[ciarrocchi]

Hopefully this isn't a redundant thread but all I could find were threads on 2017 BECM failures. I'm kind of curious how prevalent 2018 BECM failures are. Mine occurred at 36,270 miles (300 after BtB warranty expired) and 3 weeks shy of 3 years. Symptom: Cruising at 30 mph, engine warning light came on. Battery charge level went from about 60% to 100% charge. Engine started. Shut down car and exited for about 30 minutes. Upon restart, engine warning indicator remained illuminated (solid, not flashing) and charge indication was normal. During 20 mile drive to shop, all normal (except engine fault indication). Finding: 5 fault codes (stored but inactive) indicating BECM. (I didn't get a list of the codes.) Shop credited the $160 diagnostic fee. Parts available. Be at shop a couple work days. Questions: 1) The mechanic said that they've seen quite a few BECM failures for all MY gen 2s. Any other 2018 owners out there that have had failed BECMs? 2) Is it normal for a shop to replace (under warranty) an intermittently failed part, or is this just good shop? 3) I assume that the Battery cooling system fluid needs servicing after dropping the battery to replace the BECM. Does anybody know if they would flush it or just burp/service it? Is the BECM on the electronic cooling loop or the battery loop? If the former, same question about flush or service. (Obviously, I would hope for flush so I could zero time those loops.) Thanks in advance for any feedback. (And moderators, if there are 2018 BECM threads or threads similar to this, please feel free to merge them.) Regards, Chris

Short version: In light of the BECM risk, should I return the ‘17 Volt I bought at CarMax, before the 30 day no hassle return policy expires? Long: version: I just bought a beautiful pearl white 2017 Volt Premier at Carmax 10 days ago, 76K, paid $18K, plus $3K for a MaxCare extended warrant ($50 deductible, 4yrs/125K mi). They made me sign a disclaimer regarding the hybrid battery not being covered (just says “hybrid battery” not components of it). I bought it knowing the BECM issue and risks. Figured the remaining Voltec warranty (1yr left) plus the MaxCare warranty through 125K mi would cover me OK but now I’m rethinking this and considering returning it for full refund. - Yesterday I brought it to the Chevy dealer to get it checked out, only issue was needs struts replaced. I asked the service advisor (SA) about the BECM issue and he only could tell me that he has another Volt there waiting on back order for the part, and it will cost $2,500. BTW they charged me 1/2 hr, $85, for the multipoint inspection. - The SA didn’t understand that the Voltec warranty was still in effect, he said I’m “completely out of warranty) but I didn’t bother arguing with him since I wasn’t there for warranty work. What bothered me about that was that he is a Service Advisor at Chevy and doesn’t understand the Voltec warranty. Here’s my options, what do you think is best?: - Return the Volt to Carmax within the 30 day return window and get a full refund, including the warranty refund. (I’m leaning towards this) - Keep the Volt with the MaxCare warranty and deal with the inevitable(?) hassle of getting the BECM replaced under warranty. - Keep the Volt but cancel the MaxCare $3K warranty and assume I’ll end up paying $2,500 to replace BECM or get lucky and never experience that.

 

[Steverino]

he is a Service Advisor at Chevy and doesn’t understand the Voltec warranty

Not unusual, unfortunately.

 

[snic]

Short version: In light of the BECM risk, should I return the ‘17 Volt I bought at CarMax, before the 30 day no hassle return policy expires? Long: version: I just bought a beautiful pearl white 2017 Volt Premier at Carmax 10 days ago, 76K, paid $18K, plus $3K for a MaxCare extended warrant ($50 deductible, 4yrs/125K mi). They made me sign a disclaimer regarding the hybrid battery not being covered (just says “hybrid battery” not components of it). I bought it knowing the BECM issue and risks. Figured the remaining Voltec warranty (1yr left) plus the MaxCare warranty through 125K mi would cover me OK but now I’m rethinking this and considering returning it for full refund. - Yesterday I brought it to the Chevy dealer to get it checked out, only issue was needs struts replaced. I asked the service advisor (SA) about the BECM issue and he only could tell me that he has another Volt there waiting on back order for the part, and it will cost $2,500. BTW they charged me 1/2 hr, $85, for the multipoint inspection. - The SA didn’t understand that the Voltec warranty was still in effect, he said I’m “completely out of warranty) but I didn’t bother arguing with him since I wasn’t there for warranty work. What bothered me about that was that he is a Service Advisor at Chevy and doesn’t understand the Voltec warranty. Here’s my options, what do you think is best?: - Return the Volt to Carmax within the 30 day return window and get a full refund, including the warranty refund. (I’m leaning towards this) - Keep the Volt with the MaxCare warranty and deal with the inevitable(?) hassle of getting the BECM replaced under warranty. - Keep the Volt but cancel the MaxCare $3K warranty and assume I’ll end up paying $2,500 to replace BECM or get lucky and never experience that.

The answer to your question depends a LOT on whether the Volt was bought in a CARB state or not. If in a CARB state, the BECM is covered under the 10 year / 150k emissions control warranty. If not purchased in a CARB state, then only the 8/100 Voltec warranty applies. You can determine exactly what warranties you have by making a mychevrolet.com account and adding your vehicle to it (just enter the VIN number).

After my '16 Volt was totaled earlier this year, I replaced it with a '17 after using mychevrolet to verify the warranty is a CARB state warranty. I live in an area where the Chevy dealers seem to have Volt techs, so I was able to get the EGR valve replaced on both the '16 and then the '17 (which blew a couple of months after I bought it). I'm hoping that if I need the BECM replaced, I'll be able to get that done around here as well.

 

[ciarrocchi]

I went ahead and returned the Volt to Carmax today. Loved the car but not willing to deal with 2-3 weeks (or months) with it inoperable regardless of warranty etc.