1.4T check engine woes...
- Thread starter SourKandi
- Start date
SourKandi
New member
Oh and also they wouldn't check that because I asked them to. "Stupid car forums everyone thinks they know how to work on cars now!!!"
Mine had this issue and was fixed under warranty. Like the OP after getting it fixed it was like driving a different car, more power than before the problem developed and like 3 more mpg.
Kandi,
Buy one of these: Advanced ELM327 V1 5 Bluetooth Interface OBD2 Car Scanner Adapter Torque Android | eBay
Its an OBDII scantool that connects via bluetooth to an app called Torque. That's an android app and I believe there may be a version for iPhone. Gives you most real-time data like a professional scantool you can rent from Autozone and also reads trouble codes.
I don't go to the dealer without reading the code myself and doing research on it first. Typically when I go to the dealer I tell them what to fix and there's no problems. You want to be careful because some dealers are shady and they like coming up with excuses for more billable hours, I believe GM/Chevy compensate them for all warranty work done and it can be a cash cow. You want to control the situation and keep them from doing that.
And just so you know, if you notice the car is driving differently and you suspect its having an issue but the check engine light isn't coming on, something's probably wrong. The trouble codes don't trigger the check engine light right away. If you use a scantool you can see all the pending codes and figure out problems early, before the light comes on in the dash. For pending faults to turn the light on they have to occur a certain number of times within a certain number of keyturns or something like that, and its designed to save GM hassle of dealing with problems unless they go full-blown. From the owner's perspective its better catching them early as many issues can be harmful to the car and damage other components. For one thing, your original issue with the PCV and valve cover could've caused issues with fuel metering and delivery, making it run rich/lean which can quickly foul the catalysts and/or O2 sensors. IIRC these cars have multiple catalytic converters and multiple O2 sensors. GM will try to cut costs any way they can so they may dick you around trying everything they can to solve it for cheap without replacing all the components that may need to be replaced.
Buy one of these: Advanced ELM327 V1 5 Bluetooth Interface OBD2 Car Scanner Adapter Torque Android | eBay
Its an OBDII scantool that connects via bluetooth to an app called Torque. That's an android app and I believe there may be a version for iPhone. Gives you most real-time data like a professional scantool you can rent from Autozone and also reads trouble codes.
I don't go to the dealer without reading the code myself and doing research on it first. Typically when I go to the dealer I tell them what to fix and there's no problems. You want to be careful because some dealers are shady and they like coming up with excuses for more billable hours, I believe GM/Chevy compensate them for all warranty work done and it can be a cash cow. You want to control the situation and keep them from doing that.
And just so you know, if you notice the car is driving differently and you suspect its having an issue but the check engine light isn't coming on, something's probably wrong. The trouble codes don't trigger the check engine light right away. If you use a scantool you can see all the pending codes and figure out problems early, before the light comes on in the dash. For pending faults to turn the light on they have to occur a certain number of times within a certain number of keyturns or something like that, and its designed to save GM hassle of dealing with problems unless they go full-blown. From the owner's perspective its better catching them early as many issues can be harmful to the car and damage other components. For one thing, your original issue with the PCV and valve cover could've caused issues with fuel metering and delivery, making it run rich/lean which can quickly foul the catalysts and/or O2 sensors. IIRC these cars have multiple catalytic converters and multiple O2 sensors. GM will try to cut costs any way they can so they may dick you around trying everything they can to solve it for cheap without replacing all the components that may need to be replaced.
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+1. It looks like that initial problem may have caused all sorts of other problems and the dealer is having trouble figuring it all out. This is why you want your own scantool and why you want to figure out problems early. IIRC with my PCV and valve cover issue it was causing a vacuum leak and was throwing rich/lean codes. Also I wouldn't worry about the turbo so much, I think when mine finally lit up the light on the dash it went into limp-home mode or w/e and wouldn't build boost.
The car is long gone due to this issue.
I had an acquaintance have a Cruze turbo failure at 96,000 just before PT warranty expired. He had done zero modifications. I also had zero mods completed on my Cruze. My Cruze did not go into limp mode. In my opinion, it should have.
Turbos are more fragile in these applications. The "cheaper" oil cooled bearings must have consistent clean flow and pressure. The temperatures in the turbo can swing dramatically(bad) with changes to the flow, combustion and constituents of the gas stream. For example, a malfunctioning injector can destroy the turbine and cats if it goes unchecked(fuel dumping). Blow-by oil from worn rings can do the same.
I do have a scan tool with onboard monitoring.
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This is irritating! Have you asked GM Customer Care for help? There are many intelligent folks on forums. Please do not misconstrue... there are folks that post out of ignorance. I hope this dealership changes their path with respect to customer service..........
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SourKandi
New member
In my honest opinion, I thought there may be some sort of scam going on with them being compensated for work hours on my car. They have yet to address the root of the problem that has caused all the other problems. It's going to a different dealership and I have a case number with customer care. I have made a formal complaint about the dealership.
laborsmith
New member
This is a shout out to Patsy G.
I know someone in your department may be aware of this siruation but as far as I can tell Chevrolet has dropped the ball and CCS has managed to not help.
You know I am a Chevy fanboy, but come on; this is ridiculous. And undefendable.
Laborsmith
I know someone in your department may be aware of this siruation but as far as I can tell Chevrolet has dropped the ball and CCS has managed to not help.
You know I am a Chevy fanboy, but come on; this is ridiculous. And undefendable.
