[soylentgreen]

Driving home tonight, my 2012 Volt's CEL came on, and I called OnStar. They said the codes were:

P26a3 - cabin heating system
P1e00 - electrical system

Everything with the Volt has been acting normally, and it drove fine on the way home after the CEL came on.

These two codes are described as :
http://www.autocats.net/manual/chevrolet/tis0911/en/documents_2012/Volt/SM-R/92536130.EN.html#4711
"Engine Coolant Bypass Valve Performance"

http://www.autocats.net/manual/chevrolet/tis0911/en/documents_2012/Volt/SM-R/92563457.EN.html#4711
"Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2 Requested MIL Illumination"

Anyone seen this particular combination before?

 

[DonC]

Sorry to hear this. P1E00 shows up all the time but from a search I'm not seeing P26A3. We have, however, seen issues with the coolant. Did you ask OnStar if it was safe to drive the car? They'll usually give you a time frame for taking it to the dealer.

 

[soylentgreen]

OnStar's advice was that we could keep driving the car, but that since 2 codes were showing up we ought to get it to a dealer sooner rather than later. I've done some googling and my post here is the only match for "Volt P26a3" so looks like we are the first to get this code combination.

 

[soylentgreen]

Question: It's sunday, and I want to drive the car to work monday. Dealer service is closed today. If this was a one-time glitch, then presumably the car will reset the check engine light after some amount of driving. Any idea how many miles or trips or cycles I'd have to drive today to give the car a chance to fix itself?

From the documentation:

Conditions for Clearing the DTC
• DTC P26A3 requires the ignition to cycle from ON to OFF.
• DTC P1E00 is a Type A DTC.

Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC - Type A or Type B
• The control module turns OFF the MIL after 4 consecutive ignition cycles that the diagnostic runs and does not fail.
• A current DTC, Last Test Failed, clears when the diagnostic runs and passes.
• A history DTC clears after 40 consecutive warmup cycles, if no malfunctions are reported by this or any other emission related diagnostic.
• Clear the MIL and the DTC with a scan tool.

So, if I'm reading this right, if I drive the car on 4 short trips and the tests no longer fail, this might clear the MIL and suggest it's probably OK to drive the car until I can get it to a dealer.

 

[saghost]

P1E00 is a generic code that shows anytime the MIL is on - it's kinda like the master caution light on an aircraft and says "there's a problem, go look for it."

From the description, it sounds like your other code is related to the Engine Coolant Bypass Valve. As you can see here:

http://gm-volt.com/2010/12/09/the-chevrolet-volt-coolingheating-systems-explained/

That's the valve that separates the engine cooling system from the electric heating element and the heater core for cabin heat, or joins the two together to allow engine heat to warm the cabin. It's hardly critical - I think the worst case results of it failing (assuming it doesn't leak) are that you end up heating the whole engine block instead of the cabin electrically with the engine off - or that you end up unable to heat the cabin with engine heat when the engine is on (forced to heat it electrically.)

 

[soylentgreen]

Thanks, saghost : that's a good point.
And since it's been in the 90s and 100s here in San Diego, cabin heat is not high on my list of priorities right now

 

[soylentgreen]

Update: took the volt on 4 x 1 mile test drives, fiddling with the HVAC controls (heat/cool, eco/comfort) and on the 4th drive the MIL went out. I'll keep an eye on it, but so far it seems like it was just a one-time glitch.

 

[soylentgreen]

Update 2: well, the codes came back again. Cleared after 4 short test drives, but I think this probably is worth a service visit.

 

[soylentgreen]

Update 3 : the codes went away again for just over 13 months, but are back again today. Same ones: P26A3 and P1E00. Car drives fine, so may just wait it out and see if they go away again.

Anyone know if this is related to the 2013's Heat issues? I wonder if the same part is involved?

 

[soylentgreen]

Update 4 : codes came back again. Took the car in for service, and GM fixed the part:

22830923 F-Valve 13465 Heater Water Shutoff Valve Inlet Hose 4412520 Engine Coolant Bypass Valve - perform diag as per Document ID 2563457. Replace valve.

 

[Qinsp]

There has to be something like this that includes BCM codes for the Volt.

