[DZD]

2013 Volt, 39k miles on it and yesterday my daughter calls to tell me that the Brake Fluid Low message came on. No noticeable issue otherwise but she brings it home right away. A few hours later, I start it up and notice the CEL is on, along with two messages - Brake Fluid Low and Service Stabilitrak. I turn the car off and leave it for the evening.

This morning, I searched the forums and did not find results with both of these error messages together (although a lot of results individually).

This morning, I decide to bring it to the dealer to have them investigate. I start the car and everything has cleared. No CEL, no messages. I check the brake fluid and it does not appear to be low.

I drive to the dealership as the service dept is opening - they tell me that their Volt specialists are not in today so I can leave it or bring it back Monday.

I drove it home. I'll bring it back Monday; the only thing unusual I can think of is that I did go over some rough rail road tracks earlier yesterday and got the Low Traction message. I do drive in L all the time.

I'm hoping it's nothing major but wanted to share in case any one has any insight.

Thanks.

 

[El Dobro]

Did you check the brake fluid reservoir?

 

[DZD]

Did you check the brake fluid reservoir?

. . .This morning, I decide to bring it to the dealer to have them investigate. I start the car and everything has cleared. No CEL, no messages. I check the brake fluid and it does not appear to be low.

Yes I did.

 

[El Dobro]

Yes I did.

If it wasn't low, then it could be a bad level switch in the top of the reservoir.

 

[Steverino]

Here's what I would do in the same situation. Stop the car. Open the hood. Check the brake fluid level.

 

[El Dobro]

Here's what I would do in the same situation. Stop the car. Open the hood. Check the oil level.

Oil level?

 

[llninja]

I had a CEL and service stabilitrak message once during Snowageddon 1. There was do snow 8-10 inches, I drove the volt through my long driveway with the accelerator floored and traction control controlling the front wheel spin for the entire 1400 foot blast through the snow before arriving at the plowed street. Since traction control and stabilitrak was operating for a good minute or so, it triggered the CEL. But the next stop/restart seemed to clear it. A call to onstar confirmed the codes and it all made sense. The system probably thought it was stuck and needed service, when in reality, it was the conditions that triggered it.

So maybe the daughter was off-roading in mud or something?

 

[Fyodor]

2013 Volt, 39k miles on it and yesterday my daughter calls to tell me that the Brake Fluid Low message came on. No noticeable issue otherwise but she brings it home right away. A few hours later, I start it up and notice the CEL is on, along with two messages - Brake Fluid Low and Service Stabilitrak. I turn the car off and leave it for the evening.

....


I drove it home. I'll bring it back Monday; the only thing unusual I can think of is that I did go over some rough rail road tracks earlier yesterday and got the Low Traction message. I do drive in L all the time.

I'm hoping it's nothing major but wanted to share in case any one has any insight.

Thanks.

IMO ( and don't get me started on L in low traction situations ) that's where your problem started. It's happened to me and after the traction control and stability control systems get over their confusion they reset and all is as it was.

Is it possible that you have mistakenly assumed a low brake pedal was caused by a lack of fluid? The pedal will go closer to the floor in this situation since regen is cancelled.

 

[hellsop]

Oil level?

Brake fluid used to be mostly caster oil.

 

[WopOnTour]

Level checking should not require removal of the fill cap but sometimes a flashlight will help

The level should be first checked (lid ON only) with the car having been OFF for 5 minutes (fluid level will normally rise to upper carat)

Then turn the car ON and should drop to be in between the MIN MAX marks on the reservoir as the pump runs.
(depending on year you may need to apply the brakes once)

If it's NOT low you will need to have the DTCs correctly diagnosed

As per your owners manual if the Red Brake Warning Lamp (RBWL) is ON STEADY or FLASHING
You should not drive the car and have it towed instead

HTH
WopOnTour

 

[Steverino]

Oil level?

lol, typo, "Brake fluid". That said, if you think any fluid level is low, simply check it. It's not hard to do. I do it monthly, like the Owner's Manual tells you to do.

 

[llninja]

Brake fluid used to be mostly caster oil.

Audis used lindseed oil for one of the fluids, I don't remember if it was power steering or brake fluid..

 

[DZD]

I don't understand some of the responses. One of the messages received was "Brake Fluid Low" - I checked the reservoir and the Brake Fluid was not low. Any comments suggesting I check the brake fluid are, to put it nicely - "unnecessary". Save your keystrokes.

I did a lot of searching on the forums and while anything from driving in "L" to using HID bulbs to offloading could cause the Stabilitrak message or a complete or partial loss of braking (which I did NOT experience), there was nothing about the combination of both the Service Stabilitrak and Brake Fluid Low message.

Drove about 100 miles today running errands and stuff and there are no other issues - the messages and CEL never re-appeared.

I'll plan to take it in next week to see if they can see anything - there was a CEL light but it cleared - hopefully a code is still in there.

Next time I'll take pics and call Onstar to get the code right away.

