[radarjones]

Recently test drove my first....cherry popped..lol

2016, start her up, 10 miles battery range, 370 miles on fuel
Nice....quiet, tried as many things as i could remember....all seemed to work

< 1 mile remaining on battery, she switched over, silently to Generator

About 2 miles up the road traveling between 30-60MPH, I'd just slowed at a light and suddenly ding, ding, ding No Oil Pressure Shut Down Engine on warning display.....and the generator seemed to rev up

crawled to another light....the message which had disappeared came back on, as I was maneuvering off the road, she jerked and the engine stopped completely....sorry generator

sat for 5 minutes, started her up, now I get No Oil Pressure, Shut Down Engine....followed ny No Propulsion Available and then the orange MIL light came on!

called dealer, towed to garage, still awaiting their 'diagnosis !!

Hope this isn't indicative, any ideas....Gen 2, Premier, 56K miles, full service history....

 

[Steverino]

About 2 miles up the road traveling between 30-60MPH, I'd just slowed at a light and suddenly ding, ding, ding No Oil Pressure Shut Down Engine on warning display.....and the generator seemed to rev up

crawled to another light....the message which had disappeared came back on, as I was maneuvering off the road, she jerked and the engine stopped completely....sorry generator

I'm surprised by two things, 1) That the engine lacked oil, 2) That you kept driving instead of immediately pulling over and shutting the car down. A driver has a different responsibility than a passenger.

It's possible that the oil was lost via a bad hose or clamp. Of course it could also be that the oil was changed and the mechanic got distracted and simply forgot to add oil again.

Of course, running an engine with an oil level so low that the oil light displays is a pretty good way to destroy or severely damage an engine.

 

[radarjones]

Appreciate your reply but
A Not my vehicle, a test drive, prior to purchase ( from a dealer)
B Not having driven one before, I was in traffic, and DID come to an almost complete stop, with seconds of the (first) warning...which promptly went out.....only to return...about 100 ft down the road, at which point I simply maneuvered to a safe location, distance of maybe 20 feet....at which point the Volt jerked, and stopped dead.

Not knowing whether this was a glitch..i re started the generator...only to be met with the flooring 3 messages and the MIL light.....at NO point did i see a Red Engine Oil level/pressure light illuminate!!
C: no evidence of oil loss, under engine....(I did check, whilst awaiting the breakdown truck)
D: you would think/assume the dealer performed at least a basic PDI...including such things as tire pressures, windshield fluid.....and yes OIL!!!

Thanks for your reply....i still await the dealers diagnoses !!

 

[Saint]

I'm surprised by two things, 1) That the engine lacked oil, 2) That you kept driving instead of immediately pulling over and shutting the car down. A driver has a different responsibility than a passenger.

It's possible that the oil was lost via a bad hose or clamp. Of course it could also be that the oil was changed and the mechanic got distracted and simply forgot to add oil again.

Of course, running an engine with an oil level so low that the oil light displays is a pretty good way to destroy or severely damage an engine.

Earlier Volts had leaking oil pan gasket. I had too. It was not severe on mine but maybe it was so bad that oil level dropped to dangerous levels. Regardless, continue to drive a car with low oil pressure is really bad for the engine as Steverino said.

 

[radarjones]

Is there no indication of low oil level warning, or low oil pressure warning, early warning.....before a 'disaster' occurs?

Even as far back as the 80's, some cars would simply shut down the engine if dangerously low oil pressure was detected......as well as giving you the Red 'Oil Genie' can symbol......also similar for a low oil level gauge....even my '81 Yamaha has a low oil level gauge warning light.....??...Typically, if that ever comes on...if I'm that neglectful, it still has a bottom dipstick level of oil remaining....

 

[radarjones]

Earlier as in 2016, or??

I DID look under the 'generator' there was no oil spray visible under the Volt, nor any indication of leaks on the road, where the event occurred.....of course, this could simply mean the generator had no oil in it to leak, to begin with!!

Is the Voltec generator covered for this scenario, under the Voltec 8 year/100,000 mile warranty??

 

[Barry]

I never understand why people keep driving with obvious major engine problems, especially low oil pressure. I hope I never loan my car to any of these people.

