Check Engine Light After Blue Ox Base Plate Kit Buick Envista

Updated 06/26/2025 | Published 06/17/2025

Question:

just bought a new BX1522 baseplate for mynew Buick envista 2024 ST. In your how to install video the car is not equipped with a grill shutter. So to instal my new base plate i had to remove the grill shutter but now i have a check engine lite open all the time. What can i do to cancel the check engine Thanks

asked by: Robert P

Expert Reply:

Hey Robert, so Blue Ox doesn't list the fit of the base plate kit you mentioned on versions of your vehicle that have the shutters. This is due to the issue you are describing unfortunately. If there's a way to get that check engine light to turn off it would be through a Buick dealer.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Robert P.

6/26/2025

Hello Jameson.. Nice talking to you First you can believe me that unfortunatly the base plate kit for my Buick Envista doesn’t fit at all. To fit the base plate i absolutely have to take off the grill shutter….and that is what we did. My best friend a mecanic for more then 35 years advise me regarding the possibility of a check engine…and he was right but at this time it was too late the front bumper was already out and the car ready to get the new base plate installed. Once finished i called two Buick dealership and they both refused to do anything regarding the check engine saying they were not allowed to do it and they were not sure that they can erease it anyway. I then called many performance auto center and they all said NO they can’t do it. To make a long story short i finally bought a new grill shutter (original fit for chevy Bolt, Malibu, Buick Lacross) This new grill shutter is about the same size as the original one but almost an inch thinner. I then installed the new shutter between the metal bumper and the radiator and reinstalled everything. Now no more check engine. I had to do the job twice paid my mechanic and buy a new grill shutter…and spend two nights not sleeping. If i had known all of the work involved before… i would probably never bought this car… Now that i know the job is not so complicated to perform but you MUST advise your customer before to buy this base plate to have there car verified by a competant mecanic to know if the car is equipped with a grill shutter or not. I am ultimately disappointed with Blue Ox. Before selling a part at this very high price this part should be designed to be installed without problem on the vehicle. I am surely not the only BUICK ENVISTA in north Amerca to be equipped with a grill shutter?? I do have some pictures if needed. Thanks Robert Plante

Jameson C.

6/26/2025

@RobertP That's quite the journey! I am glad you got it figured out in the end though although it was probably more stress than it was worth. How did you come up with idea to use shutters from a different vehicle as that was a stroke of genius since it allowed it to work.

Robert P.

6/26/2025

A stroke of genius …i dont know but as an owner of so many motorhome and always made the mecanical work by myself that is probably why i found how to resolve the issue. Just out of curiosity what Blue Ox and of corse etrailer are you going to do? I mean are you going to continue to offer the bx1522 for the Buick Envista will you inform the Blue ox company of the problem? Do you think they will make mods to the base plate? Looking forward to hearing from you Robert Plante

Jameson C.

6/26/2025

@RobertP So Blue Ox already has a note that says it doesn't fit versions of the vehicles that have the shutters as I confirmed that with them in their online fitguide. Our fitguide at this time does not have that fit exclusion listed but I sent an update to have that info added. Whether or not they release an additional fit that works with the shutters will probably be based on the demand for it so it's hard to say.