Chevy Volt HV Battery Discharge & Check - Wrenchin' Up

[@rosslang9594]

I was able to deep discharge the battery of my 2000 Honda Insight with three light bulbs, a socket, and a volt meter. I was able to grid charge and balance it it with a $200 box from a third party supplier. The Volt requires a $2,000 Bosch interface and a $50/yr subscription fee to their programming service to clear the high voltage codes, and the discharge device shown in this video clocks in at between $15,000 and $20,000-nearly as much as the most expensive Volts you can find on the market. Absolute lunacy to go to this much trouble to, I assume, disenfranchise the owner from the repair process.

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching and sharing your experience. This video is several years old and it turns out that Midtronics developed this unit for dealerships and not so much for the aftermarket.

[@JahanZeb1976]

You provided excellent information as always. Great video.

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Thanks for the very nice comments.

[@Damageinc.]

So I was thinking on the master disconnect would it be possible to make one that also was a power tap to a very big inverter to power a house in a power failure?

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching! This would depend on whether the disconnect interrupts the low voltage circuit or the high voltage circuit. I haven't checked. I suggest that you check the wiring diagrams in a service/repair manual to be sure.

[@ilovemyevo556]

Did you ever find an answer? that's a pretty smart idea

[@StipeSurlin]

Is it possible to DC fast charge battery via Geberator cables to battery pack? I mean connect outside source to act as generator to fast charge battery like ICE doing via generator.

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching! Good question. I have not tried anything like that so I'm not sure. I suggest that you check with Midtronics to see what they say or recommend. Their contact information is in the video description.

[@tonyrealx]

great info...where's your shop????? would like to bring my car to your shop.

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching! There is no shop. The video was filmed in a video production studio several years ago. Most of the people in the video have moved on and are engaged in other projects.

[@tonyrealx]

my 2017 volt. when the ev battery goes to 0 instead of the gas engine starting, the car shuts down, no power, and get the check engine light and won't start unless i clear the HV codes.

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching! Since your vehicle's condition wasn't part of the interview and long-distance diagnostics is difficult if not impossible, I think the best course of action is to follow the troubleshooting information in a service/repair manual for the vehicle. There may also be some other information on KZbin that you could search for about this issue.

[@jcamayd]

This means your battery has a bad module

[@lzhlpm]

I have a 2011 volt..I live where it is cold... I would like to run it on gas all the time when temperature is 25 degrees.. is there a software that could do that??? or can i lie to the computer to make it run on gas all the time...?? right now i select mountain but i can only do that if it is at 11 mile or less..

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching! Good question but I don't have the answer you need. Hopefully someone will jump in here to help.

[@danwat1234]

Your Volt being a 2011 should automatically cycle the engine on and off in order to keep engine coolant warm once it is 25F or colder outside in order to help cabin heating. Using mountain mode with the drive mode button would keep the battery charge percentage up near 50 do keep high performance with an aging pack. That is what a lot of gen 1 owners do nowadays. Either mountain or Hold mode

[@doransignal]

how much does one of these battery testers cost?

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching! Good question, but you will have to ask the manufacturer. Their contact information is in the video description.

[@ramazkutateladze538]

Santa Claus earns off-season, working in a garage

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching! Other folks thought so too.

[@ramazkutateladze538]

@@WrenchinUpwithJimBates :))) pretty nice style uncle James

[@bobl78]

no sure what is their intention .. for normal service work.. like oil or coolant change etc I think it is enough to pull the disconnect in the arm wrest.. right?

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching! The intent was to demonstrate the Midtronics equipment and procedures for discharging and charging up the HV battery for servicing or removing it. This is mostly done in dealerships and specialty Hybrid/EV shops.

[@derekca]

@@WrenchinUpwithJimBates does pulling that plug under the armrest disconnect the battery from the Voltec orange wiring under the hood?

[@danwat1234]

@@derekca Yes it disconnects the lithium battery from the rest of the vehicle.

[@danwat1234]

For fluid changes and suspension work and such, there is zero reason to disconnect the high voltage system unless you need to manipulate orange cabling or components

[@maximus-qw7po]

Hello, My Volt does does not start, but it takes charge that just did not try the whole fuses, the error is a malfunction of the control module of the rehybrid transmission, the instrument panel lights up all the electronics works but does not go and the engine does not start when the hood is open, maybe someone faced such a problem?

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching! The trouble shooting guides in service repair manuals for your Volt might help. Idetifix is a great resource too.

[@ncscientist]

Im assuming EV Shops can do this for me locally?

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi, Thanks for watching! I can only recommend that you contact them to find out. From what I understand, this device was originally designed for dealerships, although they are available to independent shops as well.

[@ncscientist]

@@WrenchinUpwithJimBates Though probably not as good.

[@derekca]

This is obviously not for the DIY owner. Do you have a video on how to remove the Voltec plastic cover. (Aside from the security torx bolts which I have removed). I have some wiring harness damage (rodents) underneath that I would like to repair/replace: the split loom tubing.

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching! I'm sorry but I don't have a video on removing the cover, so I can only suggest checking with a service/repair manual for the procedure.

[@blackterminal]

What is the short circuit rating of this battery

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching! Good question, but since it didn't come up in the interview/demonstration I don't have that information. Maybe Midtronics has it. Their contact information is in the video's description.

[@danwat1234]

The max discharge rating for the pack is about 120KW maybe 130 definitely no more. Electric drive can pull 111KW and someone overhead beyond that.

[@MPDano]

Is this the same on the Gen 2 Volts?

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching! I haven't been involved in the Gen 2 Volt procedure so I must refer you to the folks at Midtronics to answer that for you. Their contact information is in the video description.

[@moondoggie1968]

No leathers for those gloves?

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching. There are no sharp objects in that area so I didn't bother with the leather protectors. This is not a recommendation, it's just whet I did.

[@chrisc3616]

BOOM 💥👻

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching! Yup, you do have to be careful!

[@rickkrockstar]

Because everyone has this equipment in that one kitchen drawer.

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi - Thanks for watching! The Wrenchin' Up channel has quite a diverse audience. This particular video is directed to technicians in GM dealerships and "Hybrid Shops". The channel's playlists; Tech Talks, Tool Talks, Shop Talks, Quick Tips and Back To Basics might help viewers find videos that are closer to their interests.

[@sanjose101ful]

Dumb GM engineers making the Volt so hard to fix and confusing .... no wonder people keep buying the Prius

[@WrenchinUpwithJimBates]

Hi Mike - Thanks for your comment and Thanks for watching!

[@mike_t_007]

I guess Tesla Engineers are dumb too since those cars are also hard to fix and confusing. Unfortunately that's the way things are going... Can you imagine some 16 year old getting electrocuted because he bought one of these cars and was casually tinkering about in his garage without the correct tools and precautions in place?