2012 Chevy Volt Hybrid Battery Replacement

Changing the battery on this 2012 chevy volt!
#hybrid #chevyvolt #volt #chevy #battery #hybridbattery #automobile #mechanic #mechaniclife

[@geraquiroz6288]

Kool, my 2013 has a bad battery and my 2012 has a good battery and got body damage from somebody opening their door as my kid was driving by

[@LowLifeAntics]

Time to start swapping.

[@GoldenLegionHoney]

So was the car just not working at all? totally bad hybrid battery? what were the signs?

[@LowLifeAntics]

So, when the battery goes bad and it gets below i think 5 miles of range the car will become inoperable unless its put into mountain mode each time you drive.

[@fdeeves5360]

Great video, Thanks! I have a 2012 Volt that I bought almost 5 years ago with 118K miles and it produced about 32 e miles at the time (close to original of around 35 per my neighbor/previous owner). It's been a great car over these years though the battery has been degrading gradually to about 20+ right now (163K miles). It still works great and want to keep it for a few more years since it's so reliable and cheap but concerned about continued decline in e miles. Questions: can I use another model year battery? Do you know any mechanics in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area who work on EVs? 🙂

[@LowLifeAntics]

@@fdeeves5360 you can use other year batteries. I do not know of any. If you make it to iowa. We can help you.

[@TheDisgruntledMechanic]

Thanks! Great job. I have this job ahead of me!

[@LowLifeAntics]

Thank you. If you jave any questions, let me know. It's pretty straightforward and not too difficult.

[@johndoe-ol4lo]

Great job! Great Video! I am new to EV's. I just purchased a used 2014 that will be needing a battery soon. 1-Where should I begin my search for a replacement battery? 2-What years will work in a 2014? 3-How do I know if a used battery is good? and should I expect a warranty? 4-What should I expect to pay for a good used battery? Thank you for you help.

[@LowLifeAntics]

Congratulations on the new car! Hopefully, you will love it. You can get used ones at the junk yard. They run around 900-1500. Typically, only have a 30-90 day warranty. You can also ask the junk yard to check the battery health before selling it to you. You can also test the individual cell units.

[@portagepete1]

What makes you think it needs a battery?

[@vladimirslobonyk6023]

you guys did awesome job. What can I do if I don't have YSTool? is there any alternative way?

[@LowLifeAntics]

If you can swap the battery electronics from the old battery to the new one, you won't need to program anything.

[@apollo9694]

You mention reprogramming the modules, if you don't swap out the BECM how does one go about that? is that something only a dealer can do?

[@LowLifeAntics]

@apollo9694 you can do it if you have the right software and cable/reader. If not, then yes, a dealer/service center would have to program it.

[@apollo9694]

@@LowLifeAntics thanks for the response! What software and cable/reader? Would a VCX nano be able to do it with the ACdelco TDS software, or would I need one of the insanely expensive OBD tools?

[@LowLifeAntics]

@@apollo9694 that might work. We used a VCX Nano and GM GDS2 and a sps subscription.

[@apollo9694]

@@LowLifeAntics Thanks again. Its good to hear what definitively works.

[@LowLifeAntics]

@@apollo9694 no problem. Happy to help.

[@jimtalbott9535]

2:45 - “don’t lick ‘em.” DON’T TELL ME HOW TO LIVE MUH LIFE!! THOUGHT THIS WAS AMERICA!

[@LowLifeAntics]

Hahahaha

[@rja777]

Well done and resourceful!

[@LowLifeAntics]

Thank you

[@bleach6286]

How long did it take you guys? Planning on doing it soon. Also, how much was the replacement?

[@LowLifeAntics]

The replacement battery was used and cost about 1k. All in all, it took a few hours.

[@brianburdette5918]

What’s the maximum height of the floor jacks you used? Would 18.6” be enough?

[@LowLifeAntics]

You need 21 inches from the ground to the bottom of the car if you use the dollys we did. If you use a lower profile one, it could work.

[@rotaryperfection]

12:50. About this de-ionized coolant. I'm diagnosing a P1eab "battery cell high) issue and filled my battery back with aftermarket GM dex cool but from the auto parts store. Guess I'm using the wrong coolant? Could you explain more what losing ISOLATION in the battery is? Think I'm gonna have to swap battery packs but would like to know more about this coolant because I've had the auto part store coolant in the battery for over 2yrs (car not running of course). I'm finally trying to get this thing running as it was an auction car when I bought it.

[@LowLifeAntics]

Using the GM DEX Cool you should be good. The same coolant is used in both the Electronics and the engine. I would recommend using the GM stuff but the Aftermarket should be fine as well, as long as you didn't add any water to it and you purchased the pre diluted stuff.

[@rotaryperfection]

@@LowLifeAntics I may need to drop the coolant then. If I remember correctly, I typically use concentrate to save money and dilute with distilled water from the grocery store.

[@LowLifeAntics]

@rotaryperfection yeah, drop it. You can't use distilled water in the Electronic side.

[@rotaryperfection]

@@LowLifeAntics 10-4.

[@jimmykelly2809]

After you got it all charged up what did you get in range all EV

[@LowLifeAntics]

Depending on how it's driven, 30-45 miles.

[@portagepete1]

These guys have No idea what they are doing I've been working on these for over 10 years and never saw one that needed a hybrid battery. The 2012 has an issue with charging but it is overcome by relocating the sensor under the battery fluid tank to under the passenger seat where the wires originate then reprogram the HPC module 2 and the battery energy control module then it will charge and never be a problem again. You won't find a dealer that will fix it they will say you need a battery.

