[tacman7]

Going to a GM dealer, is that the only option for service and maintenance?

I've always changed my own oil and spark plugs but everything seems pretty complex here.

Anyone go to local mechanics?

Thanks

 

[Barry]

I think you will want the dealer for maintenance on any Voltec components, like changing the battery coolant.

Oil changes and spark plugs don't need attention very often, but those are the same as any other car. Quite a few owners change oil themselves. Any shop could do it.

 

[hellsop]

I kinda like the dealer I'm going to, I'm visiting them about annually for general inspection and something or other usually, sliding the oil change into that every other year isn't a big deal to me.

 

[Loboc]

Every time I go to the dealer with both Volt and ELR, there is some sort of software update or soft recall. I prefer to go to the selling dealer (unless they are total arses) to get maintenance done during the warranty period.

I used to change my own oil as well. Until I couldn't prove maintenance when the engine blew in my 1992 Mercury. Warranty was not honored because of it.

 

[alfon]

I plan on doing my own oil changes with our 2016 Volt, still with nearly 18,000 miles there is over 50% oil life left. I don't believe there is too much to maintain for the first 100,000 miles. Even spark plugs should last 100,000 miles. I'm pretty sure brakes should last the life of the vehicle, which normally, on a regular car, would need to be replaced anywhere from 50,000 - 75,000 miles or so..

 

[AJDare]

In 2 years I've had the tires rotated (2x) and the oil changed once. Done at a dealership and covered under the 24 month free maintenance from when I purchased the Volt.

I'm a little hesitant about letting anyone other than a dealer touch the Volt. In MA the yearly inspection includes frame and steering components. To check these, the mechanic uses a floor jack to lift the car. I go to the dealer because I'm afraid that in their haste, they'll miss the reinforced jack points and damage something. I think the Volt is just too new with too many quirks to leave to someone not versed in its Idiosyncrasies.

 

[Dutch]

In 2 years I've had the tires rotated (2x) and the oil changed once. Done at a dealership and covered under the 24 month free maintenance from when I purchased the Volt.

I'm a little hesitant about letting anyone other than a dealer touch the Volt. In MA the yearly inspection includes frame and steering components. To check these, the mechanic uses a floor jack to lift the car. I go to the dealer because I'm afraid that in their haste, they'll miss the reinforced jack points and damage something. I think the Volt is just too new with too many quirks to leave to someone not versed in its Idiosyncrasies.

I'm with you on that. I had my tire shop look carefully at my owners manual before I let them do the work on my volt because I saw the thread on crushed pipes (I think they were transmission fluid cooler pipes?) underneath.

 

[2VoltFamily]

Changed the oil in both my 2013 Volts this weekend. One of the easiest oil changes I have done.

 

[llninja]

Although I'm perfectly capable of changing the oil and rotating the tires, I have the dealership change the oil only because if they screw it up it's on them to honor the powertrain warranty. I close friend took his Dodge neon to a jiffy lube, and drove it back to the place because the filter fell off spewing oil everywhere, thus ruining the car. The only thing jiffy lube would offer him was a free oil change - no thanks. Another friend blew his engine in a Chrysler conquest and because he didn't have consistent oil change records, mopar would not honor the 10 year 100k mile warranty citing a low oil condition.

I used to rotate my tires, but I've even stopped doing that. I now wear down the fronts, then move the rears to the front and buy new rear tires. The first set of replacement fronts lasted 40k miles and are still going, where the rears should get me 70-80k miles after I move them to the front.

 

[Dutch]

Although I'm perfectly capable of changing the oil and rotating the tires, I have the dealership change the oil only because if they screw it up it's on them to honor the powertrain warranty.

I don't worry about that myself with oil changes but you do have a valid point.

I used to rotate my tires, but I've even stopped doing that. I now wear down the fronts, then move the rears to the front and buy new rear tires. The first set of replacement fronts lasted 40k miles and are still going, where the rears should get me 70-80k miles after I move them to the front.

Tire wear and rotating is a funny thing. On my Jeep the passengers side rear tire is the "driver" and that single tire is the one that wears faster than anything else. So a regular schedule of rotation shares that wear between all the tires giving me a nice long life for all four thus rotations make sense...for that vehicle.

My Wife's Mazda is hard on the fronts, but very evenly for both of them. So on her car we do what you mention. Run the fronts down, move the rears to the front and put new on the rear.

It appears that my Volt is behaving pretty much like the wife's car so I intend to follow the same practice with it as well.

PSA NOTE: In case anyone doesn't already know. You should ALWAYS have your BEST tires on the REAR of your car. ALWAYS! (Older video but still the best for demonstrating the point)

 

[2015 volt]

my GM dealer where I bought my volt give's you lifetime oil changes for free, but only includes 4 tire rotations in the first 24 month's
I have 1 free tire rotation left
I will continue to go to my GM dealer, as as mentioned before,putting our volts on a lift is a tricky situation
my factory goodyear tires are wearing evenly after 19,000 miles,but I will get continental tru tracks for their replacement when time

 

[tacman7]

Thanks for all the input everyone.

I'll do some dealer shopping.

I might drive a bit to a larger town where they have more going on.


When the time comes...

I'm a new owner and the car has a little over 72k on it.

Carmax might have done a complete service on it, guess I'll see about service when I get closer to 80k.