[Brillokc02]

I have a 2013 Chevy Volt and have started having an issue where the blower does not kick on sometimes. I can have it in comfort mode and fan on high and just nothing comes from the vents. If I'm driving along and need defrost, that will not work as well.

Other times I get in and start it up and it works great. Just had it in the dealership they did some recalls and it could not re-produce the issue. It worked fine for about a month after that and start acting up again. I dont think its throwing any codes. The service rep said only thing they can do, is try and replace the blower motor. Figured I would ask around first before blindly throwing cash at it.

 

[PH2]

I had a similar issue with my 2013 Volt. When I got it there were intermittent issues where the flow of air from the system would not match what was displayed, very similar to your defrost problem. I found a thread years ago on this forum, you can probably search for it, but IIRC you need to find the climate control fuse, pull it with the vehicle off, start car (you will likely get an error) and turn off CC, turn off the vehicle, place the fuse back in its slot, restart the car and you will likely hear some whirring noise within the dash and when it stops (~10 seconds) turn on your CC again.
It has been almost 2 years ago now and haven't an issue since. It has something to do with the Climate Control System relearning damper positions to direct airflow properly and pulling the fuse hard resets the module's memory. Dealership can ask the system to relearn, but as I remember most people with this issue were able to resolve it with a fuse pull.

 

[Brillokc02]

I had a similar issue with my 2013 Volt. When I got it there were intermittent issues where the flow of air from the system would not match what was displayed, very similar to your defrost problem. I found a thread years ago on this forum, you can probably search for it, but IIRC you need to find the climate control fuse, pull it with the vehicle off, start car (you will likely get an error) and turn off CC, turn off the vehicle, place the fuse back in its slot, restart the car and you will likely hear some whirring noise within the dash and when it stops (~10 seconds) turn on your CC again.
It has been almost 2 years ago now and haven't an issue since. It has something to do with the Climate Control System relearning damper positions to direct airflow properly and pulling the fuse hard resets the module's memory. Dealership can ask the system to relearn, but as I remember most people with this issue were able to resolve it with a fuse pull.

Thank, I'll try that tonight and see if it helps.

 

[Brillokc02]

Just a follow up on this, the reset procedure above did not help anything. Went ahead and had the dealer replace the blower motor and everything has been working as expected. So looks like the blower motor can start going bad and not just completely die all at once. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Recently purchased this vehicle as it was approaching 100,000 miles. Love every thing about this vehicle. We may be the optimal user: 30-40 miles per day use, South Florida (no hills, no need for heat), love listening to music (this is the best ever). Regarding the fan. Stopped working. Asked a fellow Volt user and told to remove the cover under the glove box and see if water discharge is blocked. Couldn't find the water discharge but gave the motor a bang with my fist and the blower began working. Left the cover off and the blower has stopped working 6 or 7 times in the last couple of months. All I do is bang under glove box area (while driving) and within a few seconds the fan starts working again. I am thinking it is either a problem with the fan motor, sensors, connectors or unknown factors. I notice that Rock Auto has fan motor in the $70 range and replacement cannot be too hard, especially if you able to work lying on your back on the floor. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[somms]

I notice that Rock Auto has fan motor in the $70 range and replacement cannot be too hard, especially if you able to work lying on your back on the floor. Any ideas would be appreciated.

I would say it it time to get busy replacing your blower. Looks easy enough and you shouldn't even need to remove the passenger side lower airbag either I believe in order to get to it according to the above!

 

[Guest]

Just a follow up on this, the reset procedure above did not help anything. Went ahead and had the dealer replace the blower motor and everything has been working as expected. So looks like the blower motor can start going bad and not just completely die all at once. Thanks.

Recently purchased this vehicle as it was approaching 100,000 miles. Love every thing about this vehicle. We may be the optimal user: 30-40 miles per day use, South Florida (no hills, no need for heat), love listening to music (this is the best ever). Regarding the fan. Stopped working. Asked a fellow Volt user and told to remove the cover under the glove box and see if water discharge is blocked. Couldn't find the water discharge but gave the motor a bang with my fist and the blower began working. Left the cover off and the blower has stopped working 6 or 7 times in the last couple of months. All I do is bang under glove box area (while driving) and within a few seconds the fan starts working again. I am thinking it is either a problem with the fan motor, sensors, connectors or unknown factors. I notice that Rock Auto has fan motor in the $70 range and replacement cannot be too hard, especially if you able to work lying on your back on the floor. Any ideas would be appreciated.

