[VoltFish]

Transmission failure/replacement after 2600 miles

Tonight I got back into town after leaving my 2017 Volt at the airport for about 10 days. The car was parked in a covered spot and plugged into an L2 charger the whole time. Temperatures ranged from probably around 15-70 degrees while I was gone.

Ambient temperature was about 20 degrees tonight when I got in. I knew something may be problematic when I couldn't precondition the car via the OnStar app. I just kept getting an error message in the app saying the car couldn't be communicated with even though I was able to view the charge status, etc. in the app.

When I got close to the car in the shuttle bus I tried to use the key fob to start the precondition mode but the car would just flash the turn signals so I knew it wasn't working (usually the actual taillights would turn on).

When I actually got to the car I was able to unlock the doors with the proximity button on the handles.

Got in the car, push the button to start and the car turns on like normal with the dash displays, except no "READY" indicator and the check engine light to the right of the screen is on. I also noticed that the heated seats would not turn on even though the rest of the center console things seemed to be working (radio, climate control, etc.).

I turned the car off and back on several times and this same condition persisted. I called OnStar and they ran diagnostics and said they saw "Problem with electric propulsion system - Service vehicle immediately". OnStar suggested that I turn the car off, get out, and walk a good distance away (taking the key with me) for a few minutes to allow it to reboot. I did this and returned to the car.

When I got back in the car and pushed the power button I got the message "Key not present" which I have had issues with in the past. I placed the key in the special spot in the center console and pushed the power button again. This time the car turned on and I got the "READY" indicator, but the check engine light was still on.

I wanted to see if the engine would start so first I went into the climate control menu and changed the engine assisted heat from Deferred to On. It was only 20 degrees so I figured this would cause the engine to start. Nothing happened.

I then put the car in Hold mode but the engine didn't start then either.

I was concerned at this point that I may be able to drive the car but that the engine wouldn't work and I live just slightly beyond EV range from the airport. I called OnStar again and they reported that they still saw the same Electric Propulsion System message. They offered to transfer me to roadside assistance to see if they would be willing to tow me all the way back to my town rather than the Chevy dealer close to the airport.

The OnStar roadside assistance people were useless. First they kept asking me if I need somebody to come jumpstart the car so they obviously aren't familiar with the Volt. Then they told me that the towing is only for 25 miles maximum so I would have to pay for anything beyond that. I also kept encountering OnStar reps who told me that the "Volt Advisors" leave at 8 PM so after that there is no specialty assistance for Volt owners. I guess we aren't supposed to drive after 8 PM...

After hanging up with OnStar I turned the car off again and turned it back on. This time the engine started immediately and I got the engine running due to temperature message that I expected. The check engine light was still on but I was able to drive home successfully. The car seemed to be performing fine other than the check engine light being on.

Has anybody else had this issue? Is this a random problem or could it have something to do with the car sitting outside at the airport for 10 days? The first OnStar advisor seemed to think it shouldn't be left plugged in for that long but I've never heard of that being an issue.

I guess I need to take it to the dealer now since the check engine light remains on.

 

[VoltFish]

Thanks for the replies. A few points in response to some of the questions:

- The car definitely didn't have the CEL on when I parked it. Everything was working fine.

- It seems unlikely to me that there was a power surge or anything with a fuse since the car is now running.

- The onstar app was working because I could view the charge status, tire pressures, etc and update them fine. It just wouldn't work to do the precondition.

I also want to add that the car functioned fine on the way home and switched between the engine on and off multiple times for the assisted heating.

How would the 12-Volt battery come into play in my situation? Seems like if it was low on power it would remain that way unless somehow the traction battery was able to charge up the 12 Volt one?

It seems odd to me with the key not present message as well, as if somehow that could be related but maybe not. Once I got home I turned the car off and then a few minutes later needed to move it and it turned on fine with the key in my pocket (not in the "special spot" in the center console. The check engine light is still on though.

 

[VoltFish]

Firstly, I'd like to provide some clarification on your OnStar-specific concerns. Please know that the current generation of OnStar hardware present in your vehicle goes into a sleep mode after 48 hours. In order to use the app Remote Start feature again, a physical ignition cycle must take place. However, this does not excuse the inconvenience or frustration caused to you when you called in, and for this I do apologize.

I'd also like to offer you our assistance while your Volt is at your dealership. If you'd like, we can certainly work alongside them throughout diagnosis/service.

Thanks. I want to point out that the information regarding OnStar seems to be incorrect. I have left my car at the airport multiple times in the past for 4, 5, 6 days at a time and was always able to use the precondition feature via the OnStar app before I got back to the car. Even on this present trip with the car experiencing an issue I was still always able to check the status of the car and see the charge level, tire pressures, etc. across the entire 10 day trip so it seems like OnStar remains active and able to communicate in my car far beyond the stated 48-hour period.

Since the car wouldn't go to READY even when I was sitting in it I don't think the issue had anything to do with OnStar sending the command. It looks like the car just wouldn't start whether it was with the key or the OnStar app.

I took the car to the dealer this morning and asked the to go ahead and do the TSB for the remote receiver module since I have had the issue with "Key not present" in the past. They ordered the part for that. For the main issue they just called me and told me that the car is so new they aren't familiar with the codes, etc. and have emailed GM or the Volt group or something and are waiting a response back to determine what the next steps are.

 

[VoltFish]

Did the "key not present" happen with both of your fobs?

Yes. The dealer is replacing the RCDLR module per TSB 16-NA-396 to address that issue now. No word on the main problem with the car not starting properly yet though.

 

[VoltFish]

Okay, so update...

The dealer called back after talking to the GM people. Apparently somehow the transmission and the electric motors are having a problem and causing things to overcharge. They are replacing the whole transmission unit! Not sure if that includes the electric motors too or what as I'm not that familiar with how all the Voltec pieces fit together. They said it was good I didn't keep driving it... kind of sounded like something bad could happen in that condition.

So... brand new car, 2600 miles on odometer. Transmission replacement. Making me rethink my change of heart with domestic cars that brought me over to the Volt in the first place.

 

[VoltFish]

Jeez! I wish the dealers would give owners more information on what's wrong with their car. That sounds like a pretty severe issue.

I had to replace Battery Segment 3 on mine at 5k miles...I'm having the same second thoughts as you about buying a domestic car hopefully both our cars are fine from now on!

Right... I'll see if I can find out more information in the next few days. I asked what the replacement entailed but the service advisor said he honestly didn't know much about the Volt and wasn't sure exactly what they would be doing yet.

 

[VoltFish]

I wonder if the Bolt will have issues like this or if it's something that is just inherent with the whole gas/electric setup. If the Bolt was out and available a few months ago I would have gotten it instead as I don't need more than 200 miles of range on any single trip but my last car lease was up so I opted for the Volt instead.

 

[VoltFish]

I hope you are right. I just talked to the dealer again and he went over what they knew. Basically the car said there were codes for both motors and some kind of control module overcharging. They emailed GM and a few hours later the GM engineer replied and said the fix was to replace the transmission. The local dealer doesn't really have any direct experience with the car so it sounds like they are just doing what GM says. They got the transmission overnight which is good. Stay tuned for updates.

 

[VoltFish]

Just wanted to update everybody. I got the car back today. Dealer had it for six days total (two were over the weekend). Transmission was replaced and they also did the RCDLR replacement TSB while it was there. No long term test results yet but at least it drove home from the dealer without any problems.