The first inkling there was a problem was when I got an Alert saying "Battery Cold. Plug Into Charger," and it was 80 degrees outside. The alert came on then went off pretty quickly. Coincidentally, in rapid succession, the car started running rough and engine started vibrating, followed by a Check Engine Light. (I posted my complaint about that issue earlier.) Well, I mentioned the Battery Cold Alert when I brought the car in to the dealer for the initial problem with the car running rough issue. The dealer didn't see a code for that then. I went about my way and decided to try a local shop because the dealer couldn't fix the running rough problem after 3 times. I decided to try a local shop who seemingly fixed the running rough issue.
As I was leaving the shop, I got a Check Engine Light again. WTF?
The shop said it was a problem with a battery temperature sensor, but they couldn't address it because only the dealer is in possession of a special lift to extract the big battery. So back to the dealer I sent (4th time). The dealer confirmed what the local shop said, that there was a problem with temperature sensor #6. It was intermittently malfunctioning. To fix it would entail extracting the battery and replacing one of the battery quadrants. They could not just replace the temperature sensor. Cost: $3800. I didn't have this done. I was told if two sensors failed, the car would shut down. Given that one was malfunctioning already, I don't feel safe driving this car anymore. Some might play the odds and get a few more years or miles, but not me. The last couple months has been one royal pain in the ass with my 2012 Volt.
The first inkling there was a problem was when I got an Alert saying "Battery Cold. Plug Into Charger," and it was 80 degrees outside. The alert came on then went off pretty quickly. Coincidentally, in rapid succession, the car started running rough and engine started vibrating, followed by a Check Engine Light. (I posted my complaint about that issue earlier.) Well, I mentioned the Battery Cold Alert when I brought the car in to the dealer for the initial problem with the car running rough issue. The dealer didn't see a code for that then. I went about my way and decided to try a local shop because the dealer couldn't fix the running rough problem after 3 times. I decided to try a local shop who seemingly fixed the running rough issue.
As I was leaving the shop, I got a Check Engine Light again. WTF?
The shop said it was a problem with a battery temperature sensor, but they couldn't address it because only the dealer is in possession of a special lift to extract the big battery. So back to the dealer I sent (4th time). The dealer confirmed what the local shop said, that there was a problem with temperature sensor #6. It was intermittently malfunctioning. To fix it would entail extracting the battery and replacing one of the battery quadrants. They could not just replace the temperature sensor. Cost: $3800. I didn't have this done. I was told if two sensors failed, the car would shut down. Given that one was malfunctioning already, I don't feel safe driving this car anymore. Some might play the odds and get a few more years or miles, but not me. The last couple months has been one royal pain in the ass with my 2012 Volt.
- Karen D., Salem, OR, US