 

[llninja]

I don't understand some of the responses. One of the messages received was "Brake Fluid Low" - I checked the reservoir and the Brake Fluid was not low. Any comments suggesting I check the brake fluid are, to put it nicely - "unnecessary". Save your keystrokes.

I did a lot of searching on the forums and while anything from driving in "L" to using HID bulbs to offloading could cause the Stabilitrak message or a complete or partial loss of braking (which I did NOT experience), there was nothing about the combination of both the Service Stabilitrak and Brake Fluid Low message.

Drove about 100 miles today running errands and stuff and there are no other issues - the messages and CEL never re-appeared.

I'll plan to take it in next week to see if they can see anything - there was a CEL light but it cleared - hopefully a code is still in there.

Next time I'll take pics and call Onstar to get the code right away.

It's entirely possible that a brake fluid sensor wire is loose and caused the sensor to trigger. Since Stabilitrak uses the brakes to help guide you around curves and not lose control, that message might have been an aftereffect of the false loose brake fluid message.

But the off reading in mud theory might still hold true... mud/water shorted out a wire. Or better yet, after muddling, pointing a car wash sprayer into the engine bay to remove all evidence could cause the brake fluid sensor to short out and ground temporarily.

You may never see this message again. I've had a few mishaps like that.

 

[WopOnTour]

I did a lot of searching on the forums and while anything from driving in "L" to using HID bulbs to offloading could cause the Stabilitrak message or a complete or partial loss of braking (which I did NOT experience), there was nothing about the combination of both the Service Stabilitrak and Brake Fluid Low message.

An "indicated" low fluid (triggering a DTC C0267) will turn on BOTH the "low brake fluid" AND "Service Stabiltrack/ABS" messages. Actually that's quite common for many electrically detected faults in the brake system. But that indication can also be the result of an open or high resistance in either of the 2 level sensor circuits or a bad level sensor.

In the end the dealer sill have to sort out which
Let us know what they say
WOT

 

[DZD]

An "indicated" low fluid (triggering a DTC C0267) will turn on BOTH the "low brake fluid" AND "Service Stabiltrack/ABS" messages. Actually that's quite common for many electrically detected faults in the brake system. But that indication can also be the result of an open or high resistance in either of the 2 level sensor circuits or a bad level sensor.

In the end the dealer sill have to sort out which
Let us know what they say
WOT

Awesome! Thanks for the info. I'll let you know what the dealer says.

 

[DZD]

At the dealership now - they checked the sensors and other items and determined that my brake fluid is contaminated (it is dark) and is on the verge or being low - so doing a brake flush now.

 

[DZD]

Been a few days since the service - no issues with any CEL or the warning messages. While there, I asked them about the bluetooth background noise and they also noticed the charge door sticking. They said the charge door sticking could also cause the P0CD2 code - and they applied both software updates (PIC5768A, PIC5415A). I'm happy about this because a few months ago I asked them to apply these updates and they said it would cost $125 cuz my CPO warranty didn't cover it. I think the trick is to ask them about symptoms instead of giving them the solution (or go with a different service advisor at the dealer) - go figure.

I did have to pay for the brake system flush as it's considered maintenance - I argued that the manual states it should be done every 150k miles and I only have 39k but they still considered it maintenance. We'll have to monitor that more closely.

Got to drive a 2017 Volt Premier while there - liked it a lot - wish the exterior styling was more bold - but loved the interior. My only gripe is the driver seat didn't seem to go as low as my Volt - would be happy with the extended range and Apple CarPlay though.

 

[DZD]

Yesterday while driving the car, it happened again. Got 2 messages (brake fluid low and service stabilitrak) and the BRAKE light and traction control light (icon of a car with two vertical wavy lines below it) came on. Car was running fine - no issues with brakes - ran a few more errands then went home. Awhile later, started the car and they were all still there (messages and lights) - ran some more errands and no issues.

This morning, I start the car and no lights and no messages. I bring it to the dealer.

They just called me and said that it appears to be an issue with the master cylinder controller or switch - they are overnighting a part and will have it fixed tomorrow. They will also reimburse me for the brake flush I was told was needed last time this occurred. Hopefully this fixes it permanently.

 

[jbakerjonathan]

Yesterday while driving the car, it happened again. Got 2 messages (brake fluid low and service stabilitrak) and the BRAKE light and traction control light (icon of a car with two vertical wavy lines below it) came on. Car was running fine - no issues with brakes - ran a few more errands then went home. Awhile later, started the car and they were all still there (messages and lights) - ran some more errands and no issues.

This morning, I start the car and no lights and no messages. I bring it to the dealer.

They just called me and said that it appears to be an issue with the master cylinder controller or switch - they are overnighting a part and will have it fixed tomorrow. They will also reimburse me for the brake flush I was told was needed last time this occurred. Hopefully this fixes it permanently.

"Hopefully this fixes it permanently."
We are hanging here...was it fixed??? (Four year later...)