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Check Engine light leads to new engine!

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Old Mar 9, 2013 | 12:05 PM
  #1  
jmpnjoe86's Avatar
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Joined: 08-20-2010
Posts: 4
From: Randolph, NJ
Question Check Engine light leads to new engine!

I was out of town over the holidays in my '09 2LT with about 54K miles. Had the oil changed while out of town. The next day, noticed an occasional loud idle sound (almost like a diesel). The morning we left to drive home, CEL came on. Drove it home with CEL on (went out about 2/3 of the way home). Still had loud idle sound so we took it to dealer (still under CUV powertrain warranty). Dealer replaced cam position sensors (about $220). CEL came back on next day - dealer replaced cam position actuators under warranty. Light back on next day - dealer replaced timing chain. Back on again next day - dealer vowed to keep car until it was fixed. They ended up calling in a field engineer from Detroit to help them figure it out. It turned out there was an oil pressure issue to the top part of the engine, one that even replacing the cylinder head did not fix. So GM authorized them to replace the entire engine and we finally got it back after 5 weeks. Running great since then (I'd think it would with a new engine). Anyone else ever have anything similar happen?
Old Mar 9, 2013 | 01:53 PM
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AceMan's Avatar
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Joined: 11-26-2010
Posts: 59
From: Chicagoland NW
Your problem scares me. I have 52k on my '09 and I'm taking it in for a oil change next week in preparation for a 1000 mile trip. I will keep my finger s crossed.
Old Mar 9, 2013 | 02:02 PM
  #3  
Snoopy's Avatar
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Joined: 05-09-2006
Posts: 6,805
From: "Upland" Mesa, Arizona
I think ChevyMgr posted a TSB, in the "sticky" section that MAY pertain to your problem. Have a look.....it's regarding a blocked oil journal, IIRC, and it's one of his last posts in that section.

Did the dealer give further details in regard to the failure?


Here you go...scroll down to the last one:

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...710#post693710
Old Mar 9, 2013 | 03:26 PM
  #4  
jmpnjoe86's Avatar
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Joined: 08-20-2010
Posts: 4
From: Randolph, NJ
AceMan - good luck on your trip!

Snoopy - that TSB looked interesting. According to the dealer, first they removed the head and cleaned the ports with no change (still had low oil pressure on top of engine). They then replaced the whole head and still no change to the oil pressure. It was then that they replaced the engine and got it to work.
Old Mar 9, 2013 | 03:44 PM
  #5  
donbrew's Avatar
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Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 26,522
From: Fredericksburg,VA
So, it definitely was not the alternator or the A/C, since those don't come with a new engine.
Old Mar 9, 2013 | 03:46 PM
  #6  
whopper's Avatar
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Joined: 04-09-2006
Posts: 7,043
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Aceman - "scared"?
Old Mar 10, 2013 | 06:04 PM
  #7  
Bern's Avatar
 
Joined: 04-12-2012
Posts: 1
From: So Cal
If the oil filter comes apart ( cheap aftermarket filter) there is a very small orfice in the head gasket and a oil valve in the head that will be plugged. When this happens it all over for the top of this engine
Old Mar 10, 2013 | 06:13 PM
  #8  
DaGrinch's Avatar
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Joined: 08-03-2011
Posts: 683
From: Western MD
Originally Posted by AceMan
Your problem scares me. I have 52k on my '09 and I'm taking it in for a oil change next week in preparation for a 1000 mile trip. I will keep my finger s crossed.
Yeah, after reading this I'm a little concerned, too. My '09 2LT just turned 49K and has about 80% on the current oil change.
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