[flyingsherpa]

Joined the dead 12v club yesterday. Went into the garage to run some Sunday errands and the Volt was dead as can be. Key fob wouldn't do anything, no blue button....literally nothing. Had to go in thru the back seat to get the battery out. And holy cow, Chevrolet could've done some simple things to make this process easier. Like, I don't know, allowing you to open the hatch with a dead battery???!!!!!! Seems ridiculous to me, but whatever. It wasn't all that difficult but trying to lift the battery out through the back seat area without dropping it or scratching anything was fun! Put the multi-meter on the 12v and it was reading 6.5v and had a dead cell. The new battery read 12.6v.

Anyway, enough complaining. Hopped online, found an AutoCraft Platinum AGM Battery battery at Advance Auto for $172 after a 20% discount. Probably could've found one cheaper but didn't have the time and the dealerships were all closed, so it is what it is.

Everything seems just fine, didn't even have to reset my radio station pre-sets!

See my signature for a link to an easy-to-make tool that makes opening the hatch manually much easier.

 

[Foose]

Honestly, it wasn't all that bad, I'm just a whiner. Took all of 10 minutes to get it out, 5 minutes to get the new one in. Just seems silly that there isn't at least a key hole on the exterior to open the hatch.

As for the question on did I hook up jumper cables - nope. I put the volt meter on and it registered less than 7 volts. Plus, the volt was parked in a small one car garage and I didn't feel like removing the battery from my truck to try and jump start it. I do have a battery charger, but just didn't feel comfortable hooking it up to such an electrically complicated vehicle. Plus, I've owned enough vehicles to know what a dead battery is like. This was the original battery on a car that's 7 years old - a new one was definitely in order.

 

[bentbiker]

Honestly, it wasn't all that bad, I'm just a whiner. Took all of 10 minutes to get it out, 5 minutes to get the new one in. Just seems silly that there isn't at least a key hole on the exterior to open the hatch.

As for the question on did I hook up jumper cables - nope. I put the volt meter on and it registered less than 7 volts. Plus, the volt was parked in a small one car garage and I didn't feel like removing the battery from my truck to try and jump start it. I do have a battery charger, but just didn't feel comfortable hooking it up to such an electrically complicated vehicle. Plus, I've owned enough vehicles to know what a dead battery is like. This was the original battery on a car that's 7 years old - a new one was definitely in order.

Chip,
You are missing my point. If you'd hooked up a jumper/charger to the terminals under the hood, you could then open the hatch with the fob. Then you wouldn't have to climb over the seats . . .

 

[Foose]

I got your point. You missed my point about not having a battery handy to jump it with.

 

[marlow]

Just tested the original 12 volt battery still in my 2011 Volt. It can still supply over 20 amps for 1 hour and 15 minutes. It is now 8 years old with almost 100,000 miles.

 

[Steverino]

Just tested the original 12 volt battery still in my 2011 Volt. It can still supply over 20 amps for 1 hour and 15 minutes. It is now 8 years old with almost 100,000 miles.

Mines still going as well. With 97k miles, it will be 8 years in May.

 

[IZZIE]

2011 Volt. Picked up an AGM Interstate Battery (MTX-47/H5) for $198 after coupon. I have no idea how old the battery is in the car now, but I can't afford to get stranded. If it's pretty new, that's a pleasant surprise and I can return the one I bought. Good instructions, this should be an easy swap.

 

[imanjunk1963]

Quote Originally Posted by marlow View Post
"Just tested the original 12 volt battery still in my 2011 Volt. It can still supply over 20 amps for 1 hour and 15 minutes. It is now 8 years old with almost 100,000 miles." and "Mines still going as well. With 97k miles, it will be 8 years in May. "

So I should let my 2014 ride since only 63k miles and typically garaged and not in the sun or cold typically?
More so btw does one have to by an AGM or just ensure its a vented batter upon replacement?

 

[jcanoe]

Quote Originally Posted by marlow View Post
"Just tested the original 12 volt battery still in my 2011 Volt. It can still supply over 20 amps for 1 hour and 15 minutes. It is now 8 years old with almost 100,000 miles." and "Mines still going as well. With 97k miles, it will be 8 years in May. "

So I should let my 2014 ride since only 63k miles and typically garaged and not in the sun or cold typically?
More so btw does one have to by an AGM or just ensure its a vented batter upon replacement?

It needs to be an AGM type battery; the Volt's 12V Accessory Power Module is designed to maintain an AGM battery.

 

[imanjunk1963]

jcanoe...are you sure it must be an AGM battery? If so why do books bother offering H5 battery replacements that are not AGM?
Anyone else care to chime in and confirm that it must be AGM.
I was under the impression that AGM was suggeste because of the venting needed having it in the trunk but it seems some other none AGM batteries support venting too.
Ill have to check my GM book too.

 

[GM-Tech]

Jcanoe is correct, the volt requires an AGM battery as designed it is not recommended to use a flooded battery. A flooded battery will not charge correctly and will reduce the 12 volt batteries life, but could be a temporary replacement.

 

[jcanoe]

jcanoe...are you sure it must be an AGM battery? If so why do books bother offering H5 battery replacements that are not AGM?
Anyone else care to chime in and confirm that it must be AGM.
I was under the impression that AGM was suggeste because of the venting needed having it in the trunk but it seems some other none AGM batteries support venting too.
Ill have to check my GM book too.

