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Says the engine is overheating and it will slow down to 20 mph?

Tiny
JAMESJONES
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 3.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 170,000 MILES
My vehicle's temperature gauge will be at normal temperature then after ten minutes of driving it falls to cold. Then says the engine is overheating and it will slow down to 20 mph. Is that the temperature control or the gauge cluster failure?
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Saturday, July 6th, 2019 AT 10:23 AM

18 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Hi JamesJones,

This sounds like a temp sensor issue. The cluster is just a display meaning it shows the temp that the PCM is telling it to. So either the PCM is sending erratic signals or more likely the temp gauge is failing and it is sending the bad signal to the PCM, then the PCM is reacting based on that info.

Here is the procedure on how to replace it. If you want to try and confirm this, we would need to check and see if there are codes. If so, they will point us toward the sensor or a different place. Another way is to hook up a meter to the sensor and monitor the voltage output. If it erratic like the gauge then you know the sensor is the issue.

Let me know what you find and we can go from there.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
JAMESJONES
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I changed the coolant temperature sensor and still the same thing. Now I can just turn the key to run position and after 10 seconds without even starting the car it says engine hot ac off and turns the fans on even when the engine is completely cold with out starting it. What else controls the temperature that would do that.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
JAMESJONES
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Any ideas?
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
So if the coolant temp is showing high with the engine off, then this is most likely the ECM that is just not functioning properly. The sensor sends a signal to the ECM and the ECM then turns the fan on and commands AC off because it thinks the engine is overheating. If the sensor is ok, and wiring is ok, the only thing left is the ECM.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
JAMESJONES
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I’m going to buy a new connector tomorrow and try that before I go to far that ecm is pretty expensive
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
JAMESJONES
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Thanks for getting back to me by the way I’ll let u know what happens tomorrow evening
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
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Sounds good. I will wait to hear back. Thanks.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
JAMESJONES
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Well, I changed the connector to the coolant temperature sensor and I cleared the code then I drove it for about 30 minutes and no light. But I was wondering how often the computer runs it’s diagnostics test.I might not of driven it long enough to find out if it’s going to come back on. The temperature gauge stayed rock soiled at a little under the half way mark like normal.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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That is great news. This does not run a diagnostic. The temperature gauge works by displaying the signal voltage it is receiving. So the fact that it was fluctuating, it was just displaying what the voltage was telling it to do. Replacing the connector removed any corrosion on the terminal ends which was causing the voltage to fluctuate. If it is operating properly and not doing what it was, I would think you got it.

Good job and thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
JAMESJONES
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I hope buddy. Now I have to change the EGR valve. Lol
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Here is the procedure just in case. However, the hard part is past. The EGR is pretty easy especially compared to changing out that connector.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
JAMESJONES
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I have another question. The tire monitor on the right rear is saying it’s not getting a signal. Is there a way to reset that because it was working fine?
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
JAMESJONES
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I was thinking about trying to clean the EGR too. Do you think it would work?
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:04 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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You can clean them but they are relatively cheap these days that I don't recommend it anymore. If you do clean it then you will want to test it before you reinstall it.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:04 PM
Tiny
JAMESJONES
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I’ll give it a try. I already spent a bunch of money on this Equinox it’s getting pretty old fast. I like Chevrolet's but after this it almost makes me think twice. :( I guess there’s no way to reset the tire monitor on these Equinox’s my rear right was always working now after my 30 minute drive it says- - and the yellow tire light came on too with the rest of 5 codes still in the system. Lol
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:04 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Okay. Let me know what happens and then start a new thread for the tire light. I am not familiar with it but will research it when you post that one. We just need to keep it one issue per post just because this is not only here to assist you but hopefully others that have the same issue. If we address more than the issue on the subject line, then no one else will ever find a different issue.

Keep me posted. Thanks
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:04 PM
Tiny
JAMESJONES
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Well, I just decided to put a new EGR valve on so the stable track light went off and the equinox seems to be running really good now so I’m really glad that went smoothly and fixed it.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:04 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Awesome. Good job James. Thanks for updating us. That will help others that have a similar issue. Thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2021 AT 1:04 PM

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