[Bammerman]

Don't get excited -- I'm not messing with my Volt's battery. But my neighbor's Prius suddenly gave him all kinds of red warning lights one morning (including a giant red exclamation point!) and it turned out that one of the battery's cells had gone bad. Of course the Prius was six months beyond its 8 years / 100,000 mile warranty. He got a quote for replacing the whole battery -- $3000! -- so instead he did his YouTube research and then bought a "good"used battery cell off eBay, and I helped (read: watched) him replace that cell and reinstall the reassembled battery in the car. After a few false starts (and still lots of red lights), I suggested that he disconnect the 12 volt battery and reconnect it. Voila, everything worked perfectly!

Has anyone here had occasion to disassemble and/or repair their Volt's battery? Of course that would be a huge job in comparison to a Prius'. Just wondering if that would be the kind of repair one could attempt "at home".

 

[Dutch]

I would think not simply because there is no real way to re-do the coolant "at home" without a lot of specialized equipment.
Someone else may know better than me.

 

[viking79]

My understanding is once you tamper with the higher voltage system you have to have a special service tool to do a system test and clear the Service High Voltage System MIL, but come to think of it maybe that is only after accidents.

 

[freshcut]

I don't think a HV traction battery removal outside of a GM service department has been done for home repair. Most Volts on the road are still covered under the battery warranty. Otherwise it's a pretty big job just to remove the ~450# package not to mention all the specialized equipment needed to purge the coolant system, the requirement of an MDI and SPS programming access through GM, etc. Certainly not a cheap job if you have to buy all the tools, equipment and subscriptions to do it at home.

That said, I suppose if one had the funds, knowledge, etc it COULD be attempted at home, but certainly would be best to leave to a service department with the training and equipment already at hand.

 

[viking79]

That is a good point, wait a couple more years and these threads will start popping up when the HV warranty has expired.

 

[mpmoore1979]

You also need a tool to balance the cells (new cells have to be the same voltage as the cells in the rest of the battery) or you will set codes that will not let you operate in ev mode until the cell balance is done. EL 50332 is the tool needed to balance the cells, google the tool to check it out. I have had to use it one time so far to replace a battery section in a 2017.

 

[canehdian]

People have done this, but not for re-use in a volt.
The batteries are often salvage and used for other projects (other vehicles, battery bank, etc).
It's possible, but the hoops to jump through are probably not worth it.

I could see someone setting up a refurbishment factory with the appropriate tools selling you a complete refurb replacement in exchange for yours as core + a fee. But I could also see such a business not existing, because of how well the batteries have stood up.. not a lot of business for years to come, if ever.

 

[hellsop]

People have done this, but not for re-use in a volt.
The batteries are often salvage and used for other projects (other vehicles, battery bank, etc).
It's possible, but the hoops to jump through are probably not worth it.

See, for example, here: http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?282385-CAN-logs-from-aux-DLC-port/page2

 

[Ztirffritz]

There's a Volt battery on Craigslist in Toledo for 1100.

https://toledo.craigslist.org/pts/6214494441.html


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