[STEPHEN HASKILL]

Still waiting for details but seems are terrible county gravel roads has claimed another car. Knocked off the traction battery terminal according to the dealer. Awaiting insurance info but seems $9700 just for the battery, no install. Anyone else have destroyed battery and if so how much did intend up costing and how long did it take. 2013 Volt

 

[DonC]

This seems like a huge bummer. I'd wait for more information. The traction battery is extremely well protected so I'm a bit skeptical about a gravel road doing it in. I can remember one case but the bottom was severely damaged. Also IIRC the battery replacement was priced lower by quite a bit. However, we haven't seen many replacements, and those we have seen have mostly been handled under warranty. I would definitely be in contact with GM.

What we have seen is damage to the cooling system. That's not a cheap repair but it's not that much and it's not the battery.

 

[PH2]

I'm having trouble visualising how this is possible... the cell and battery terminals are encased and there is shielding on the underside of the car that should keep almost everything away from what they would be refering to.
Did they say it was due to vibration? If so I would think you'd have to have been going interstate speeds on a gravel road to break a termination from abuse, otherwise I would push for warranty.

 

[saghost]

We definitely need pictures here. Assuming they mean the connections between the battery pack and the rest of the car, those are at the front of the pack, well above the engine and transmission centerlines and behind them. I have trouble imagining something getting into that area with enough force to do anything - and it'd have to break through the HVIL connectors first.

Or maybe they're claiming you vibrated it off? That's more plausible - but still hard to imagine if it was correctly secured, and in that case I don't understand why a full pack replacement would be required.

We've had confirmed replacement bills in the $3800 range (though billed to warranty as Don said) - the $9700 sounds very fishy.

 

[STEPHEN HASKILL]

I'm having trouble visualising how this is possible... the cell and battery terminals are encased and there is shielding on the underside of the car that should keep almost everything away from what they would be refering to.
Did they say it was due to vibration? If so I would think you'd have to have been going interstate speeds on a gravel road to break a termination from abuse, otherwise I would push for warranty.

You are correct. They called back to say it was only the "battery pack connector". No big deal, only $2408.40 It is platinum encased in diamonds!

 

[Steverino]

You are correct. They called back to say it was only the "battery pack connector". No big deal, only $2408.40 It is platinum encased in diamonds!

Still sounds high when replacing the whole battery is in the $3800 for Gen 1

 

[jsmay311]

Is this car over 100,000 miles? If not, I'd think this would be covered under the Voltec warranty, no?

 

[bentbiker]

You are correct. They called back to say it was only the "battery pack connector". No big deal, only $2408.40 It is platinum encased in diamonds!

See this thread. You're being scammed. They are grounding straps.

 

[wws]

I'd be checking out wrecking yards for a much more reasonably priced replacement. http://car-part.com/

 

[El Dobro]

You are correct. They called back to say it was only the "battery pack connector". No big deal, only $2408.40 It is platinum encased in diamonds!

If it's the part at the front of the battery, that runs around $900, so the rest of the quote is probably an R&R of the battery.

 

[DonC]

See this thread. You're being scammed. They are grounding straps.

+1. Of particular interest is post #49 in that thread, in which WOT explains a fix. I can't say it's a scam though. Seems like GM hasn't come out with a documented fix and the dealers are just being cautious.

 

[Steverino]

Is this car over 100,000 miles? If not, I'd think this would be covered under the Voltec warranty, no?

No. It's not a manufacturing defect.