[llninja]

Has anyone changed out their shocks & struts for their gen1s and if so, at what mileage did you do it? I’m at 85k miles at the moment, but the car feels like new when going over bumps (though maybe it just seems that way since wear is gradual over time).

 

[Steverino]

Still original on my 2011. 95k miles.

 

[saltsman]

I'm also at 85K on my 2014 and they still feel new. Other one hour of labor for torquing the axel bolts, I've not has a single out of pocket maintenance expense. Love the Volt.

 

[llninja]

I'm also at 85K on my 2014 and they still feel new. Other one hour of labor for torquing the axel bolts, I've not has a single out of pocket maintenance expense. Love the Volt.

I’ve hand plenty of out of pocket expenses. New tires, oil change, wiper blades, body work after a kamikaze deer, new windshield, 18” rims, 3 additional 18” rims thanks to IL potholes,

 

[TheBlueFlash]

I'm also at 85K on my 2014 and they still feel new. Other one hour of labor for torquing the axel bolts, I've not has a single out of pocket maintenance expense. Love the Volt.

You haven't paid for an oil change, new tires, or air filters in over 3 years and 85k miles? Prove it!

 

[TheBlueFlash]

I’ve hand plenty of out of pocket expenses. New tires, oil change, wiper blades, body work after a kamikaze deer, new windshield, 18” rims, 3 additional 18” rims thanks to IL potholes,

Haven't changed coolant yet? If not you're probably due with your 2013. My 2013 build date was October 2012 so I had to get it done recently. If over 90k miles you're probably due for a transmission fluid drain and fill too.

 

[caronjeff]

I am not able to discern any deterioration in the suspension of my 2011 with 103,500 miles. We just arrived in North Carolina after a 12 hour sprint down yesterday and honestly the ride and handling is awesome. Total 740 mile drive at about 36 mpg on gas. This with a ferocious head wind for the first half of the trip. And I like the left lane and 78 mph. One phenomenon I have procrastinated on an oil change and leaving Michigan the oil life reading was 23%. Upon arrival in NC it reads 22%. It would seem age more than miles effects the reading. And yes I am due for fluid changes and we still have the original 12 V battery after 6 years, but the Volt is garaged year round in 55-68 degrees heated and earth sheltered space. My Volvo went 10 years and 130,000 on its original battery.

 

[llninja]

Haven't changed coolant yet? If not you're probably due with your 2013. My 2013 build date was October 2012 so I had to get it done recently. If over 90k miles you're probably due for a transmission fluid drain and fill too.

Thanks, I completely missed the ATF fluid change at 45k miles according to the owner’s manual. However the coolant change is supposed to be at 150k miles. My build date was Feb 2013 so the 5 year date is in 4-5 months.

 

[flyingsherpa]

My 2013 Owner's Manual does NOT list any fluid change at 45k miles (just engine air filter... which is dumb, it should be based on engine miles, but of course they don't tell you those either). It does show ATF at 97.5k miles. Sounds like this was a change from earlier Volts?

 

[llninja]

My 2013 Owner's Manual does NOT list any fluid change at 45k miles (just engine air filter... which is dumb, it should be based on engine miles, but of course they don't tell you those either). It does show ATF at 97.5k miles. Sounds like this was a change from earlier Volts?

My 2013 pdf manual shows 45k miles on page 11-8. Replace spark plugs was at 97.5k. I think you looked were off by one looming at the lines in the table.

 

[jbakerjonathan]

My 2013 Owner's Manual does NOT list any fluid change at 45k miles (just engine air filter... which is dumb, it should be based on engine miles, but of course they don't tell you those either). It does show ATF at 97.5k miles. Sounds like this was a change from earlier Volts?

The 2014 Owner's Manual requires that with severe service the ATF should be changed at 45k miles.

I got to thinking that perhaps driving across country with 6-7 days of 500+ miles a day at 65 mph might be considered severe, so I had mine done by the dealer this week at 54k miles. It cost me $250 with tax. I'm considering that cost an insurance premium against a failure of the transmission. Tomorrow I begin another x-country road trip, which will make the third time crossing the country in the car. I've got 1k miles on the new Continental Purecontacts, so they are well-seated (so-to-speak). They have pretty much held the 45 psi for the month they have been on the car so I'm satisfied they are good-to-go.

LLninja - welcome back my friend 8^) You probably know how to test the shocks for wear: push hard on a fender four or five times getting a good rhythm, then stop and count the number of oscillations before the car comes to rest. IIRC, there should be only one complete oscillation for a good shock. To verify, I just did it on my car and there was one oscillation.

 

[llninja]

The 2014 Owner's Manual requires that with severe service the ATF should be changed at 45k miles.

