I just bought a Chevy Volt

[bugstrider]

Gasoline pole:
For you G-1 past and present owners. How closely did all of you follow the premium 91 octane rules listed in the manual?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wdfifteen]

100%. We never put anything else in them. But MrsWD only put gas in her car twice in two years.

[bugstrider]

Thanks, just came across that in the owners manual.....oops. Guess 7 gal of the diet version won’t hurt on my first topping......I hope. I wished my driving habits allowed my to go two years without fuel, that’s awesome! I’ve seen too many 200+ mile days. I also read that they only recommend the one GM fuel additive as well. Since our G-1 was sitting at 23k on the clock, I tossed in a bottle of Techron. Screwed up there too I guess .

I know the G-2 backup camera images are really clear. What is Mrs WD’s G-1 back up camera image clarity like? Our imagery isn’t stellar.

Got into the charging program last night regarding off-peak times. Surprised to see that it already knew the winter/summer peak/mid/off peak times. The computing power this car has is impressive.

Cheers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

The Gen 2 cars have a noisemaker that comes on when you put it in "gear" and stays on up to 35 mph. It's supposed to warn pedestrians. They don't have the pedestrian horn the Gen 1 cars have, which I miss.

You prolly know about the button on end of the turn signal.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by bugstrider

I know the G-2 backup camera images are really clear. What is Mrs WD’s G-1 back up camera image clarity like? Our imagery isn’t stellar.

I actually drove the G1 car with the camera. I think it was better than my G2. Something about the placement of the camera - I can't remember needing to clean the camera on the G1, but the G2 camera is constantly filthy.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

You prolly know about the button on end of the turn signal.

That's the pedestrian horn, only on G1s. G2s don't have it. They have a "white noise" generator instead. It goes off at 24 mph, not 35, as I stated above.

[techweenie]

Biggest plus for the Gen 2 for me is the slightly thinner a-pillar. I was constantly moving my head going into intersections because the a-pillar could obscure pedestrians.

BTW, I’m in a different part of the world than most of you. There are 5 Volts within 1/4 mile of my house.

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

That's the pedestrian horn, only on G1s. G2s don't have it. They have a "white noise" generator instead. It goes off at 24 mph, not 35.

Another example of the Fed Gov believing they have to protect ourself from ourselves by removing something that works with the application of logic and common sense.

Here is CA, I’ve been seeing the public add billboard campaign showing spunky millenniums having a breakdancing party in the street wearing battle-bot armor with the bold print “Pedestrians don’t wear armor, stay alert”

It probably should state something along the lines of “Get your face out of the face-magnet and pay attention to your surroundings, eyes-up stay alive”!

I like the ped warning button personally. Oh wait, it’s properly called..”Pedestrian Friendly Alert”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by bugstrider

Another example of the Fed Gov believing they have to protect ourself from ourselves be removing something that works with the application of logic and common sense.

"The new standard, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 141, responds to Congress' mandate in the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act that hybrid and electric vehicles meet minimum sound requirements to provide an audible alert for blind and visually-impaired pedestrians."

Those fookn' blind people should just learn how to take care of themselves.

[rwest]

I'm responsible for a EV charging station at work (level 2) and have done a little investigation on Amp draws. I got 28.5 on a Leaf, but on a Volt that was parked out there, only drew 14; I went and talked with the woman to see if maybe it was almost charged, but nope she only had like 4 miles left of drive distance, so almost dead.

Tessa guy said he was drawing 30- apparently his car tells him the amount. A Ford C-Max also only drew 14.

Is it a hybrid vs pure electric thing that they wouldn't take full advantage of the amps available?

Originally Posted by bugstrider

Gasoline pole:
For you G-1 past and present owners. How closely did all of you follow the premium 91 octane rules listed in the manual?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I only use regular. Premium use is recommended ONLY for CAFE standards.

