[Trampis]

Okay, maybe I'm missing something since I've only been an owner for 2 weeks. This morning was cold (for Californians) so I decided for the first time to try the heater. I pushed auto and set the temp for 75 (it was 56 outside). According to the display icons in the lower right the AC was on and the heater was not. I drove for about 10 miles adjusting the temp and finally set it to 80 and still nothing. Just cold air. Occasionally I saw the heater icon switch to "On" but only briefly. Most of the time the AC icon was "On".

Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks~

 

[jbakerjonathan]

You forgot to turn on the heated seat. (Just kidding...) Did you turn on "Auto"? Leaving the adjustments to the car software (getting you out of the loop) will clarify the situation. It could be that a fuse has blown, but which one and where it is located I do not know. Have you tried for heat with the ICE running (Hold mode)? Using the coolant as the source of heat as opposed to the electric element may give you heat and would then point to something being wrong with the element or its circuit. Post back with your findings and good luck.

EDIT: You might want to read this: http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?20578-2013-14-Volt-No-Heat-Issues-PIC5796-PIC5855-PIC5943

and this: http://gm-volt.com/2010/12/09/the-chevrolet-volt-coolingheating-systems-explained/

 

[Stockholm Volt]

I'm following this thread now. Pretty soon (in December) I will need to be able to heat up the cabin driving to work.

 

[Coppersnowboarder]

You have discovered that the heating system in the Volt is not designed to heat the cabin under cold weather conditions. Set the thermostat on maximum and the heat setting on "Comfort." I am already experiencing fogged windows, so relying on the defroster. Once real winter temperatures arrive, I will be wearing my down jacket to work. On long trips in winter, you can engage the internal combustion engine to raise the temperature of the coolant. However, you should not anticipate being warm in your Volt.

 

[AtomicPowered]

I have never had a problem with the heater in a 2013, 15 or 17 and it gets deadly cold here. Select Comfort, Hi, turn up the fan, make sure the vents are open and turn off anything Auto and defrost. I must admit I have never tried to run the heater when it is 56 degrees.

 

[Trampis]

You forgot to turn on the heated seat. (Just kidding...) Did you turn on "Auto"? Leaving the adjustments to the car software (getting you out of the loop) will clarify the situation. It could be that a fuse has blown, but which one and where it is located I do not know. Have you tried for heat with the ICE running (Hold mode)? Using the coolant as the source of heat as opposed to the electric element may give you heat and would then point to something being wrong with the element or its circuit. Post back with your findings and good luck.

EDIT: You might want to read this: http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?20578-2013-14-Volt-No-Heat-Issues-PIC5796-PIC5855-PIC5943

and this: http://gm-volt.com/2010/12/09/the-chevrolet-volt-coolingheating-systems-explained/

That's it! The heated seats weren't on LOL! I'm going to try running it on Hold mode and see if that makes a difference. Thanks !o)

 

[goducks]

When the heating is working, it heats up the cabin just fine with or without the gas engine running. However, if there is a problem with your heating system, here is a good thread to read through. I posted my own experience in that thread, too.

http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?209170-2014-Volt-Heater-Problem

 

[Trampis]

When the heating is working, it heats up the cabin just fine with or without the gas engine running. However, if there is a problem with your heating system, here is a good thread to read through. I posted my own experience in that thread, too.

http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?209170-2014-Volt-Heater-Problem

Thank you, I'm sending the car to the dealer tomorrow for some small things to fix while it still has the factory bumper to bumper on it. I'm going to have them check out the heater and see what's up.

 

[Barry]

The electric heat has been a little flaky and/or confusing for some owners. A non-working electric heating element has been a somewhat common problem and would cause what you described. This should be covered by the Voltec warranty.

One good tip is to turn off the "auto defog" setting, since that one makes the A/C run a lot, often at times when you don't think it should be on. Once you have that set, try selecting "Auto" and "Comfort" and run the temperature setting as high as it will go, then wait several minutes. That should give you some noticeable heat unless something is really wrong.

