2018 GMC Acadia "Loss of steering assist and AC" Thermostat issue?

[@hrdiesel]

I've put a parts list in the videos description. These are the parts that I used on this video but its best policy to make certain your vehicle uses the same parts

[@rong6780]

After watching your videos and Eric O's channel, I can now see how difficult and complicated even the formerly (early 1990's era) car repairs are now and how many specialty tools, scanners and wiring diagrams are required. It has taken you many years of learning and training to be able to diagnose the issues on so many different types of vehicles and engine configurations. Your courtesy and demeanor to this car owner earned you a new and loyal customer.

[@dannyhowell3171]

I really appreciate you making the video. I wish more technicians would explain stuff,, great job

[@hrdiesel]

Thanks!

[@robertnorton-e3s]

2019 Acadia SLT AWD....54k miles....steering reduced drive with caution.....check engine light....shift to park....all in the same week. After some research i tackled the shift to park issue...before i replaced the battery (check engine light, i hope)...i think maybe this project is a bit over my head....great video....but i had to ask....what happened to all those new gaskets?...That was the part i was fearing the most.....

[@dpjones101]

I have a 2015 Acadia that’s exact same problem came up. I ran my code reader on it and it did show a thermostat issue. I found your video on KZbin to confirm my assumptions thank you very much for the video.

[@hrdiesel]

Good luck! And thank you for the feedback. I love to hear it!

[@bobcook8576]

Thermostat failure. Very common on new gm vehicle's. Most run at 207 degrees. Replace Thermostat and disconnect battery for 10 minutes clearing faults.

[@BradyLong-pz7jm]

Exact issue with mine. This video helped me change it on my own. 55000 miles on 2019.

[@hrdiesel]

Thanks for the feedback! Glad it helped you out!

[@keith-j6u]

nice job just changed mine with a 15 mm semi deep 1/4 inch wobbler and did not remove intake and did it in a hr thanks for your work and trying to save people

[@ericstenberg249]

Looking into doing this method, did you have to drain the coolant?

[@keith-j6u]

@@ericstenberg249 if you can clean the area with some air first so you can screw the new one in but this may not be your problem but it can be done with a ton of work

[@jessietaber2179]

Some people don't have the tools to fix my own vehicle but it does help to let me know what the mechanic is taking apart just to fix a small 20.00 part.

[@GIANGNGUYEN-go8oy]

MY 2021 CHEVY BLAZER WITH ONLY 39K MILES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM TEMP GAUGE ON COLD LEVEL FAN RUN ON HIGH AND NO POWER STREERING ASST. I DID IT TOOK 7 HRS TO GET IT DONE. NOW THE TEMP ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND WILL SEE HOW LONG IT GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN. GOOD LUCK TO GM OWNERS.

[@lupavo1738]

Just did this on a 2020 Chevy Blazer with 54k miles. Took me about 5 hours taking my time and dealing with the stupid temperature sensor that’s in a tight spot that you can’t take off nor put back on lol.

[@valpro99]

My 2017 just exhibited the same symptoms exactly. 92,000 miles. On my way to the shop the issue cleared up on it's own. This has happened twice. I suspect a loose wire somewhere to either the Temp sensor or in the under hood main connector.

[@hrdiesel]

This car acted up randomly for the customer as well. Usually what happens is the thermostat doesn’t allow the engine to heat up as quickly as the ECM wants and it throws it into a default. Good luck on yours!!

[@tomchilson893]

Thanks for the video, and being honest.

[@ShalanaHarry]

My 2019 just had the same problem with 46,000 miles . Gm should recall the labor cost seems like a common problem .

[@TheSmirkDiggler]

Just happened to my 2019 Acadia as well. $1138

[@nycplayboy78]

@@TheSmirkDiggler OMFG that much SHEESH??!!

[@JV-so2ch]

Happened to my 2017 with 85k miles

[@nycplayboy78]

Same just happened to me with my 2017 XT5 with 78k miles NO WARRANTY COVERAGE AT ALL....SIGH@@JV-so2ch

[@adembajrami1373]

you are doing the right thing by posting this video my friend we need to realize that there is people that are hurt and can’t afford all their repairs to be done by the mechanic but also there is people who will bring work to you instead of the other mechanic so never fear that you will lose your income what god has meant for you there’s no power that can stop it from happening

[@hrdiesel]

I agree 100%! Thank you!!

[@vanceyamy2008]

How much Antifreeze did you have to put back in? Assuming you used the premix (50/50)?

[@hrdiesel]

Yes, I use 50-50 premix antifreeze. I believe I use somewhere around 3 gallon.

[@franklinavilez2386]

Our 2021 44,000 miles acadia same thing "steering assist disabled" signal came on. Took it to the dealer and thermostat needed replaced! Smh! Powertrain warranty covered it if under 60,000 miles

[@lawjoseph2701]

I am having the same issue. Question? Mine blows cold air sometimes, then it quits blowing cold air? What do you recommend? Thermostat gauge doesn't work. When it starts to blow cold air though it works again?