Two reasons:

AGM batteries have different charging requirements, i.e. charging voltages than traditional flooded lead-acid batteries. It is easy to overcharge, damage an AGM battery if you use a conventional battery charger. Conversely, an AGM battery charger is not designed to properly charge a flooded lead-acid battery.

Safety; Vehicle designers have the flexibility to place AGM batteries inside a passenger vehicle other than in the engine bay compartment because in the event of a crash the AGM battery will not crack, release highly caustic sulfuric acid electrolyte even if the battery case ruptures. The vent tube is a safety requirement. Normally an AGM battery, one type of valve regulated lead-acid battery, does not vent any hydrogen or oxygen. The valve will only open to vent these gases to relieve excess pressure in the event of an extreme over pressure condition inside the battery case such as a faulty charging operation, or a fire.

In the short term, if you needed a replacement battery, to you could certainly install a conventional 12V battery in the Volt as a temporary replacement for a failed 12V AGM battery but I would swap in the correct AGM battery as soon as one could be obtained.

 

[IZZIE]

The date code on my battery was Feb 2011. I'm glad that I was pro-active in replacing it. Took all of 25minutes. You really don't want a conventional (flooded) battery leaking under there. If you were in a tough spot there's no problem using one, but AGM batteries are superior in just about every way. jcanoe is correct on the charging system point as well; AGM are less forgiving when it comes to charging voltage. I imagine the charging system in the Volt is specifically designed for AGM batteries which would result in under-charged flooded batteries.

Can you do it? Sure. It shouldn't cause any damage to the electrical system. Expect to change the battery twice as often and cross your fingers you don't have any acid spill down there. The AGM was only $50 more than a decent flooded battery, but I did have some trouble finding one in stock locally.

 

[FI Spyder]

I bought my AGM battery from Canadian Tire for $200 Cdn (they usually have it on sale on their weekly flyers) with a $50 coupon for items in their store (they carry a wide selection of stuff so there is always something you need) plus everything you buy you get Canadian Tire Money that is like cash when you buy stuff there (which we will ignore here). They've offered the $50 coupon when $200 spent twice last year, on Canada Day and just before Christmas. In my case I bought a pair of rubber boots and a gallon (4.5 litres of synthetic oil). That $150 Cdn. is equal to $111.47 US. Some one posted they bought one for $135 USD on sale from Sam's Club. If you shop around you can find some good deals.

 

[2VoltFamily]

OK. Looked through the entire thread and could not find out how to determine the age of my AC Delco AGM 12v on the used 2013 I added to our stable of 2 other 2013s. So no longer 2voltfamily but now three.

So it seems that AGM batteries have a different code for dates, at least the AC Delco does. I searched and found that AGM batteries are etched and are DDMMYY format. However it looks like AC Delco does DDMYY format. At least that is what it seems. I wanted to replace the battery because of the good deal on Durcells at Sam's and I didn't want to worry about the kids driving and having a 12v problem.

Seems the only thing I could remotely find that was etched or stamped or anything that looked like a date code was by the negative terminal. it shows 13D11 which I interpret to be December 13, 2011. If this is correct, I hope it helps others who could simply take the negative terminal off and check the date. Duracell puts a nice easy to read date.

 

[jcanoe]

I would interpret it differently; 2013 - 4th month - 11th day so April 11, 2013. Either date, it's time to replace the battery.

 

[imanjunk1963]

I would not think that D means Dec since you have more than 1 letter for other months like J so met thinks the letters may represent the numerical month maybe? So D is ABCD or month 4 or April?
And btw what Sams battery are you looking at? They do have both AGM and regular for the 47/H5 but not all of them carry the AGM as I have found out lately.

 

[JuneBug]

I would not think that D means Dec since you have more than 1 letter for other months like J so met thinks the letters may represent the numerical month maybe? So D is ABCD or month 4 or April?
And btw what Sams battery are you looking at? They do have both AGM and regular for the 47/H5 but not all of them carry the AGM as I have found out lately.

If you look at his photos, it's labeled Duracell Platinum AGM.

 

[scottf200]

My battery is at 6 years. Everything fine so far. Consider me the control for the experiment.

I would expect AGM batteries to last 10 years. So, hopefully the people complaining about battery failures at 4-5 years (including myself) are the exception....

This thread could use a poll to see how long batteries last in the Volts. Maybe there was one somewhere and I missed it.

Our 2011 Volt (picked up in Feb'11) has a battery that has lasted ~8yr 4mo. Sold the car to one of the kids but offered to pay 1/2 of any maintenance for a few years due to apprehension of the older 1st gen car. Now I'm trying to figure out if we should be proactive and replace the 12v. We had a pretty serious cold snap here in Chicagoland this winter (-26F) and the car still started fine after being out all day in an open parking lot (I think we did do a preheat (phone app) about noon tho).

 

[turboguy327]

This thread could use a poll to see how long batteries last in the Volts. Maybe there was one somewhere and I missed it.

Our 2011 Volt (picked up in Feb'11) has a battery that has lasted ~8yr 4mo. Sold the car to one of the kids but offered to pay 1/2 of any maintenance for a few years due to apprehension of the older 1st gen car. Now I'm trying to figure out if we should be proactive and replace the 12v. We had a pretty serious cold snap here in Chicagoland this winter (-26F) and the car still started fine after being out all day in an open parking lot (I think we did do a preheat (phone app) about noon tho).

Yes, replace it. It’s only 150 bucks. It’s worth the peace of mind unless Chicago is a ok place to be stranded waiting for a tow truck.