 

[radarjones]

This was a pre booked test drive, at a dealership.....I had NO idea the car wouldn't at the very least be fully PDI's and safe to drive!!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in......40+ years of test driving vehicles, I have never had a disaster go this magnitude

I was driving on a busy road, and DID attempt to pull over as soon as I safely could, never having driven a Voltec generator before, the 'first' warning took me completely by surprise....however, by the time I had maneuvered some 100 ft down the road, well, before, the 'Warning' had disappeared....rightly or wrongly, I dismissed it as a glitch.....when it came back some 20 feet later 20 feet at about 15MPH, I attempted to park the vehicle safely, within the first 10 feet...which I accomplished right as the generator shut down!

Imagine.......3 rd overtaking lane of the Mass Turnpike, me and the Volt doing 70MPH?.....I'd have travelled some ......5-600 feet, whilst trying to get to the emergency lane.....simply stopping the vehicle in the 3rd overtaking lane.......to 'save' the generator from imploding, well, i guess you wouldn't be reading these posts anymore!!

I just asked if this is indicative, and for peoples views, I really didn't expect to be lambasted, for what I thought was a valiant attempt to park the Volt safely......whilst it was blowing warnings at me, within 2 miles of generator use!!

Surely your anger should be directed at the dealer.....mine certainly was !!

 

[radarjones]

Barry....
whilst I am no newbie to vehicles/motorcycles I am a complete newb to the Volt.....as i said, i had NO idea that the DIC had this warning.....it took me a few seconds ? to read and take it onboard.....by which time I had already travelled about 50+ feet, in traffic...when the 'Warning' simply disappeared......when it came back, I maneuvered off the road as quickly and safely as I could........I did restart the generator...rightly or wrongly, to ascertain whether it WAS a 'glitch' of some sort, at which point the same Warning, plus No propulsion Available , plus the Orange MIL light, caused me to shut down the generator asap and call the dealer.....at NO point did the Oil pressure Warning light (usually a Red Oil Can.....'Genie) come on)........

If you were in the Space Shuttle, for the very first time, with NO prior knowledge of the Warning systems employed nor displayed.......well.....what do you think you would do....??
!

 

[radarjones]

As an Edit: whilst on the phone with the salesman, I was asked if I could drive the vehicle safely back to the dealership!!!!, at which point I said, I think a tow truck might be a better option!! ( I wonder how many WOULD simply drive it back, park it up...and walk away!! ???)

 

[mjones21]

Did you check the dipstick to see if it might have just been a faulty sensor of some kind?

My best idea would be not to buy that car, particularly if it is used and out of B2B warranty. There are plenty of other good deals on Volts out there. Regardless of what caused this, bad service or a part failure, you do not want it.

 

[radarjones]

No, I did not......now, in hindsight, a simple dipstick check might have been the best option....

Like I said, excited, first test drive, not expecting any disasters of that magnitude= maybe less than 100% functioning brain patterns!!
Until she broke down, the ride WAS very, very exceptional, on both battery, for 10 miles, and generator for <2 miles.....better than I had expected, lol !!

Now.....if this thing had a 300 mile battery.....we wouldn't need the generator at all....lol !!

 

[Barry]

If they end up having to put a brand new engine in, you could consider that a reason to buy the car. You would just need some way of verifying that actually happened.

 

[radarjones]

Thats a GREAT answer mate!!, surely, if they did there would be a new 8 year/100,000 mile Voltec warranty applied?

I'm not sure this particular dealer might not clear the Codes, re fill with oil, check she's not smoking like an 80's diesel and then proclaim "Alls Good".....

 

[269983]

IMO you were lucky the battery didn't have a full charge. Had it you may not have transitioned to the ICE engine and discovered the issue, whatever it is, with the ICE.

 

[Steverino]

As a side note, I have over 97,000 miles and 7.5 years on my 2011. Best car I have owned. But our go to car is our Bolt EV.

 

[Cord]

was Onstar any help with tow or engine codes ?

 

[radarjones]

Brand new.....Noob, I was just concerned with staying safe/calling dealer, had no idea you could have the car call Onstar!!

This was a dealer/sale test drive.....they arranged their tow truck, still awaiting the outcome.....

Apparently the General manager is on the case!!

 

[mjones21]

I doubt that an engine replacement would get you an entirely new Voltec warranty, and I doubt that this engine would be replaced under warranty, as the failure appears to have been caused by a failure to maintain as recommended. GM will likely look at the codes.

Is the car being sold at a Chevy dealer or a generic used car lot? Might have a better shot on a warranty claim if the problem was caused by a bad Chevy tech.

I'd highly recommend that you steer clear of this car and go find another Volt somewhere else.

 

[srmarti]

Think this might say more about the dealer than the car. Didn't check anything before putting on the lot for sale?