Hello all.

New here. Not a car guy. I'm having some issues with my Equinox, and no one seems to know what the issue is. I've tried a few other places online, so if you're going to reply with jokes/insults, please move on to the next thread. Okay. Now that that's out of the way, here's the deal.

I have a 2011 Chevy Equinox approx 157k miles. In March of this year I noticed it was shifting pretty aggressively when I was slowing down. A very noticeable jolt thru out the car. I thought it was a transmission issue so I took it in to a Chevy dealership, asked them to check out the Transmission and change the fluid. They changed the fluid and said everything looked fine. It continued to jolt when I was slowing down (Usually around 40mph and 30mph).

I then took it to a different shop. I told them the same thing. They looked at it, said the transmission was fine, but thought a TSB reflash of the onboard computer would help. They did that, and the jolt when I slow down is much less noticeable now. However, now, when I accelerate, there is a VERY noticeable jolt, usually around 11 mph. It's most notable when I am at a red light. The light turns green, and I moderately accelerate and right around 11mph, the car jolts as the tachometer shifts down. I tried to film it, you can see in this video here. Also, the car jolts pretty aggressively when I put it into reverse.

I took it back in to the shop that did the TSB reflash and asked them to look at it again. They told me everything was fine, and that they couldn't replicate the shifting issue. They also told me "That's probably just how the car drives now."

I took it to an oil shop to have the oil changed. They'd done some diagnostic stuff for me in the past, so I told them about the issue I was having. They were stumped.

Anyone know what this might be? Thank you for your help.

 

Actually, most people dont know it but an auto-trans that operates as that does would have less wear and tear. Automatics are not really my thing as engines, gearboxs- manual and clutch and axles are. I have heard it said the Dex 6 fluid can help, but I have no experiences to back that up with. Might be your TCM is not working properly,
which is not the ECM.

 

Which engine is in your Equinox?

Have you ever have the trans mount and engine mounts replaced? They could be badly worn causing the vibrations to transmit to the body.

You could really feel the engine vibrations and trans shifts in my suburban. I changed all the mounts over the last few years and when I got to the driver side engine mount a few weeks ago I was amazed at the difference. It feels like a brand new car now. It probably won't be inexpensive to pay someone to replace them but If it was me, I'd look them over well to see if the rubber looks like it's deteriorating or even gone.

I've also read that harsh shifts are a common complaint about the transmissions in the Equinox and that a TCM update is supposed to help the issue some. It sounds like you've have that done and it did help.

 

to clarify: your complaint is a harsh 1-2 upshift and 2-1 downshift...all the other shifts are normal?

 

To be honest, I’m not sure off the top of my head. I’ll have to check the manual or whatever documentation is with the car.

I have not had the mounts replaced. Only work I’ve had done to it is a new AC last year, new ball joint and exhaust manifold within the last 6 weeks.

Yes there was some update they initially did to it. The TCM thing described it perfectly. It didn’t seem to make much of a difference.

 

Thats correct. The upshift when I accelerate, and when the tachometer goes from 2 to 1.5 is the most aggressive shift. If I kinda floor it, and accelerate quickly, the harsh shift doesn’t happen until about 30 or 35 mph. If I’m on the interstate, any other shift is noticeable, but not nearly as aggressive as it is when I’m driving at slower speeds.

 

If it is one of the mounts, what does the repair costs look like for that? I just had the exhaust manifold and a ball joint replaced, which set me back about $1700.

 

I believe it’s a 4-Cylinder.

 

FWIW, I’ve noticed that when I drive with the AC off it doesn’t shift quite so aggressively. Sometimes it’s perfectly smooth, and other times it’s a lil abrupt. Not sure if that’s helpful or meaningful. I looked up other symptoms for mount issues and it doesn’t really exhibit any of the other ones mentioned

 

test drive with the tech and point out the harsh shift as it happens.