[@hrdiesel]

Usually, when the computer sees that the engine is not heating up to temperature the way it should it will disable the AC and temp gauge in the dash. My assumption would be that you’re having trouble with the thermostat.

[@richiev63]

2019 Chevy Blazer, pretty sure it's the sensor in my case. Connecting my reader the temp is normal and I can clear the code. Might come back in a day, might come back in a a few weeks.

[@darrell5703]

This happened to my 2017 Acadia Denali back in 2021. It was the Memorial Day weekend and we headed to see the family 8hrs away. So not having any a/c for the majority of that trip sucked. I put a bandaid on the situation by disconnecting my battery for a couple mins. Everything went back to normal. But it would routinely malfunction, so I would just continuously disconnect the battery. Got back home and took it to the shop and they fixed it for a couple hundred dollars. Can’t remember what the exact problem was but it got fixed. It was really weird. I researched it and think I found the idea to disconnect the battery from Reddit. But I honestly don’t remember. I just thought it was crazy that a “steering issue” affected the a/c. FYI it was Mavis tires that fixed it issue as well. So I didn’t take it to a fancy mechanic, just the tire shop.

[@hrdiesel]

Doesn’t have to be a fancy mechanic as long as they know what they are doing

[@MrQutaibah]

I have the same problem with my 2017 Acadia V3.6. I bought an OBD2 a year ago and keep clearing the code. It appears once a week or sometimes goes more than a month without any code showing up. Recently, I changed the thermostat and the sensor. I noticed something related to the issue: the code only appears during the first coolant circulation, meaning when the cold coolant enters the engine. It never appears while driving.

[@portiaw.2654]

Do you have a video that shows how you actually changed the thermostat? You edited that part out and only showed the sensor

[@n6dl321]

Yes, my DAU;'s 2020 Acadia with v6 sprung a -0128, lost AC and Temp gauge read C and did not move. As the code says thermostat.. a quick check says $160. but no temp guage reading suggests ECT for < $16. I took a look at my 2023 traverse with same(?) engine with the ECT front and center.. easy do with same thermostat/pipe assy. OOPS GMC was different. In any case the P0128 cleared itself, the Guage normaled up and the AC began working. but had forgotten to tell me until I arrived.

[@denismcauliffe9022]

video most people who see this would take it to a mechanic pay to have it done and under stand why the bill is so high

[@hrdiesel]

I’m hoping this helps someone out. Either by allowing them to see why the bill is so high or this might help them do it themselves

[@tomdimon5288]

2018 Acadia same problem changed sensor and thermostat now ac won’t work at all. Any suggestions thanks for the video

[@hrdiesel]

I would start by making sure nothing got left unplugged. Then hook up to a scan tool and see if anything is keeping it from turning on

[@marvinmendoza4050]

Great video, i had the same issue with my car and i took it to the dealer and they told me that i needed a new batterie and battery cables. I google the issue and every video i found talked about the thermostat.

[@hrdiesel]

Yes, the majority of the time is going to be your thermostat and or the temp sensor. I would be highly doubtful that it’s your battery and battery cables.

[@pamcm1098]

There is a service bulletin on this issue that they should have been aware of.

[@a836a]

Hi Thanks for sharing this After changing the thermostat and sensor I have the starter fuse keeps blowing (the one on positive terminal 350 amp) whenever I try to crank Do you have any idea about what might be the issue?

[@hrdiesel]

I would start by checking to make certain that a wire didn’t get pinched somewhere while you were reinstalling the parts. It’s been awhile since I have been in there but I believe a main wire runs around that area. Then if that ok the next thing I would check is make certain the starter is still good. Good luck!!

[@vernonsmith9051]

I took my 2019 Acadia to the shop today with the exact same issues. I hope the power train warranty covers the repairs. 53,000 miles on the odometer.

[@lawrencemartin24]

My 2018 just exhibited the same symptoms exactly. 139,000 miles.

[@hrdiesel]

Glad it could help!

[@MARKDONN-r2y]

Isn't the thermostat covered under 5 year 60,000 power train warranty?

[@hrdiesel]

Don’t quote me for sure, but I believe it would be.

[@MotoFish45]

According to my Dealer, YES.

[@dustinbrockus5693]

I had the same issue with my 2017 acadia. I replaced the sensor and haven't had an issue since.

[@hrdiesel]

👍👍

[@LauraGonzalez-cq6jt]

So luckily my Acadia is still under warranty and I had this issue and the dealership fixed it about a week ago and it just happened AGAIN! So annoying

[@vicentecabrera1504]

I have a 2018 Cadillac XT5 that is getting the same message. I’ve lost AC, thermostat gauge function, and my fan stays on. I still need to get it to my mechanic who is 30 miles, 30 minutes away. Would I be ok to drive it there or should I have it towed?

