Chevy Equinox Computer Reset. When Needed and How to Complete?

These days, computers play a huge role in our lives. Everything seems to be done using them and no matter how much you try to avoid computers, you will never succeed, and to be honest, there's no real reason to exclude them from your life.

ECU problems highlights

• Module's importance:Extremely high
• Prone to failure:Yes
• Reasons for failure:Water, damage, software, low voltage, high voltage
• Ways to reset:Cut power, use scanner tool
• Sphere of control:Engine and emissions
• Symptoms of failing:Engine anomalies, CEL light, no start, random warnings
• Price to repair:$150 - $350
• Price to replace:$800 - $1,700

When do you need to reset the computer on a Chevy Equinox?

The main thing you need to keep in mind is that the car's computer, which we'll call from now on the ECM (Electronic Control Module), controls pretty much everything in your vehicle.

However, if you have an issue that is not caused by the ECM itself, resetting or even replacing it, will not magically solve your problem, so it would be best to make sure that the sensors and the wiring are all in good condition, before jumping to the conclusion that your ECM is faulty because they are expensive components and they need to be coded by a specialist to work on your car before you can use it as you did before.

Since faulty sensors and broken wires are a topic for another time, we'll stick to just resetting the computer. Here are some of the situations when you should consider doing the aforementioned procedure:

• Changing your battery -Yes, something as simple as replacing a battery might require resetting the computer in certain cases. Many cars nowadays need to always know what kind of battery they are using, so that they know how much they should be charged, in order to avoid destroying different modules that are very fragile when it comes to how much electricity is flowing through them. In certain cases, batteries need to becodedwhen they are replaced, so keep this in mind.
• Replacing a sensor or an electrical component -When you're replacing a faulty sensor, the ECM will start getting completely different information from it. What might have been an inactive electrical component is now sending signals to what could now be a very confused ECM. The only right thing to do now would be to reset the computer so that it goes back to the factory settings when all of the electrical components were in perfect working order.
• Warning lights on your dashboard -That faulty oxygen sensor you have was causing the check engine light to appear on your dashboard, so you've decided to replace it. The issue is fixed but the warning light still hasn't disappeared. Annoying, right? In this situation, a computer reset is necessary.
• Strange engine behavior -Sometimes, you might notice that your engine or automatic gearbox start behaving quite strangely. Lumpy idle, misfires, slow shifting - these could all indicate that a computer reset is necessary. Electrics can be a bit temperamental from time to time, so give them a rest, or a reset, in this case. Keep in mind that if there's a mechanical problem that's actually causing any of these issues, resetting the ECM will do pretty much nothing, or at least, not in the long run.
• Battery drain -If you have found yourself with no battery after the car has been sitting overnight and you are sure that you haven't forgotten the lights on or something plugged into the power outlet, then it's time to panic. Well, not really. While there might be an electrical component that is constantly active even after turning your engine off, there could also be an error in the car's computer that might tell it to do so. Try resetting the ECM and see if it makes any difference, and if it doesn't, then it's time to start troubleshooting the electrical components one by one and this is where the real fun starts.

How do I reset the computer?

Resetting the computer on a Chevy Equinox is a simple process and any amateur should be able to do it without any issues. Here's how to do it:

• Open the hood- This is necessary in order to gain access to the vehicle's battery. Some cars have their batteries in the trunk or under the rear seats, so check before doing anything else. Keep in mind that certain cars have security codes for their radios or infotainment systems, so make sure you have yours before disconnecting the battery, as you might need it in order to unlock the mentioned devices.
• Remove the negative (ground) terminal from your battery -Using a wrench, undo the negative cable from the car's battery in order to break the electrical circuit. If you are skeptical, you can also remove the battery altogether. Remember to disconnect thenegativeterminal first.
• Make sure it doesn't touch the battery or anything metal -This is very important, as you wouldn't want to short out any electrical component present in your vehicle. They can be expensive to fix, trust me.
• Leave it like this for at least 10 minutes- After breaking the circuit, it will slowly start to drain, so any electricity left will be gone. Wait for at least 10 minutes in order for this to happen.
• After 10 minutes have passed, reconnect the negative terminal to the battery -To reconnect the negative terminal, simply do everything you did in order to disconnect it, but in reverse order. If you've removed the battery as well, connect thepositiveterminal first.
• Start the car- With everything properly connected (always double check), start your car in order to make sure that everything works fine and that all the vehicle's equipment is fully functional. You might now encounter some warning lights on your dashboard that weren't there before, but don't worry, they will usually go out after driving the car.
• Go for a short drive- This is an important step, as the ECM needs to memorize all the data that was previously erased and it can only do so after the car has been driving for a few miles. This will ensure that your engine and gearbox (if it's the case) are going to perform the best. There's no need to drive across the entire continent, so 10 - 15 miles of combined driving should be more than enough.

When do I need to replace the computer?

If you encounter any of the symptoms we've mentioned above and added that you can smell something burning and the diagnostic tool is not able to communicate with the ECM, it's time to investigate the issue further.

Check the wiring and plugs, and if all seems to be fine, it can be safe to say that the computer on your Equinox has had enough. Don't worry, this is not all bad news. While a new one is an expensive component, you have the option of a used one. They might be in the same condition as yours, but it's always good to test them before buying one.

A working used unit might last you for another day or another decade, but it's definitely worth trying if you find one for the right price. Take into account the cost of coding and labor, if these are things that you won't be doing yourself when doing the math.

Final thoughts

Resetting the computer is a good troubleshooting procedure that might save you from spending thousands of dollars on expensive components that are often not faulty. The great thing is that not only this is a very simple process, but it is also applicable to a very wide range of vehicles and not only on the Chevrolet Equinox.