2013 eAssist 'bucking' at stoplights

[richardnewton]

I would go back to the garage ASAP as you don't want a safety issue.

It seems the 2.4L engines can go through high pressure fuel pumps & VVT solenoids pretty quickly. We recently replaced all 3. Make sure you use only OEM parts because these are so critical and rely on precise engineering & manufacturing.

- Remove the oil dipstick; check to see if it smells like gasoline; it should smell slightly like oil, not gasoline. If you smell gas in the oil, then you my have a failing high pressure fuel pump.

- The VVT solenoids are fragile. The intake solenoid can cause rough running and stalling. The solenoids can cause fuel and oil consumption too. For the 2.4L, these solenoids are replaced in pairs (as they have about the same heat stresses for close proximity and the second may fail shortly after the first). 2.4L solenoids should not be cleaned (in other engines that might be a viable fix). Several people on forums state that internal wires fail from heat and that failure can be intermittent (heat & vibration could connect or disconnect the broken internal wires); the 2.4L solenoid connectors look pretty wimpy. Sometimes a code like p0010 will pop us, but not always.

OBD-II Trouble Code: P0010 "A" Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Bank 1)

Detailed information on troubleshooting and repairing a p0010 check engine light code which refers to a camshaft position actuator circuit. Also includes links to relevant forum topics on the code.

www.obd-codes.com

Note that changing the accessory belt is expensive because it requires a special tool and takes some time; that was a good bonus service. And it was close to required changing.

 

[Human]

I checked the oil on Tuesday, following Monday evening's traffic jam. The oil level was fine and it still looked pretty clean almost 2,000 miles after it was last changed and it definitely smelled like oil, not gas.

I just checked codes with my scanner and it's throwing a 'P0001: Fuel volume control regulator circuit open'. I guess it's going back to the shop.

 

[Human]

So I got the LaCrosse back from the shop yesterday. The mechanic said they pulled a different code, P0011 instead of P0001. He said the only problem was that it was low on oil by 1.5 quarts. They topped it up and didn't charge me anything, which was very nice of them, considering how much I'd spent with them a couple of months ago.

Apparently, GM has a service bulletin out on the 2.4L engines, acknowledging that they use more oil than they should. I don't know if it's on all EcoTech engines or just the eAssist variant. Since the bulletin came from the Chevrolet division, I imagine it's all of them. The recommended action is to check the oil (on level ground) at least twice a month and top it off when necessary. My driveway slopes away from the street, so the dipstick showed full, even when it wasn't. I now know that I need to park it on the street before I check it. The car is on the verge of turning 86,000 miles, so I'm wondering if I should start using a high mileage additive. I'm a little hesitant to do so, these cars seem to be so finicky about oil.

 

[richardnewton]

Make sure to use only DEXOS rated (full synthetic) oil as noted in your owner's manual. That matters a lot with the VVT system, especially these actuators.

On forums, some people wrote that 2.4L oil consumption was reduced with new VVT soleniods.

 

[Human]

Make sure to use only DEXOS rated (full synthetic) oil as noted in your owner's manual. That matters a lot with the VVT system, especially these actuators.

On forums, some people wrote that 2.4L oil consumption was reduced with new VVT soleniods.

Full synthetic is what's in there now and the VVT solenoids were replaced two months ago, so it should all be good—hopefully.

 

[Human]

This issue is back again. Sunday, I was at a gas station, moving at very slow speed to get to an open pump, when the car stalled. I didn't think much of it until Tuesday afternoon, when I was dropping my housemate off, and just as I was pulling out of the parking space, all hell broke loose on the instrument panel. In rapid succession, I got error messages saying "Engine Power Reduced" and "Service Stabilitrak," and of course the 'check engine' light also came on. Driving home, the car was 'bucking' at stoplights, instead of going into 'Auto-Stop' mode. I put my scanner on it when I got home, and it was throwing a P0001 code (Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit/Open). I checked the LaCrosse's oil yesterday and found it to be down one notch on the dipstick, so I put about a little in. I'm calling AAA to take it to the shop this afternoon.

I haven't driven the car since Tuesday, and am instead using my leaky convertible, despite a few days of drizzly weather. It's not ideal for the conditions, but I do feel fortunate to have a second vehicle available.

 

[richardnewton]

The 2.4 engines have a PCV hole that tends to get clogged. On some engines there was an issue with piston rings and pistons. Both could be potential causes of oil consumption (and blown rear main seals particularly in cold weather).

The PCV hole can be cleaned or expanded:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2015/SB-10090101-2280.pdf

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2015/MC-10113541-9999.pdf

PCV hole cleaning videos (the second one is the quick way but risks breaking the plastic and might not clean out the passages to all the runners, I suppose)

In cold weather areas some people have tried a vented oil cap and/or oil catch can (terrain forums). I don't know if those are applicable to you.

GM Service Bulletin 14882 - Blocked PCV valve causing...

www.terrainforum.net

 

[Human]

Once again, the mechanic changed the oil, cleared the codes, road tested it, and could find nothing else wrong with it. I picked the car up yesterday afternoon and it hasn't missed a beat. I guess I'll just need to keep a close eye on the oil level and see what happens.

 

[LewenYee]

Is that the auto start-stop function causing the trouble? Mine had similar behaviors

 

[Human]

I don't think the AutoStop was the actual cause, but it was a symptom. The car has actually been running well since I last posted to this thread almost two years ago. During that time, I've been extremely vigilant about oil consumption. I check it about once a week because it consumes a lot. I also have to be careful about where the car is parked when I check it, because if it's not perfectly level, the dipstick will give a very inaccurate reading. I had this happen a couple of weeks ago, after the check engine light came on when I was driving home from visiting family for Thanksgiving. I checked it in my driveway, which slopes down from the street, and it showed I had plenty of oil, but it was actually down a good bit when I took it to the shop. Counterintuitive as it seems, the car uses the most oil on highway trips. One would think it would be worse in town with more start/stop driving. The good news is this car is going into 'retirement' tomorrow. I'm driving it down to my mom's and bringing her 2013 LaCrosse back. This car will get little, if any, use going forward. Hers has not quite 15,000 miles on it, compared to the 137,000 on mine.

 

[richardnewton]

@Human - Let us know about service your "new" car has or will get in a new thread!

 

[Human]

@Human - Let us know about service your "new" car has or will get in a new thread!

You know I will!