It's very common for a DC motor to develop a bad spot on the armature. When the motor stops and the brushes land on the bad spot, the motor won't start up. Usually banging on the motor with a screwdriver handle or small hammer moves it just enough so the brushes make contact again, and it starts up. I've had this happen to windshield wiper motors, starters, and even small motors in toys and appliances. In the case of a motor in a vehicle, replacing it often the only option.

 

[JuneBug]

Just a follow up on this, the reset procedure above did not help anything. Went ahead and had the dealer replace the blower motor and everything has been working as expected. So looks like the blower motor can start going bad and not just completely die all at once. Thanks.

Recently purchased this vehicle as it was approaching 100,000 miles. Love every thing about this vehicle. We may be the optimal user: 30-40 miles per day use, South Florida (no hills, no need for heat), love listening to music (this is the best ever). Regarding the fan. Stopped working. Asked a fellow Volt user and told to remove the cover under the glove box and see if water discharge is blocked. Couldn't find the water discharge but gave the motor a bang with my fist and the blower began working. Left the cover off and the blower has stopped working 6 or 7 times in the last couple of months. All I do is bang under glove box area (while driving) and within a few seconds the fan starts working again. I am thinking it is either a problem with the fan motor, sensors, connectors or unknown factors. I notice that Rock Auto has fan motor in the $70 range and replacement cannot be too hard, especially if you able to work lying on your back on the floor. Any ideas would be appreciated.

It's very common for a DC motor to develop a bad spot on the armature. When the motor stops and the brushes land on the bad spot, the motor won't start up. Usually banging on the motor with a screwdriver handle or small hammer moves it just enough so the brushes make contact again, and it starts up. I've had this happen to windshield wiper motors, starters, and even small motors in toys and appliances. In the case of a motor in a vehicle, replacing it often the only option.

 

[RYoung]

My 2015 Volt fan started to act up also. Operated some of the time. I found that if I shut off the climate control system, fan off, before I shut off the car and turned it on after the start-up sequence it has worked every time!! Seems that when car is going through the start-up sequence, the computer will sometimes skip over the climate control and disables the fan.

 

[Pepperish]

I had a similar issue with my 2013 Volt. When I got it there were intermittent issues where the flow of air from the system would not match what was displayed, very similar to your defrost problem. I found a thread years ago on this forum, you can probably search for it, but IIRC you need to find the climate control fuse, pull it with the vehicle off, start car (you will likely get an error) and turn off CC, turn off the vehicle, place the fuse back in its slot, restart the car and you will likely hear some whirring noise within the dash and when it stops (~10 seconds) turn on your CC again.
It has been almost 2 years ago now and haven't an issue since. It has something to do with the Climate Control System relearning damper positions to direct airflow properly and pulling the fuse hard resets the module's memory. Dealership can ask the system to relearn, but as I remember most people with this issue were able to resolve it with a fuse pull.

I just want to say THANK YOU! The air flow coming out of the vents was very reduced, though the blower sounded like it was on high. I replaced the cabin filter, though it did not look clogged. I also cleaned off the leaves and pine needles in the engine compartment by the air intake, and nothing. I tried this suggestion, and it worked! I was dreading having to go to the dealer.

I did what you recommended. I turned the car off. Pulled the F5 fuse on the driver side interior fuse box. Turned the car back on. The center stack buttons didn't work. Then with the car running, I put the fuse back in. Heard some clicking and then I turned the heat back on and the air flow returned to full flow! So happy! So simple!

I now hope it does not do this again.

 

[blueperfluous]

I have a 2013 Chevy Volt and have started having an issue where the blower does not kick on sometimes. I can have it in comfort mode and fan on high and just nothing comes from the vents. If I'm driving along and need defrost, that will not work as well.

Other times I get in and start it up and it works great. Just had it in the dealership they did some recalls and it could not re-produce the issue. It worked fine for about a month after that and start acting up again. I dont think its throwing any codes. The service rep said only thing they can do, is try and replace the blower motor. Figured I would ask around first before blindly throwing cash at it.

I had this exact issue. It was a worn-out, failing blower motor. You can find a cheap replacement blower motor for les than $100 on the internet. The blower motor sits directly behind the glove box. There is a plastic panel just above where a passenger's feet rest. Three screws, two on either side in the front (below corners of glove box cover) are 5.5 ratchet head, and one in a small recess to the middle-right back (right as-in facing forward in the passenger seat) is 6.5 ratchet head. With this panel off, you can acess the blower motor cover. Three screws, in a triangle pattern (5.5 ratchet head), release the blower motor cover. Unplug, remove, replace the motor. Replug, rescrew, done. It's relatively quick and easy, especially with a small power tool to stick your ratchet heads on. Don't waste money at a repair shop or dealership on a 2010's Chevy Volt blower motor repair.