I got to thinking that perhaps driving across country with 6-7 days of 500+ miles a day at 65 mph might be considered severe, so I had mine done by the dealer this week at 54k miles. It cost me $250 with tax. I'm considering that cost an insurance premium against a failure of the transmission. Tomorrow I begin another x-country road trip, which will make the third time crossing the country in the car. I've got 1k miles on the new Continental Purecontacts, so they are well-seated (so-to-speak). They have pretty much held the 45 psi for the month they have been on the car so I'm satisfied they are good-to-go.

LLninja - welcome back my friend 8^) You probably know how to test the shocks for wear: push hard on a fender four or five times getting a good rhythm, then stop and count the number of oscillations before the car comes to rest. IIRC, there should be only one complete oscillation for a good shock. To verify, I just did it on my car and there was one oscillation.

Ah, i’m Looking at the wrong table then.

I’m back, the medical scare is past me for now, but i’m not going to be nearly as active as I used to be as I’ve got a long list of things I want to knock out around the farm and from the bucket list. YOLO has put a new sense of urgency into my routine, but i’m still not going to borrow or lease anything to get a vehicle before I have the cash for it.

 

[TheBlueFlash]

I don't know what counts for severe use to determine the frequency of the ATF change, but I did it on my 2013 that is now 5 years old and at 54k miles. It was $169 and I'd consider it insurance against any transmission issues later down the line. I think others have waited until 90-100k miles and commented that the fluid still looked good even at that mileage, so to each their own.

 

[llninja]

I don't know what counts for severe use to determine the frequency of the ATF change, but I did it on my 2013 that is now 5 years old and at 54k miles. It was $169 and I'd consider it insurance against any transmission issues later down the line. I think others have waited until 90-100k miles and commented that the fluid still looked good even at that mileage, so to each their own.

Well, the owners manual says SEVERE includes towing trailers, use as a cop car or taxi, racing, or lots of mountain ranges. Obviously this was a cut and paste from other owners manuals as in another spot it definitely says no towing is allowed (though many Volt forum members still break that rule).

Alas I went from driving like a grandpa to driving like Jeff Gordon at the 2 year mark, so maybe I should lube my tranny sooner (Elemental bait).

 

[jbakerjonathan]

Well, the owners manual says SEVERE includes towing trailers, use as a cop car or taxi, racing, or lots of mountain ranges. Obviously this was a cut and paste from other owners manuals as in another spot it definitely says no towing is allowed (though many Volt forum members still break that rule).

Alas I went from driving like a grandpa to driving like Jeff Gordon at the 2 year mark, so maybe I should lube my tranny sooner (Elemental bait).

Insurance payments are necessary evils <grins> What's the cost of a new tranny? $6k?

 

[2VoltFamily]

Haven't changed coolant yet? If not you're probably due with your 2013. My 2013 build date was October 2012 so I had to get it done recently. If over 90k miles you're probably due for a transmission fluid drain and fill too.

Don't go scaring people like that!

Engine coolant 5 years or 150,000 miles
Transmission Fluid 97,500 miles (45,000 under SEVERE conditions but few Volts will fall under that category)

Still got another year on my 2013 coolant and plenty of time for the transmission fluid.

 

[llninja]

Insurance payments are necessary evils <grins> What's the cost of a new tranny? $6k?

I’m certain that elemental can find a quality one for far less than $6k.

 

[kgvickers]

I don't know what counts for severe use to determine the frequency of the ATF change, but I did it on my 2013 that is now 5 years old and at 54k miles. It was $169 and I'd consider it insurance against any transmission issues later down the line. I think others have waited until 90-100k miles and commented that the fluid still looked good even at that mileage, so to each their own.

Any new DIY mechanic that changes fluid on a typical car automatic trans always freaks out over how dark the fluid is. That color change is due to normal clutch wear. Yes, there are clutch disks within the automatic.

There are a few clutch packs in the Gen 1 transmission but for the majority of drivers they should experience virtually NO wear, thus no darkening or discoloring of the fluid. But just because it looks good doesn't mean it's not worn out.

(I'll admit I'm talking out of my area of expertise here so feel free to flame me)

I suspect the only way to know if the pretty fluid is still OK at high mileage is to have an oil analysis.

 

[jbakerjonathan]

Any new DIY mechanic that changes fluid on a typical car automatic trans always freaks out over how dark the fluid is. That color change is due to normal clutch wear. Yes, there are clutch disks within the automatic.

There are a few clutch packs in the Gen 1 transmission but for the majority of drivers they should experience virtually NO wear, thus no darkening or discoloring of the fluid. But just because it looks good doesn't mean it's not worn out.

(I'll admit I'm talking out of my area of expertise here so feel free to flame me)

I suspect the only way to know if the pretty fluid is still OK at high mileage is to have an oil analysis.

for those interested in how the drive system works, here is an excellent video of the breakdown of the system:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqM3YXEf1js&t=295s

 

[SKullman]

I'm bummed this turned into a "Fluid" thread.

I have 70k on my 2013 and the front struts/shocks are shot. They clunk and rattle over every bump and undulation.

Does anyone have any experience or suggestions on replacements?