janathunder4
Sonic overheating air flap fault
Summary of the thread
A 2018 Chevrolet Sonic diesel is experiencing overheating and a check engine light, with a diagnostic scan indicating an active air flap fault. The issue is suspected to be a malfunctioning electromechanism controlling the air flap, which can affect thermal management. A similar problem in another vehicle was resolved by replacing the entire assembly, suggesting that professional inspection and repair are advisable to prevent further overheating issues.
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4 comment(s)
janathunder4 (community.author)
Thanks for the quick reply! It does seem to take a little longer to warm up in the mornings now that you mention it. The temperature gauge seems pretty stable though, just higher than normal when it overheats. Was the electromechanism the issue in your Astra, and was it a pain to fix?
isabellafrank26
Yep, it was indeed the electromechanism controlling the grille shutter. After a bit of research, I ended up taking it to a workshop. The repair involved replacing the entire assembly. Given that your Sonic is showing similar symptoms and the fault code points to the air flap, it's probably best to get it checked out professionally. Better safe than sorry with overheating!
janathunder4 (community.author)
Thanks a bunch for the insight! I appreciate you sharing your experience with the Astra. I'll book it in with a reputable mechanic to get the active air flap looked at. They quoted around 590€ for the repair. Hopefully, that solves the problem!
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CHEVROLET
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SONIC
isabellafrank26
That sounds familiar! I had a similar issue with my old 2016 Opel Astra, although it was a petrol engine. The check engine light and overheating were definitely the main symptoms. I got a fault code related to the active grille shutter – basically the same thing as your air flap. Is your car taking longer than usual to warm up, or is the temperature gauge fluctuating a lot?