Laborsmith
SourKandi
New member
Just dropped the sonic at the new dealership. I'm curious about the fuel grade. The foreman told me I should only be running 87 in my turbo and that if I run higher grades I can see problems pop up. I was having issues with almost stalling and that's when I decided to change my fuel grade. So it almost sounds like he is trying to put blame on me. Anything I know about turbos is that a lower fuel grade can harm them. We will see what they say. The car runs like crap right now; my '89 VW Fox is quicker and healthier than my '13 sonic turbo. I shouldn't want to drive my 25 yo car over the new one because it runs better. Just sayin.
laborsmith
New member
Scary. Back in the summer before the Sonic started regular production, Chevy engineers recommended using premium fuel in the turbocharged Cruze when summer temperatures got high. If the Cruze and the Sonic use the same turbocharged engine, then this statement would apply to the Sonic.
Hopefully the actual tech who does the work on your Sonic is better informed than his foreman, who of course was looking for a way to blame you. Sometimes I wish the government would throw out all franchise laws as they apply to vehicle retail sales and require manufacturers to be responsible. A warranty is fine but it does not protect a consumer from wilful ignorance or the appearance thereof as we sometimes see in the auto world.
Laborsmith
Hopefully the actual tech who does the work on your Sonic is better informed than his foreman, who of course was looking for a way to blame you. Sometimes I wish the government would throw out all franchise laws as they apply to vehicle retail sales and require manufacturers to be responsible. A warranty is fine but it does not protect a consumer from wilful ignorance or the appearance thereof as we sometimes see in the auto world.
Laborsmith
There are two different higher octane TSBs (one for the 1.8 and one for the 1.4t). The 1.4t deals with higher ambient temperatures and stalling. My Cruze 1.4t required 91 or it would stall at almost every stop in the summer. It appears that the tech is trying to place blame. Please talk to Pasty. She can help.
For reference, the 1.8 TSB deals with hard starts combined with LOUD engine noise during cold/high humidity mornings. TAC is currently working on a programming solution but has advised to only use high octane top tier fuel until a solution is found. I have been patiently waiting since October for a new ECM tune.
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SourKandi
New member
It was completely a set up question. No matter what I answered he had a way to blame me. If I answered 87, it would have been "you should be using 90+" ; if I answered 90+ then "you should be using 87." I realized that when I was answering.
My husband always used 87- and after awhile it was starting to act up; the stalling and rough idling. So I asked him to start using higher grade and it immediately improved and we gained substantial mpg.
I use nothing less than 90+ in my 1989 vw. It's happy and runs like a dream. I shouldn't be worried I might be ruining my engine by choosing premium gas in a '13 car. I seriously feel it bogus. If this is truly an issue, I should be able to find it, easily, in the owners manual.
Frizodanizzo
New member
The owners manual even states use of 89 octane fuel as a minimum, 87 in emergencies and if 89 isn't available use the next highest fuel grade.
I have the same issues as you with a 2013 Sonic 1.4l manual and 20k miles on it. The car has not run correct since I purchased it. The first problem was a missing clip that connected the wastegate to the turbo. Every time I hop on the highway and set the cruise the MPG drops to 28, once I hit stop and go traffic or city driving it picks up to about 32 mpg. It has been in the shop so many times I have lost track and every time they tell me it's normal and there is nothing wrong with the car. First time they asked what gas I ran I told them manufactured recommended 89 octane from Mobile, Shell or BP. They told me I was using the wrong gas. 2nd time I told them the most expensive gas from Mobile, Shell or BP and they told me I was running the wrong gas. You can't win.... My car doesn't heat up when it gets below 0. Engine temp hovers around 140-180 degrees even after driving over an hour on the highway. This is normal. When the engine is at operating temp the long term and short term full trims are all over the place between -37.5 and +50. This is normal. Engine is operating in open loop whenever I break 1/2 throttle. This is normal. I think my problems are related to spark knock as it pulls timing when I accelerate and the boost caps around 10psi at 4k RPM. I'm told this is normal also. I'm going to data log it with a more comprehensive tool in a week or two and submit a final complaint to GM Customer Care. I just started a new job and I will be putting 40k a year on my car on so fuel econ is more important than ever. At 28mpg highway I can afford to take a loss for a car that gets better fuel economy.
LorbeerTLC
Member
Interesting: Owner's Manual for '12 1.4L says 87.
Huh! Frizodanizzo, are you talking about the Sonic or another car?
I checked my Owner's Manual for my 2012 Chevy Sonic 1.4L Turbo and it states to use 87 octane (or higher).
Copied word-for-word Per "Driving and Operating" page 9-35 below:
"Recommended Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 87, an audible knocking noise,
commonly referred to as spark knock, might be heard when driving. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. If heavy knocking is heard when using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher, the engine needs service."
I've never had to use anything higher than Unleaded Regular (87 Octane), year round for my turbo and it runs great. Hasn't pinged or knocked once. Are models later than 2012 now say to run 89 (Midgrade)?
Huh!
Frizodanizzo, are you talking about the Sonic or another car?I checked my Owner's Manual for my 2012 Chevy Sonic 1.4L Turbo and it states to use 87 octane (or higher).
Copied word-for-word Per "Driving and Operating" page 9-35 below:
"Recommended Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 87, an audible knocking noise,
commonly referred to as spark knock, might be heard when driving. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. If heavy knocking is heard when using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher, the engine needs service."
I've never had to use anything higher than Unleaded Regular (87 Octane), year round for my turbo and it runs great. Hasn't pinged or knocked once. Are models later than 2012 now say to run 89 (Midgrade)?