[@hrdiesel]

If it was mine I would drive it. It usually won’t overheat just won’t get as hot as the computer wants to see it.

[@raydelcasas]

​@@hrdieselmuchas gracias muy valioso su video para mi. Emigre hace unos meses y mi Cadillac XT5 2019, dejo de funcionar el aire acondicionado y no marca la temperatura. Cambiare el termostato y el sensor de temperatura. Pues aun no tengo scanner.

[@harryreeves5575]

What happened did you give up or did you cut the video You left out the best part . Removing the thermostat and the cooling Temperature sensor Thats what I wanted to see . Disappointed

[@hrdiesel]

My apologies on that I was in the beginning stages of recording at that point and didn’t have the right equipment to record everything and wasn’t sure what all to record and that’s the part that I didn’t record on that one. If I get another one, I’ll try to make a video on that.

[@chrisliang8016]

Thanks. Replaced thermostat and the sensor, but the fan is not moving even at 107 degrees, any ideas why?

[@hrdiesel]

Unless you start the AC the fans won’t kick in until I believe almost 200 degrees. The AC should cause the fan to start after a bit

[@chrisliang8016]

@@hrdiesel thanks a lot!

[@igorjcgaspar]

in my car the P128 error is intermittent… after erasing it, it appears 2-3 weeks later. I replaced the sensor yesterday drove for 2 hours, stopped and when I started the error appeared again...do I need to change the thermostatic?

[@hrdiesel]

Yes I would. What happens is the thermostat doesn’t always bring the temperature of the engine up as fast as the ECM would like to see and therefore it goes into the error.

[@dannyhowell3171]

I got the same problem replaced the thermostat and sensor still have the same problem

[@hrdiesel]

If you watch the video that is what fixed the issue that this vehicle had.

[@ethanmiller4018]

Can you give a list of the parts I’ll need to do this same job?

[@hrdiesel]

I will put that in the video description tonight!

[@williamt.slaydonsr.682]

Thanks for the information!

[@lawrencemartin24]

Thank for the video...

[@eddiereichel9354]

My land lord is bringing his 2020 acadia friday. Same issue.

[@hrdiesel]

Good luck!

[@danielstrubel1016]

What was that crowfoot you used?

[@hrdiesel]

Unfortunately I don’t recall what the size was but it was a Snapon and I believe possibly a 14 or 15 mm.

[@travisswiley7663]

I replaced my sensor already and now that message pops up more than it did before.

[@travisswiley7663]

I wonder if the sensor I put in was bad.

[@hrdiesel]

That could be but the thermostat is usually also an issue because the PCM wants to see an increase in engine temp at a certain rate and if the thermostat is stuck it will cause this code as well

[@amezianehamidouche8017]

Good working men thanks for ur help🎉

[@Nbloser5525]

Have a 2018 Acadia . Same problem. Had garage reset computer. No steering assist, and had air cond for five weeks before steering assist returned. So how does a thermostat or sensor fix itself and than go out. Same thing happens if you disconnect power, just lasts shorter time frame So can someone explain that.

[@hrdiesel]

It’s usually because all it takes is for the thermostat or the sensor to glitch at the right time to set off the computer and trip the code. It may or may not always do it.

[@williamt.slaydonsr.682]

Should have showed us the old parts.

[@jw546]

I have a 2019 Acadia with same issue. Shop came back with a $1300 thermostat replacement. Waiting to see if the warranty that came with it when I bought it (used) Oct. 2023. I've only put about 4,000 mi. on it. Very disappointed in GMC. They also seem to develop timing chain problems if you follow the computer's recommendation as to when to change the oil. Always check the oil level and use a quality synthetic when changing between every 3000-5000 mi. Going to off-load this piece of garbage after this all gets sorted out.

[@hrdiesel]

That Engine is famous for timing chain issues! I definitely do not recommend that people go by the computer on when to change oil. You are 100% accurate on using a high-quality synthetic oil.

[@joshuabennett7334]

If you wait to turn the heat on till the vehicle gets to temperature the engine will get to operational Tem quicker the heater Core acts like another radiator when the heat is on full

[@michaelstorey3053]

Great video

[@MrHC1983]

Good job dude. Nice.

[@mikes8697]

My 2020 sel 3.6L @48k just did this, this morning. Here we go.

[@hrdiesel]

Good luck!

[@dannyhowell3171]

Maybe one of these days someone will actually have with questions

[@dannyhowell3171]

I guess you just made videos and don't answer questions

[@cfisher2447]

2019 acadia here, started having the issue around 50k miles. After seeing how difficult this is, I will continue to disconnect and reconnect the battery every time it happens. Fuck GMC.