Chevy Equinox P0010 Error Code: Diagnosis And Repair

If you drive a Chevrolet Equinox and have had some trouble with an engine error code recently, you're likely worried about how serious it is. The P0010 code on the Chevy Equinox isn't a signal of the car falling apart, but it could potentially lead to something more sinister with your Equinox's engine.

The 2.4-liter GM Ecotec engine was used in a multitude of cars, and the versions carrying LAF and LEA engine codes were fitted as the base engine in the second-generation Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain from 2010 to 2017. The 2010 and 2011 model years used the gasoline-only LAF engine before switching to the E85-compatible LEA engine for the 2012 model year. LAF and LEA engines are otherwise identical, though, and remained available for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 as well. But what if your Chevrolet Equinox shows a P0010 error code? Well, here's everything you need to know to deal with the issue at hand.

One of the main issues affecting Chevy Equinox 2.4-liter engines relates to their variable valve timing (VVT) system's camshaft adjustment actuators, which can develop an internal malfunction with their solenoids. This effectively creates an open circuit that prevents them from operating at all. The engine control unit (ECU) will detect this issue, and store the P0010 and/or P0011 OBD-II codes in its diagnostic memory if this malfunction relates to the intake cam solenoid, while illuminating the Check Engine Light (CEL) to inform the driver of a problem.

The intake cam solenoid appears to be the most prone to this failure, but the same fault could occur on the exhaust camshaft actuator as well, in which case the VVT-related trouble codes would be P0013 and/or P0014. This diagnostic- and repair guide will focus on the intake cam actuator adjustment solenoid only, in the interest of simplicity, but the symptoms and repairs are identical for both intake- and exhaust camshaft actuators, so the following information applies to both solenoids.

The P0010 trouble code on a Chevy Equinox 2.4 indicates that the ECU has detected an open circuit in the intake camshaft adjuster solenoid. This is usually followed by the P0011 error code, triggered simply because the intake camshaft's timing doesn't correlate with the expected camshaft position as a result of the solenoid malfunction.

There are a number of symptoms to indicate a problem related to the camshaft position control system. The following may accompany the Chevy Equinox P0010 error:

• Illuminated CEL
• Uneven idle quality
• A tendency to stall when coming off the throttle, especially in Reverse gear
• Poor high-RPM performance
• Rattling noises from the engine
• Excessive fuel consumption

If a diagnostic scan of a Chevrolet Equinox shows error code P0010, the engine will have switched over to limp-home mode, restricting performance to prevent possible further damage. However, your only course of action would be to repair the defect as soon as possible because it won't go away if you just clear the diagnostic memory without rectifying the problem.

A failed camshaft adjuster won't cause the Chevy Equinox to grind to a halt, and it will still be safe to drive home or to a workshop. Don't drive this for too long, though, due to the possibility of the engine stalling at low speed. Your fuel consumption will also go through the roof, so you'll be wasting gas due to this simple fault.

Dealing with the cause of a P0010 code on a Chevy Equinox is easy enough to do at home and doesn't require any special equipment. This step-by-step guide will show you how to fix the P0010 error on a Chevy Equinox:

Ensure that the engine is sufficiently cooled-down for you to touch its external surfaces.

Open the hood after ensuring that the engine is turned off and the ignition key is removed.

Remove the air box on top of the engine by releasing the hose clamps at the air filter¹ (at the top, on the passenger side) and at the throttle body³ (which is located behind the radiator, on the bottom end of the air box), as well as the quick-release fitting for the breather hose directly above the engine on the passenger side².

Remove the oil filler cap⁴ and set it aside, then take off the engine cover⁵ by gently tugging its front- and rear edges upwards to dislodge this plastic cover from its mounting lugs.

The two camshaft actuator solenoids will now be visible⁶, situated next to each other on the passenger side of the valve cover. The front solenoid actuates the inlet camshaft, and the rear solenoid actuates the exhaust camshaft.

Unplugging the plastic wiring connectors can be tricky but becomes much easier if you release their plastic locking clips⁷ with a piece of wire⁸ and a flat-point screwdriver⁹ first.

Once the locking clips are released¹¹, gentle pressure to the connector's release clip¹⁰ and some light tugging will dislodge the wiring connector from the solenoid.

The camshaft solenoids are each located by a 10-mm bolt¹², so undo the one that holds the faulty solenoid in position.

Once the 10-mm bolt and its spacer washer have been removed, the solenoid itself is free to be extracted. Some sideways wiggling¹³ and sturdy pliers will help a lot here, but be careful not to damage the adjoining solenoid in the event of the pliers slipping.

Pull the solenoid straight upwards for its full length to extract, keeping some garage cloth handy to catch the oil drops falling from the solenoid when it comes out of the engine.

Fitting the new solenoid¹⁴ is the reverse procedure of removing the old one, but most replacement solenoids have a pre-fitted bolt and washer, so don't re-use the old locating bolt and spacer washer if you don't have to. Ensure that the wiring connector is securely clipped on the solenoid's plug, and don't forget to push the locking clips back into position.

Once the new solenoid is fitted and all the covers and clamps are re-fastened, the Equinox's ECU will recognize the new solenoid upon start-up, and the CEL will clear by itself. The P0010 error code will still be stored in the ECU as a historic fault, but this won't affect the Equinox's running at all and can be cleared by connecting the car to an OBD-II scanning tool.

Both intake- and exhaust camshaft solenoid units can be had for around $60 each from your Chevy dealership and $10 or so less from an aftermarket supplier, so the part prices are definitely not exorbitant. Also note that this repair doesn't require any extra seals or fluids, so it really won't cost you more than the part prices to repair yourself. Having a workshop perform this operation will cost you an hour in labor, so count on paying between $100 and $150 extra to have someone else replace the solenoids for you. However, this repair is so quick and simple that almost anyone with a flat-point screwdriver and basic socket wrench set should be able to tackle it as an easy DIY project.