Service Bulletin

Bulletin No.:

18-NA-020

Date:

April, 2020

TECHNICAL
Subject:

Malfunction Indicator Lamp Illuminated with DTC P0300 and/or P0299/P2227 Set
This Bulletin replaces PIP5511A. Please discard PIP5511A.

Brand:

Model:

Buick

Envision

Chevrolet

Equinox

GMC

Terrain

Model Year:
from

to

VIN:
from

to

Engine:

Transmission:

Equipped with
2.0L Engine
(RPO LTG)

2016
2020
2018

-

-

Equipped with
2.0L or 1.5L
Engine (RPOs
LTG, LYX)

All

Involved Region or Country

U.S. and Canada

Condition

Some customers may comment on a malfunction indicator lamp illuminated.
During diagnosis, a technician may find DTC P0299, P2227, or P0300 set/stored.

Cause

This condition may be caused by a moisture build up inside the charge air cooler. Long
drives through rainy conditions and/or high humidity conditions (heavy fog) can cause
moisture to collect in the charge air cooler.
A heavy acceleration can draw moisture into the engine causing DTC P0300. In cold
temperatures, ambient and PCV moisture can freeze in the charge air cooler, restricting
flow, and causing DTC P0299 and/or P2227.

Correction

Perform a smoke leak test of the charge air cooler, then follow the repair steps in the
appropriate Service Procedure below, depending on the build date and vehicle outside
temperature experience.
Note: Charge Air Cooler Shutter is only to be used in northern states or provinces where
temperatures are consistently 20°F/-7°C or less in the winter.
Note: In rare cases where the addition of a charge air cooler shutter doesn't prevent
CAC freezing, install the lower portion of the soft grill cover. Remove cover from the grill
when temperatures are consistently above 20F/-7C.

Note: DO NOT use the grill cover when towing,
mountainous and/or during very hot ambient
temperatures 86F/30C.
If a customer comes in to have the mastic removed
from the charge air cooler, install the new shutter at that
time, and use the shutter installation labor time.
Note: If the charge air cooler is frozen and/or
contaminated, remove and wash it out. Use the add-on
labor operation.

Copyright 2020 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Page 2

April, 2020

Bulletin No.: 18-NA-020

Flow Chart Based on Conditions

5501070

Bulletin No.: 18-NA-020

April, 2020

Page 3

5501071

Page 4

April, 2020

Bulletin No.: 18-NA-020

Service Procedure Equinox, Terrain
Important: For the 2.0L engine ONLY, remove the
boost sensor from the intake charge pipe to the throttle
body and wipe with a clean rag to remove residual
moisture. The added shutter is activated to close and
open based on temperature.
1. Perform a smoke leak test of the charge air cooler.

4597334

• If a leak is determined, replace the charge air
cooler with the newly designed part. Refer to
Charge Air Cooler Replacement in SI.
• If there is NO leak, but a P0300, P0299 and/or
P2227 are present, AND the vehicle was built
ON or BEFORE March 1,2018, then replace
the charge air cooler with the newly designed
part. Refer to Charge Air Cooler Replacement
in SI.
• If there is NO leak, but a P0300, P0299 and/or
P2227 are present, AND the vehicle was built
AFTER March 1, 2018, refer to SI for further
diagnosis.
Important: DO NOT replace the CAC ducts as part of
this repair unless there is evidence of damage and/or a
leak from the CAC ducts.
Important: In warmer climates with high humidity,
P0300 may be set during extended highway driving due
to the condensation of moisture in the charge air cooler.
Installing the lower portion of the soft grill cover will help

prevent this occurrence. The customer should remove
the cover for non-highway driving or when pulling a
trailer.

Service Procedure Equinox, Terrain
If the charge air cooler is icing in colder weather
conditions, even after using the grill covers, OR the
temperature is expected to be consistently below 20°F/
-7°C, install a shutter in front of the Charge Air Cooler,
following the steps listed below.
Important: Grill covers cannot be used once the
Charge Air Cooler shutter is installed.
Important: The Charge Air Cooler shutter is a
permanently installed item. The added shutter is
activated to close and open, based on a temperature
controlled integral thermostatic spring.
1. Remove the front bumper shutter. Refer to Front
Bumper Shutter Replacement in SI.
2. Remove and discard the front bumper secondary
(lower) shutter assembly. Refer to Front Bumper
Secondary Shutter Replacement in SI.

Bulletin No.: 18-NA-020

April, 2020

Page 5

5279924

3. On the back of the upper shutter using a saw
blade, cut the upper shutter to lower shutter
actuator at the pivot location, as shown in the
photo above, and remove the linkage (1) and
discard.
Note: The secondary (lower) shutter assembly will
NOT need to be reinstalled in the future.
4. Reinstall the upper shutter.
5. Remove the radiator air lower baffle retainers and
baffle. Refer to Radiator Air Lower Baffle
Replacement in SI.
Note: Steps 6 - 9 listed below are for Equinox
vehicles ONLY.

