During my recent 1200km trip from picking up my used 2012 Volt (lease transfer), I noticed that part way home the engine light came on. I pulled over and contacted OnStar who provided me with the P0016 (or P0017 cant remember which one) code and indicated that I could continue my trip, but to report to my local dealer after completing the journey. So I continued my trip (almost all of it on the generator). The car seamed to performed normally (although I am a new Volt owner). Upon arriving home I noticed that the car was leaking oil, and it must have been happening for a good part of the trip as with the highway speeds, oil drippings where happening all over the under body, and there was a oily build up on the back of the car and tail lights. Went to my local dealer within a hour of arriving home, and they got the two codes from the car(P0016 P0017). Check the oil level in the generator and although down it still had enough to operate. Car was booked in for service.
Service was performed and I was told that both Cam Shafts were incorrectly aligned, there was no damage to the timing chain or teeth, and the alignment was now corrected. The cars service history was examined and it did show that the car was brought in for an engine light service with the previous owner. My local dealer could only surmise that the cam shafts were incorrectly aligned from that service and since the previous owner drove almost exclusively on battery the issue did not come up again until I got into my extended trip taking the car home. The leaking oil I was told was unrelated, just a cracked gasket was causing the problem (about 2 litres were lost).
One other note, the car was in the shop for a total of 4.5 business days, there was a 1 day delay as the serpentine belt was lost by the courier between Lansing MI and Kitchener (a second had to be ordered). Apparently in order to get to the timing chain this belt has to be cut off, so a new belt is required each time.
Happy to report the car is operating fine at this point (but I have been on all battery since), I plan on going on two extended trips shortly (a 150km and a 500km run) to use the generator and see if anything happens out of the ordinary. All repairs were performed under warranty, and I was told that even if the 3 year warranty was up, the power train warranty would have covered these repairs as well.
Thought I would share these codes and the experience with the forum for the future use of others.
Service was performed and I was told that both Cam Shafts were incorrectly aligned, there was no damage to the timing chain or teeth, and the alignment was now corrected. The cars service history was examined and it did show that the car was brought in for an engine light service with the previous owner. My local dealer could only surmise that the cam shafts were incorrectly aligned from that service and since the previous owner drove almost exclusively on battery the issue did not come up again until I got into my extended trip taking the car home. The leaking oil I was told was unrelated, just a cracked gasket was causing the problem (about 2 litres were lost).
One other note, the car was in the shop for a total of 4.5 business days, there was a 1 day delay as the serpentine belt was lost by the courier between Lansing MI and Kitchener (a second had to be ordered). Apparently in order to get to the timing chain this belt has to be cut off, so a new belt is required each time.
Happy to report the car is operating fine at this point (but I have been on all battery since), I plan on going on two extended trips shortly (a 150km and a 500km run) to use the generator and see if anything happens out of the ordinary. All repairs were performed under warranty, and I was told that even if the 3 year warranty was up, the power train warranty would have covered these repairs as well.
Thought I would share these codes and the experience with the forum for the future use of others.
