09/18/2026
🔧 2013 Chevy Equinox 2.4L — One Camshaft Code Turned Into a Major Timing System Repair 🔧
This 2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2.4L came to me after the customer had the vehicle scanned at a parts store and was told it had an Exhaust Camshaft Position Not Plausible code.
Rather than assuming the code meant it needed a sensor, I started from the beginning and performed my own scan. After clearing and rechecking everything, that was the only code that resurfaced.
From there, I checked the engine oil condition and level, because the VVT system relies heavily on proper oil pressure and oil condition to operate correctly. During that inspection, the customer informed me that the engine had been consuming oil and that he had been having to add roughly 2 quarts every so many miles.
That information made me want to dig a little deeper.
My next step was removing and inspecting the VVT solenoids. That’s when the first major clue showed itself. The screens on the solenoids were peppered with plastic guide material and metallic debris.
At that point, I knew we were dealing with more than just an electrical or sensor issue.
I pulled the valve cover to inspect the timing components from the top and immediately found a damaged timing-chain guide with a section of the guide material completely missing, along with major slack in the timing chain.
I stopped there, showed the customer what I had found, explained what the repair was going to involve, and after receiving approval, I began tearing the timing system down.
And that’s when we found just how bad it really was.
As everything came apart, the timing-chain guides were literally coming out in pieces.
Even though removing the oil pan was NOT originally part of the job, there was no way I felt comfortable putting this engine back together knowing that all of that broken guide material had to have gone somewhere.
So I dropped the oil pan to inspect it.
Good thing I did.
The bottom of the oil pan was full of broken timing-guide pieces, and there were even pieces of guide material wedged into the oil pickup tube. Leaving that debris behind could have restricted oil flow and created an entirely new problem after the original repair was completed.
While continuing the inspection, I also discovered that the balance shaft chain guides were destroyed. The chain had been running where it wasn’t supposed to for so long that it had actually worn into FOUR bolts.
At that point, this wasn’t going back together halfway repaired.
I replaced the balance shaft chain guides and sprockets with the updated components, installed a new timing chain and guides, cleaned everything thoroughly, and made sure all of the timing components were installed and timed correctly.
Once the mechanical work was finished, the oil pan, timing cover, and valve cover were all properly resealed with new gaskets/seals, and the engine received a fresh oil change before being put back into service.
✅ Verified the customer’s original trouble code
✅ Checked oil level/condition and investigated oil consumption history
✅ Inspected VVT solenoids and discovered plastic/metal debris
✅ Removed valve cover and found damaged guide & excessive chain slack
✅ Removed and replaced failed timing-chain components
✅ Dropped oil pan to locate and remove remaining debris
✅ Removed guide material lodged around the oil pickup
✅ Found additional balance-shaft chain damage
✅ Replaced balance shaft guides and sprockets with updated components
✅ Installed new timing chain and guides
✅ Resealed oil pan, timing cover, and valve cover
✅ Fresh oil change
✅ Back on the road
This repair is a perfect example of why a trouble code is the beginning of a diagnosis — not the diagnosis itself.
The computer told us the exhaust camshaft position wasn’t where it expected it to be. It didn’t tell us that the timing guides were disintegrating, the chain had excessive slack, pieces were sitting in the oil pan and oil pickup, or that the balance shaft chain had been damaging other components.
That’s what proper inspection found.
I also could have replaced only what was originally quoted and never touched the oil pan. But when I know there’s broken material somewhere inside an engine, I’d rather take the extra time to find it than hand the keys back knowing it could cause another problem down the road.
After a pretty extensive repair, this Equinox is back together, running, and back on the road — with one very happy customer. 🔧💪
Apex Auto Services
Whether it’s a check-engine light, strange noise, timing issue, or something another shop hasn’t been able to pin down, diagnosis comes first. Parts come second.