5487822

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April, 2020

Bulletin No.: 18-NA-020

5487832

6. Use a utility knife to cut out the front lip in 3
sections of the radiator air lower baffle, as shown in
the pictures above.

5487837

7. Use a utility knife to trim the ribs on the let and right
sides of the side baffle, in order to provide
clearance for the new shutter, as shown in the
picture above

Bulletin No.: 18-NA-020

April, 2020

Page 7

5487845

5487842

8. Locate the shutter in front of the air lower baffle,
and install the new retainers that come with the
new shutter for the Equinox (1) and Terrain (2), as
shown in the pictures above.
9. Reinstall the front bumper shutter.

Page 8

April, 2020

Bulletin No.: 18-NA-020

Service Procedure Envision ONLY
Important: Remove the boost sensor from the intake
charge pipe to the throttle body and wipe with a clean
rag to remove residual moisture.
1. Perform a smoke leak test of the charge air cooler.

4597334

Important: The newly designed charge air cooler is
wider and is NOT compatible with the existing lower
baffle on the vehicle. The baffle will need to be replaced
to accommodate the larger charge air cooler.
• If a leak is determined, replace the charge air
cooler with the newly designed part. Refer to
Charge Air Cooler Replacement in SI.
• If there is NO leak, but a P0300, P0299 and/or
P2227 are present, AND the vehicle was built
ON or BEFORE January 5, 2019, then replace
the charge air cooler with the newly designed
part. Refer to Charge Air Cooler Replacement
in SI.
• If there is NO leak, but a P0300, P0299 and/or
P2227 are present, AND the vehicle was built
AFTER January 5, 2019, refer to SI for further
diagnosis.

Parts Information
Important: For Equinox and Terrain ONLY: The
vehicles may not show an E48 RPO code, so use the
other RPO identifiers to select the correct cover.
Causal
Part

X

Causal
Part

NA*

Description

Charge Air Cooler

Description

COVER PKGFRT GRL OPG

Part
Number

RPO

84454110

LYX

84454111
84634949
(Envision)

LTG

Part
Number

RPO

84624274
(Equinox)

Without WBL
or WFP

84624275
(Equinox
with Redline/
Sport)

With WBL
or WFP
Without VK3

Bulletin No.: 18-NA-020
Causal
Part

April, 2020

Description

Part
Number

RPO

Page 9

Labor
Operation

Description

Labor Time
2.3 hrs.
(Envision)

84630081
(Terrain
without front
license plate
bracket)

2.3 hrs.
(Equinox
RPO LTG)

84648360
(Terrain with
front license
plate
bracket)

With VK3

23350091
(Envision
ONLY)

-

BAFFLE, RAD
AIR LWR

SHUTTER KIT FRT BPR LWR

84812681
(Equinox)
84826590
(Terrain)

Perform Smoke Test for
Charge Air Cooler and
Charge Air Cooler
Replacement

4087008*

2.4 hrs.
(Equinox
RPO LYX)
2.6 hrs.
(Terrain
RPO LTG)
2.4 hrs
(Terrain
RPO LYX)

LTG, LYX

*For warranty transactions, DO NOT mark this/these
parts as the Causal Part. Enter the word “Bulletin” in the
Causal Part Description free-flow text field.

Install Shutter Cover if also
Replacing Charge Air Cooler

1086018*

Perform Smoke Test and
Install Charge Air Cooler
Grille Cover

4087308*

Perform Smoke Test for
Charge Air Cooler and
Install Shutter Cover

1.3 hrs.
(Equinox,
Terrain)

Add

Removing and Cleaning
Charge Air Cooler if Frozen
and/or Contaminated

1.0 hrs.
(Equinox,
Terrain)

Warranty Information
For vehicles repaired under the Powertrain coverage,
use the following labor operation. Reference the
Applicable Warranties section of Investigate Vehicle
History (IVH) for coverage information.

0.2 hrs
(Equinox,
Terrain)

Add

0.6 hrs.
(Equinox)
0.5 hrs.
(Terrain)

*This is a unique Labor Operation for Bulletin use only.

Version

12

Modified

Released January 22, 2018
Revised July 26, 2018 – Added Holden Equinox Model.
Revised October 19, 2018 – Updated the Cause and Correction.
Revised December 21, 2018 – Updated Additional Options, Correction, Parts Information
and Warranty Information.
Revised January 09, 2019 – Updated the Parts Information.
Revised February 19, 2019 – Added Envision also updated the Condition, Parts
Information and Warranty Information.
Revised March 19, 2019 – Updated the Service Procedure and Warranty Information for
Equinox/Terrain.
Revised May 15, 2019 – Updated the Warranty Information and adding flow chart.
Revised November 05, 2019 – Updated the Warranty Information.
Revised December 17, 2019 – Added 2020 Model Year.
Revised February 21, 2020 – Updated pictures for flow charts, also updated applicable
information within the bulletin including the Service Procedure Equinox/Terrain also Part
and Warranty Information.
Revised April 07, 2020 – Updated information for the following: Correction, Service
Procedure (Equinox/Terrain) and Warranty Information.

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these
technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper
service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a
job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your
vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the
information.

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