mechanics should be able to find the falty sensor now that it is happening all of the time. Shame on us for not doing our research before we bought the vehicle.

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I bought the eqinox in the end of February 2005. I noticed a sour smell, and had the dealer clean interior because of the rotten smell. The smell persisted, and the dealer had the coolant system flushed and said that would cure the problem. Then , when the weather warmed up and I turned on the vent light steam would come out of the vents and moisture on the window inside. I had the car in the shop again for 5 days, and they said they could not find anything wrong. They had flushed the system again and the smell was still there. Two weeks later the engine light came on. I took it back to the originals dealer, and they determined the heater core was gone and they replaced it and seemed to run fine , except it seemed to run hot and would leave a large puddle. I complained, but the dealer told me that it was normal, and that all was okay. Last month in may 2007 every time I stopped the temperature gauge would climb so the dealer replaced the thermostat. 3 weeks later the gauge would hit red every time I would stop at a light. I brought it back again this time they said the head gaskets were shot. I contacted Chevrolet, and they were supposed to gave me the parts, but it still cost $918. 00 since now I was out of warranty. I have spoken to several mechanics, and they claimed the engine heads warped due to the heater core problems in the beginning, and that if I had a private repairman repair the gaskets the job would have coasted $1000, and Chevrolet did not give me any real break.

17 trips to the dealership for repeated problems with brakes, rotors, bearings, transmission, clicking/other sound in engine compartment not fixed as of yet by gm, broken door hinge, broken license plate bolt receivers, starter, seat belt clip, air conditioner, remotes, noises in front end, engine miss, clunking when wheels spun on wet pavement.

See all problems of the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

Took in for oil change and lube tech at dealer suggested take in for service due to discoloration of antifreeze, told by service advisor this was okay and not to worry. Second oil change same issues, finally have appointment to hopefully correct,poor gas mileage, erratic shifting, gas cap that will not stay on,check engine light once or twice a week, and only 8300 hundred miles on vehicle. Will have hard time buying another chevorlet again.

Took delivery o '05 Equinox in June of '04. Within the first year I began having an odor of coolant in the passenger compartment. Had coolant system flushed and tank cleaned out in April of '05. This was apparently before a TSB was issued for the problem. In March of '06 I had it back to the dealer for the same problem and this time they had a TSB for it and changed the hoses and coolant under warranty. Again in July of '06 dealer replaced the tank and coolant due to coolant gelling in tank. In August of '06 with 35,557 miles on the car (just under the 36,000 mile warranty there was again the smell accompanied by overheating. Dealer found leaks in the front and rear head gasket. Just barely got this job in under warranty! within weeks I was back at the dealer for a heater core replacement. They told me that this sometimes happens with the problem of the head gasket. (why didn't they check this when they were doing the head gasket if that was the case?) anyway I was back to the dealer by December due to the sound of air in the system after the heater core replacement. They found a leak between the tranny and the back of the block. They replaced the metal heater o-ring that was leaking. I never asked for any of the old parts from the dealer. I recently had the car to my mechanic (not the dealer) because of the smell of coolant in the cabin and the sound of water rushing/air in the system. He told me there is a TSB for hth problem and I would have to flush the system and change all the hoses. That was the end of March and I was saving $ for the job. This week my car overheated all the way to the red and when I checked the reservoir it was empty. I can't afford to replace or flush the coolant system every few months or year, especially when it is supposed to last much longer. If you have any advice on a remedy for the situation I would greatly appreciate it. I have had numerous other problems with this vehicle which I have not listed here.

Cooling system problems, foul smell, fluid is a dark color when it should be light pink. Problem was first pointed out at 2nd oil change appointment. They advised that the cooling system was malefunctioning and that I should contact the dealership to have this fixed. They also mentioned that they have seen 3 other Equinox's all with the same problem. Upon contacting the dealership they advised that it was not a malefunction, they did not seem concerned about this problem. Appointment is scheduled in a couple days. Upon reading more about this cooling system problem I am even more concerned due to the fact that there is yet to be a recall and all of the vehicles are having the same problem.

This is a correction to the complaint I submitted yesterday. The complaint number is 10100295. On that complaint please delete the part of the complaint that says the abnormal odor from the engine coolant is entering the passenger compartment of the vehicle. I found that the coolant reservoir cap was loose, allowing the strong odor of the coolant to escape and be drawn into the passenger compartment. When I tightened the cap the odor stopped entering the passenger compartment. I am still very concerned about the abnormal odor and color of the coolant. This could be adversely affecting components of the cooling system and engine.

I recently purchased a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. After only 500 miles the engine coolant has turned brown and has a very bad odor (stinks). When the heater is turned on, the odor comes into the passenger compartment and is almost intolerable.

My 2005 Chevrolet Equinox has reoccruing problems with 1) the engine coolant turning from the normal dex cool pink color to a dark brown / black color. 2) horrible smell entering the passenger cabin when the engine is running the heat is on. The vehicle was picked up from the service department on November 18th and according to the dealer, gm's technical line is instructing all service departments to take no repair actions as they are still trying to determine the cause. The first time I took the vehicle in they performed a coolant system flush which took care of the problem for a couple of hundred miles, only to return. This problem is happening all across north America so it cannot be blamed on weather or type of fuel used. I have many concerns with the long term reliability of this vehicle.

In the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox the coolant may be contaminated and turn a dark brown or black and somehow emit fumes into the cabin that cause the occupants to feel light headed. This condition can start anywhere from 400 to 1800 miles ands worsens over time. It is unknown whether the fumes are toxic so the vehicle is undrivable at that point.

2005 Equinox - I had about 300 miles on the car and it started smelling of a propane odor/dead animals. Took it to dealer and they flushed the coolant system but the odor returned. Then the car overheated due to the coolant system. They put a new thermostat and flushed once again. Still a bad odor, the car leaks water and it runs hot. I have had the car in the shop 3 times and they still can not fix the odor.

Purchased a 2005 chevy Equinox new from dealer. Vehicle spent two days at dealer, only for dealer to tell me that there is no fix for problem. My Equinox has coolant contamination which emits a bad odor. Chevy still has to TSB out on this problem yet, and others are having the same problem. This was noticed @ 1500 miles. Currently, the vehicle has 2700. Dealer told me that there would be no problem driving until chevy comes out with TSB. If you look at the coolant resevoir, the coolant is dark in color and sludge is forming in the container (residue).

I have a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. Soon after I received the new vehicle (within a few hundred miles) I began noticing a very distinct and horrible smell coming from the engine compartment. The smell is noticeable from 10 feet away from the car and comes in through the cabin vents when the air is on and the car is standing still and running. It does not enter the cabin when the car is moving. Gm thinks the smell is due to the dexcool coolant reacting with the hoses in the coolant system and has flushed my coolant system several times already but the smell keeps coming back. I have been reading of this problem from many, many others across the us and canada who own Equinox and so far gm has not announced a recall despite people being unable to spend more than 5 minutes in these vehicles before getting headaches or just being unable to handle the smell. Please urge gm to come up with a solution fast!.