[@jataepke]

I got one with p1e98 code for cell balancing module 2. What can I try ?

[@ChrisFontanini]

That wasn't the issue with this car, it had a weak cell in battery segment 3 that would put the car into limp mode once it's range was under 4 miles. It ran indefinitely in if you put it into mountain mode before that point and charged without issue. The coolant sensor was the first thing checked since it's not a secret. Case in point, it's still using it's battery coolant level sensor in the proper location with the "new" battery, no issue. If you want to accuse people of having no idea what they're doing, you might want all the details first.

[@javierjavier7291]

Omg that is exactly my issue on my 2012 dealer said replace battery $20,000 I laughed and left

[@javierjavier7291]

How can I get help in Houston? Dealership told me new battery $20,000 with a smile. Tried greentec and they came out with an obd plug and an app on their phone and said they couldn’t do anything. Tried a few mobile electric techs not one has made it to my house. Dealership reset engine light car drove till it switched to gas and on came the light again after turning it off it won’t move anymore just initializes

[@LowLifeAntics]

We can't travel to you however you are welcome to come this way. We can try to source a battery for you.

[@vladimirslobonyk6023]

i have 2014 volt need fresh battery . have one from 2013 built day 07/12. do i still need reprogramm? or if i swap all modules(how many of them to replace)

[@LowLifeAntics]

Swap all of the modules from the old battery to the new battery, and you will be good to go.

[@JH-jp9sv]

Swap the 2 electronic modules onto the 2013 battery. One is built into the connector panel and one is on the top of the battery. Swap both of those as shown in the video.

[@portagepete1]

Your car will only get about 25 miles on a charge in the winter then will perform like new again in the summer. You Don't need a battery.

[@vladimirslobonyk6023]

how did you presure YSTool guage?

[@LowLifeAntics]

It uses an air compressor.

[@matt-rv4ub]

I have to remove hybrid batt from '17 volt. Any tips? do u know weight of batt?

[@LowLifeAntics]

The battery is very heavy. They are around 400lbs so be careful when removing it. Make sure the car is high enough off the ground and properly support the battery. You can use an atv jack with some boards or a couple floor jacks.

[@portagepete1]

You don't need a battery wait till summer and it will be like new again, they all get about one third less distance on a charge in the winter.

[@LowLifeAntics]

@portagepete1 That's not how it works when cells are bad......

[@micahsthompson]

Hey LowLifeAntics hope you are having a good 2024 so far! have a question about batteries but not Chevy its for my John Deere 400 tractor that you've given me advice for in the past. Have you ever replaced the battery on yours and if so did you go with the namebrand JD battery or were you able to get a off brand (hopefully cheaper lol) battery at an auto parts store or Tractor Supply?Thanks! Cheers from NH

[@LowLifeAntics]

Hey man! Nice to hear from you again! Happy 2024! I have replaced it. I did not ise a battery from JD. I have used a Walmart battery and I've used a battery from my local auto parts store. Both lasted several years.

[@micahsthompson]

@@LowLifeAntics perfect thanks for input. I believe I found right one at Walmart. The EverStart 26R 12 volt 540 CCA. We’re supposed to finally be getting a snowstorm out here and I got the chains and plow on the machine this year so I’m trying to get everything else in top order.

[@LowLifeAntics]

@@micahsthompson we haven't gotten any snow yet either. Good luck and be safe.

[@browngreen933]

​@@micahsthompson Keep a solar trickle charger on the battery when sitting and it will last WAY longer.

[@browngreen933]

My friend just bought the similar Cadillac ELR, so now I'm crazy interested in the Voltec powerplant. Battery is definitely the weak link in the chain. 😮

[@LowLifeAntics]

It 100% is the weak link!

[@vevenaneathna]

eh I disagree. if it was "the weak link" you wouldnt find any of them in junk yards. like 2015 honda civic CVT's. the weak link, every junkyard that has one is missing its CVT. the remaining CVTs that are pulled out of wrecked cars are all on ebay for 4x regular price you would expect. the fact that you can find them in the junk yard at all and for 500-1000$ should tell you something

[@LowLifeAntics]

@vevenaneathna I would disagree with you. The fact you can find them doesn't mean they are not the weak link. What makes them the weak link is the lack of range. The battery is good. The range sucks and makes it a weak link.

[@vevenaneathna]

@@LowLifeAntics hmm maybe i misunderstood what you and browngreen933 were talking about. imo theres nothing wrong with the range since the car is keeping the top 15% and bottom 30% of the battery in reserve to avoid damage. thats what every EV should do. in about 95% of cases, when someone would need to use more than the 45 mile battery range, youre essentially talking about DC fast charging territory if you didnt have the gas motor... and doing the math at the DC fast chargers around me, theyre about 5-6$/gallon equivalent. so when a tesla with a big battery might be paying 6$/gal at the super charger and waiting in line for an hour, youre paying 3$/gal at any pump. the electric motors in the 1st gen volt are sized and wound to basically only be for city driving anyways. its actually a resell bonus to know the car has never been dc fast charged, and to know the battery was never allowed to be discharged past 30% because of the motor. technically the 1st gen volt has a ~60 mile battery in it.

[@LowLifeAntics]

@vevenaneathna you are misunderstanding me. I am in no way hating on the volt or the design of the car/ev system. The car itself is great. However, I personally think the range is the weak link because the average consumer misunderstands the design and purpose of the vehicle. This is just my personal opinion.