[rotaryenginepete]

Bought my 2012 Volt in 2014. It was used but still under warranty. Even though I enjoy the ride, right off the lot I had a couple problems with the car. The headlight bulbs weren't seated properly, and the lights had an astigmatism so I couldn't see in front of me. Then, after I peeled the dealer windshield sticker off, I found a nice crack underneath...the dealer was no help with either issue, and I ended up doing the repairs myself.

So it wasn't much of a surprise when I started hearing clicking noises from the axles when I turned at low speed, that when I took the car into the dealer, they drove it for a full day and decided that there was nothing wrong with it. I have driven it for over a year like this, the warranty has passed, and the noises are getting louder. I am guessing it is the CV joints because it only happens when I am in a turn at low speed, and only originates from the side which I am turning towards.

Do I have anything to stand on to get the dealer to fix this car? I am guessing not, and I don't take my vehicles to dealers for repairs if I am paying. So my main question is where do I find CV joint and axle assemblies for this car? Does anyone have part numbers? I can do the swap in my garage in a few hours, but I need the parts to do this. Have been unable to find them at rockauto or oreilly auto, and I can't even find them in the dealer service manuals I have.

 

[rotaryenginepete]

UPDATE: I was able to find these part numbers on GM dealer website http://parts.ganleygm.com/a/Chevrol...0/DRIVE-AXLES-AXLE-SHAFTS--JOINTS/ZB7040.html

Has anyone else experienced CV joint problems? Is this common on Volts?

 

[viking79]

It sounds like the axles, seems to be common with the Volt, especially early model Volts. They are covered under powertrain warranty. Mine failed at 9k miles.

Mine clicked very badly while braking and turning right, and was a bad left axle. If it can easily be recreated take one of the techs out with you in the vehicle and roll down the windows and show them what you are talking about. The tech I was talking to said CV joints don't usually click while braking, so it threw him off initially. I knew it was a axle joint right away.

Edit: same with me, I drove it for about a year before I finally took it into the dealer with about 12 to 15k miles on it. I delayed so long, because I was thinking how could axles be bad already? It was just after my general warranty expired, so they gave me a little bit of a hard time, until they found out it was in fact the axle shaft, which they said it's covered under the powertrain warranty, which is much longer

 

[rotaryenginepete]

Yeah, mine clicks mostly when simultaneous braking and turning. My problem is it did that at 60K when I bought it, and warranty passed at 75K. I did take it in for them to diagnose prior to the warranty expiring, but since they declared it fine and I now have 94K on it, I don't know if they will help me out...seeing as they didn't want to fix it the first time. The only thing they ever did for me is update the software, which made the car beep and honk all the time for no apparent reason lol (I heard it was because ppl left the car "on" and sued GM...great solution: punish all Volt owners for the stupidity of a few)

Edit: After reading your post I looked at Chevy's website and read that there is a Voltec powertrain warranty to 100K miles. If this is true, then hopefully they will fix it for me. Thanks viking79

 

[viking79]

Yes, that might be a problem. If your previous visit was under warranty I would push that a little, but I don't think that the axles are that expensive. I am not sure if there was a TSB for this or not.

 

[don shaw]

get a volt advisor involved to help you

 

[ampedupnj]

May 'just' be the wheel hub/bearing assembly i just replaced one on my 2013 at 108K. $92 from rockauto.com and a couple hours in the driveway. Had similar symptoms that eventually turned into a moderate volume humming.

 

[llninja]

Is the clicking noise in unison with rotation of the wheels? I had a different clicking noise, more of a pop when pressing the accelerator, braking, or lifting the accelerator causing regen. In this particular case, all it took was tightening of the axle nuts, but had I let it go longer, it could have required new wheel bearings. Strange thing, in this earlier forum thread it seemed to only happen to White Diamond Tricoats...

 

[ampera_jed]

a loud 'clack' as you pull off and slow down at low speed is loose wheel nut hubs. As you tend to speed up and slow down at turns, it's possible you should look out for this. Just tighten them up! Buy new ones if you prefer.