[CanadianEV]

I just took possession of this 2013 volt. It was a fleet car and looks like it received all the proper maintenance. I've only put on a couple hundred KM on it so far and it seems to drive fine. However since I've such little experience with this car and since the Powertrain warranty expires in 19 days I thought I'd ask you more experienced folks for advice.

Is there anything specific I should be looking at with respect to the Powertrain components to make sure none of it needs warranty work?

Any tips/pointers...etc is appreciate.

Thanks.

 

[kns]

The dealer can look up by VIN which, if any, dealer maintenance actions are needed. You can check on the NHTSA website for any official recalls applicable to your VIN. Check in particular that the coolant fluid levels are as recommended. See the FAQ section of this board for picts of the correct levels and for many other tips.

May be too late now, but before buying, I would have had the oil changed and had the 12v battery replaced at dealer expense. If the 12v battery is as old as the car, I recommend doing that now as a preventative measure. 12v battery failure is a principal cause of all sorts of annoying problems.

If the car is a CPO purchased from a dealer then it should have some sort of extended warranty. 90 days or 3000 miles might be typical.

Welcome to the club and hope you enjoy driving your Volt.

KNS

 

[!arry4pyro]

Here in the US the battery and electric drive components are warrantied for 8 years 100,000 miles. Check to see if you have something similar.

 

[CanadianEV]

This was a private sale so no extended warranty.

Car reports there's 18% left on the oil so I'll get it changed before it hits zero. I'll ask the local dealer to look up outstanding maintenance. I'll also try to figure out how old the 12v battery is. Maybe the service centre can tell me. Is there an easy way to determine the general health of the 12v battery?

 

[CanadianEV]

We have a similar warranty the Voltec warranty lasts 8 years or 160,000km. However there is a separate Powertrain warranty that is expiring in a few days and that's the one I want to make sure I make a claim on if needed.

 

[Barry]

Be sure to test the cabin heating system in electric mode (engine off and cold).

Be sure your charge port door opens reliably when you press the button.

Be sure the included EVSE functions to charge the car.

Be sure to drive the car plenty in both electric mode and also with the engine running.

Check with a scanner for any trouble codes stored in the OBDII system.

Any strange noises while driving? If so, get them documented by the service center.

Maybe ask the seller, now that the deal is done, to tell you of any issues they are aware of with the vehicle (that they "forgot" to mention before).

 

[llninja]

Listen for any popping noises just as you accelerate or decelerate (or brake), anything that shifts from propulsion to regen. Several forum members (including me) have needed to get our (axle) torqued, nuts & washers replaced, or bearings replaced.

US recalls included some evaporative canister work, rear hatch hydraulic shock replacement, and sticky steering after long trips going straight.

Intermittent no-heat issues are hard to test, but my Volt needed some software reloaded to eliminate my intermittent (once a month or so) no heat condition. It will be hard to test this without deep cold.

 

[AtomicPowered]

You didn't say what the odometer says or the lifetime mileage. Typical fleet cars are over 100,000 km and have poor mileage numbers because they are driven on gas. Bad news for the engine but OK if you are going to drive mostly electric. High mileage engines typically have problems with coil-packs, head gaskets and sensors. If you turn the car on and open the hood the engine will come on. Is it smooth running? When heavy accelerating in Hold is the engine running smoothly under load. How does the coolant tank look. If it is dark colored it could be a sign of problems. Volts are scheduled for coolant change at five years so you may get that done in the next few days and include a pressure test. You don't want an air bubble in the engine so get it done at a Chevy dealer. Expensive but if they screw it up that will buy you some extra protection.
You have looked inside the engine compartment and from under the car to see if there are any leaks?
Not part of the powertrain warranty but check the battery radiator inside the front bumper. Stones and rock salt can wear away the radiator. There is a thing called a Voltscreen which may help. Also get WOT's battery coolant sensor replacement. Both are available on this site.

 

[CanadianEV]

Thought I'd provide a quick update. Based on the input above I put together a checklist and am working through it.

- Look up VIN at dealer to get service history - Done. Nothing alarming.
- Check up for any outstanding recalls - Done, none.
- Check fluid levels as described in FAQ - To do.
- Check condition of 12v battery - To do.
- Check heater while engine off - Done, works
- Check condition of charge port - Done, functions fine
- Drive care in both EV and ICE mode - Done and will continue to do so
- ODBII scan for codes - Done, no issues
- Listen for strange noises while driving, accelerating, breaking - In progress
- Check with previous owner to see if 100,000km service was done. In progress
- Get WOT's battery coolant sensor replacement - will order this part
- Get Voltscreen - will order this part


I'll get it all done over the next few days. Thanks to everyone who was able to contribute.

 

[hellsop]

- Check condition of 12v battery - To do.

Note that you will probably learn nothing here. Most battery tests are to learn how well the battery can supply 250 amps for 10 seconds no matter what the voltage goes to. What the Volt cares about is keeping 12.5 volts up so all the computers start in the right order error-free. Do the test, but only an "it's bad" answer will mean anything.

 

[Barry]

This has nothing to do with the expiring warranty, but as a new owner, besides the coolant sensor and voltscreen mods you mentioned above, one other "essential" mod/upgrade that would be at the top of my list is to replace the stock headlight bulbs with something better/brighter. There are a lot of posts here about LED or HID upgrade options. The stock headlight bulbs are borderline dangerous, IMO.

 

[kns]

...The stock headlight bulbs are borderline dangerous, IMO.

I don't intend to restart this debate which can be found elsewhere, but this definitely is a matter of opinion. I have been driving Volts for six years with no such issues. I do have issues with glare from aftermarket HIDs installed in oncoming vehicles.

KNS

 

[CanadianEV]

Thanks for the tips, both for and against the headlight upgrades. Will do some research.

 

[llninja]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned in this thread is how the volt headlights have eyelids which cuts off the headlights at a certain point to avoid blinding people. I think most people's complaints about the stock lights is that they aren't used to this sharp cutoff to darkness, (you can really see this when going up and down hills with the lights on), so they think that getting LEDs will fix the problem, except all it does is exacerbate it.

When you switch to high beams, there isn't a second bulb that turns on, all that happens is that these mechanical eyelids open all the way to allow the light to shine up as well as down.