Assuming your electric heat is not working, until you get it fixed, you can always drive in hold mode and get plenty of heat that way.

 

[canehdian]

It's because the car is telling you "56 is not cold, silly!"

 

[goducks]

Thank you, I'm sending the car to the dealer tomorrow for some small things to fix while it still has the factory bumper to bumper on it. I'm going to have them check out the heater and see what's up.

Hope everything is covered if there're any issues. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Trampis]

It's because the car is telling you "56 is not cold, silly!"

In California that temp means down jackets (designer of course), a beanie (also designer), and a sweater (designer) for your designer lap dog....

 

[hellsop]

It's because the car is telling you "56 is not cold, silly!"

It isn't, when there's plenty of sun and the windows are rolled up. It'll probably stay in the 70s in the cabin even with the occasional AC use to keep the fogging under control. Remember, the car KNOWS how much sun there is and has a good guess as to how much heat that will provide all by itself.

 

[Trampis]

It isn't, when there's plenty of sun and the windows are rolled up. It'll probably stay in the 70s in the cabin even with the occasional AC use to keep the fogging under control. Remember, the car KNOWS how much sun there is and has a good guess as to how much heat that will provide all by itself.

This has been happening to me first thing in the morning when it's dark outside. Today on the way to work I tried with the mode on "Hold", temp on "HI" trying "LOW", "ECO", and "COMFORT" and it took 20 minutes before it started to get warm. The A/C icon cycled on and off as did the HEAT icon. But mostly the HEAT icon was off. It's at the dealer right now. I'll update as I find more out.

 

[Barry]

^ It definitely sounds like something is wrong. I'm now suspecting a pump or valve in the coolant circuit. Good thing you are under the bumper to bumper warranty. The coolant system is not covered by the longer Voltec warranty.

 

[Trampis]

Update:

Picked it up yesterday afternoon. They said they reflashed the climate module and now functions normally.

Wrong.

Well, partly wrong. This morning it was 55 again (yes, I know everyone back east says suck it up that's not cold...LOL) and dark so I started the car, put the climate to COMFORT and temp to HI. Let it run for about 10 minutes and then left for work. Nada. Still blowing cold and the AC would kick on and off. About 15 minutes into my drive I switched the drive mode to HOLD. Voila! Heat started coming out! Switched it back to NORMAL mode and heat went away. Played around with COMFORT, FAN ONLY, ECO and still nothing. Switched back to HOLD and then there's heat. When I got to work, 40 minutes into the drive, there was SOME warmth coming out when I was in NORMAL mode but not much.

Contacted the dealer this morning and they said they will do some research on it....stay tuned....

 

[goducks]

I had heating problems for the past two winters since I bought my car. The first time, the dealership replaced coolant heater. The second time, they replaced heater water auxiliary pump. I wonder if you are having similar issues.

 

[Trampis]

I had heating problems for the past two winters since I bought my car. The first time, the dealership replaced coolant heater. The second time, they replaced heater water auxiliary pump. I wonder if you are having similar issues.

goducks, did it solve your problems?

 

[jbakerjonathan]

Have you tried "Auto" ? How did that go?

 

[Dutch]

You have discovered that the heating system in the Volt is not designed to heat the cabin under cold weather conditions. Set the thermostat on maximum and the heat setting on "Comfort." I am already experiencing fogged windows, so relying on the defroster. Once real winter temperatures arrive, I will be wearing my down jacket to work. On long trips in winter, you can engage the internal combustion engine to raise the temperature of the coolant. However, you should not anticipate being warm in your Volt.

This is just plain wrong. When set to higher temps my Gen 1 will ROAST you out of the cabin on electric or engine assisted heat in 20 degree weather. If yours won't then something is wrong and you need to get it fixed.

http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?222514-2013-Sauna...because-I-had-to-try-it.