This is powertrain only AFAIK, and is free, and is updated.

http://service.gm.com/gmspo/mode6/index.html

 

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Update 4 : codes came back again. Took the car in for service, and GM fixed the part:

22830923 F-Valve 13465 Heater Water Shutoff Valve Inlet Hose 4412520 Engine Coolant Bypass Valve - perform diag as per Document ID 2563457. Replace valve.

Afternoon Soylentgreen,

I apologize that you are receiving these codes once again. Have you reached out to your Dedicated Advisor?

-Ian Chevrolet EV Customer Service

 

[soylentgreen]

Afternoon Soylentgreen,

I apologize that you are receiving these codes once again. Have you reached out to your Dedicated Advisor?

-Ian Chevrolet EV Customer Service

Hi Ian,

I'm sorry if that wasn't clear: the car had already been fixed and all is fine now.

 

[frankydude]

I got the 3 error codes P26A3, P26A6 and P26A9, all related to the heater water shutoff valve.
My Volt is under warranty, and I will bring it in to get this fixed.
My guess is that the valve part number 22830923 ($48.68) will be replaced
http://www.gmpartscenter.net/oem-pa...e/shut-off-valve/22830923?search_str=22830923

Francois
B2653

 

[tbodine88]

My Volt Showed the "High Voltage System requires Service" after Snowmageageddon in Texas. I didn't have a Code reader, and the local Auto Zone found no codes. I took it in for repair at the dealer, He repaired it under warranty, but it took four weeks.

After I got it back, a week later I see the same error. I have a code reader now I read these Codes P1E00, P1FF, P1FF. I noticed the battery coolant was low. so I added some 50/50 coolant from Autozone The code did not clear. I returned the car to the Dealer.

Two weeks later, I find out the radiator is leaking. The radiator is not covered by warranty. The repair will be $1,575.😡

 

[FI Spyder]

Be aware when you add coolant you can't use just any coolant, you have to add non conductive coolant meant for EVs. The Volt uses the same in all three coolant systems. Chevy has both types (conductive and non conductive) readily distinguishable only by the part number on the container and the color of the cap. Local Chevy dealer didn't carry it (not EV at the time) but the one several towns up did (EV dealer). I would be especially careful buying brand X, most part counter guys are probably not aware of the difference. Read labels carefully in that instance.

 

[JuneBug]

My Volt Showed the "High Voltage System requires Service" after Snowmageageddon in Texas. I didn't have a Code reader, and the local Auto Zone found no codes. I took it in for repair at the dealer, He repaired it under warranty, but it took four weeks.

After I got it back, a week later I see the same error. I have a code reader now I read these Codes P1E00, P1FF, P1FF. I noticed the battery coolant was low. so I added some 50/50 coolant from Autozone The code did not clear. I returned the car to the Dealer.

Two weeks later, I find out the radiator is leaking. The radiator is not covered by warranty. The repair will be $1,575.😡

Which radiator is it? If it's the one in front for the battery cooling, I would think it's covered under the Voltec 8 year/100,000 mile warranty. There is even a TSB that describes damage to this radiator from stones or debris entering the grille and instructing the tech to fabricate a screen for the grille. As for coolant, use only DEX-COOL part no. 12378390 in a Volt or any GM EV or PHEV. I installeld a VoltScreen on my Volt to protect against this kind of damage:

VoltScreen

12/23/23 CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: As this time of crisis goes on, the VoltShop is still here. We will be here throughout and we will be here when this finally passes. Life may or may not get back to...

voltshelf.weebly.com

 

[tbodine88]

Result of Dealer Service:
Found drive motor battery with slow leak of coolant due to foreign debris impact, Codes P1FF and P1FFE were set.
Replaced Radiator with UPDATED Radiator and new UPGRADE grill protection
Drained and filled as needed.

Cooling System Service (Minor)

Labor	$1,163.97
Improved Radiator Screen	$ 39.12
Retainer	$ 1.08
Coolant	$ 12.96
Radiator	$ 323.33
Total	$1,577.37

 

[tbodine88]

While trying to avoid the crazies on the freeways during the snowpacolypse in Texas, I drove slowly down a dirt road, I must have picked up a rock on this drive, and so I am $1.5K poorer

 

[16falcon]

I have been contemplating getting the VoltScreen for awhile now, I finally placed an order.
$36 now versus potentially $1600 later.....