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Hello folks a new Volt owner 2014. I noticed a week after getting it, when accelerating I hear as though the engine or something is spinning or trying to hard to 'keep up', sometimes it happens sometimes it doesn't, it sounds as thought I am revving the engine so to speak then it slowly goes away. Cerified preowned with 32k miles. I am just noticing it now, any thoughts???

 

[hellsop]

Hello folks a new Volt owner 2014. I noticed a week after getting it, when accelerating I hear as though the engine or something is spinning or trying to hard to 'keep up', sometimes it happens sometimes it doesn't, it sounds as thought I am revving the engine so to speak then it slowly goes away. Cerified preowned with 32k miles. I am just noticing it now, any thoughts???

It does that. The only time the engine actually responds to the go-faster pedal is when the hood is open for diagnostic purposes. During normal operation, the engine does what the car needs to fulfill what you ask it to do. Which may involve running the engine at various speeds, or it may not. Pay it no mind, focus on just driving, and it'll be fine. *YOU* can't make it do anything that's bad for it through normal driving either. It'll never rev past what's safe, it'll never overcharge or undercharge the battery, it'll never let the battery get get used when it's too cold or too hot.

(Edit to add) When the engine is actually running, that is. If it's not running and you STILL hear the sound, we'll want a video or something..

 

[Steverino]

You don't mention the battery state of charge. Is the battery empty (=engine turns on to generate more electricity), or do you have the car set to Hold (= battery locked out, engine used to generate electricity instead).

 

[llninja]

I've had times where I'm driving down the highway and the internal combustion engine (ICE) shuts off (mostly when going downhill) and conversely, I could be sitting at a stop light and the ICE could be WOT (wide open throttle). Just remember the ICE is mostly disconnected from the wheels, so it's usually delayed in reacting to the electricity needed from the generator. Also while cruising down the highway, the ICE may be at medium throttle, then switch to WOT, then down to a very low throttle. Drive it like a jackrabbit and it will be more spastic in its behavior.

All this to say, I think what you are describing is normal.

 

[[email protected]]

The battery is typically zero as I live in an apartment complex and rarely have access to actually charge it. Also I have noticed that even if I do have battery charge the Hold option is greyed out.

 

[TSquare]

The battery is typically zero as I live in an apartment complex and rarely have access to actually charge it. Also I have noticed that even if I do have battery charge the Hold option is greyed out.

That explains it then. Your battery is sitting at zero usable charge and sometimes dips even lower to respond to demands, then has to run the ICE harder to catch up and bring the battery up to zero point again. Nothing to worry about.