[wdfifteen]

The maximum charge rate of the Volt 2016 is 3.6kW, so at 240 Volts, it will pull a maximum of 15 Amps. The Gen 1 is slightly less. It's probably because the Volt has gas power available, so rapid charging isn't critical. I understand (but I don't know the numbers) that some of the current at high charge rates goes to battery cooling.

[astrochex]

Looks like Fisker, or an evolved version, is back with the Karma. Marketed as something to aspire to.

First problem with the Volt - 2.5 years and 10K miles. The motor wouldn't initialize a couple morning ago and power steering warning flashed on the display. Called my sales guy(he only sells electric) and he said it sounded like the 12V battery. There wasn't enough juice to call onstar, so I hooked battery charger and got them to run diagnostics and there was a laundry list. They sent a flatbed and dealer confirmed the battery had died. Warranty covered it.

Discovery 1 - you can jump the Gen 1 from terminals in the engine compartment or from the battery under carpet in the back. Discovery 2 - I could not get the hatch open with dead battery. Discovery 3 - if jumping another car from the Volt, ONLY connect to the battery and not the terminals up front.

[bugstrider]

Had anyone converted the OEM 120V charger to a 240V using the converter plug on the Gen-1?? If so, was successful or was it an unmitigated disaster?!?!?!?! Curious for portability reasons. Seen and read about this conversion that allows you to use the particular 240v connector but the allows you to plug the 110v plug pigtail for usage. Kinda allows you to use one charger when traveling.

Or this option


Many threads on this mod for 2011-2014, I’ve read the 2015 is somehow different and the Gen-2 is setup to do both L-1 and L-2 without issue.

Thanks

[bugstrider]

Have to share this one. All of you Volt “veterans” have probably experienced this but it’s all new to me.

“Public Charging Etiquette”
So the wife and I drive down to the ElDorado Town Center about 30 miles away. I use my ChargePoint app and locate a public charging station in a local park and ride(Sunday). I park, plug-in and we go a walkin. The posted sign says “max 4 hours” so I note the time and think to myself, how cool it is not to use gas for a nice afternoon stroll. We return an hour and a half later to find a Ford C-Max parked on the opposite side of a hedge to our car and the plug removed from our car and plugged into the C-Max. I wasn’t fully charged but I thought to myself, “what a dickhead”. Guess I better research the protocol of public charging. At least my alarm fired off when it was unplugged. I discovered that little treat when I charged at home for the first time then unplugged it at 0430 before going to work. At least my key fob was upstairs.

I’m sure this is cheap entertainment to all of you hybrid vets.

[wdfifteen]

He's a dickhead. The charge state is displayed on the dashboard as a flashing green light. If it isn't glowing solid green, your car isn't charged and the cord should not be removed. The guy who yanked your cord before your car was charged is either a dickhead or ignorant of protocol.

[Steve Carlton]

Carry Krazy Glue (in case the other guy needs some).

[bugstrider]

Ok Guys n Gals,

Has anyone addressed the brain shaking air hammer buffeting experienced when driving with the driver’s side window down???

Before I get pummeled with comments of aerodynamic principles and how it’s inefficient to drive this platform with the windows down, I just want to say that I am fully aware of all those factoids.

My question to the Volt team in the forum is this...
Have any of you remedied this issue by having the TSB on the mirrors addressed at the dealer level -or- have anyone just installed the weather tech rain shields, fixed the issue and just be about your merry?

This is a pic of the fix at the dealer level from GM. A small faring along the glass(seen on the right in black) and a design mod to the mirror cap.


Weather tech window rain shield.


Cheers

Swing and a miss, anyone? anyone?Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?

[wdfifteen]

I've never addressed it in the Volt other than to put the window up. My 356 coupe has the same issue, as did Saab's 93/96 models. I fixed the problem with my coupe the same way the Saab factory did it - with a little triangle of plexiglass at the upper rear corner of the window. I guess it could work on the Volt, too.