Even the 2011 isn't available yet! I need it to see how the front head restraints are removed! Come on GM, release it to Helm already!!!!

I have found the Volt Advisors to be very helpful. Have you tried asking yours about this? Of course, I would avoid swearing at them. :)

Helm Inc had the 2011 Service Manual available since April (I posted that link first), but some time later the Manual was not available. Someone else here in this forum posted that GM had to update the information on the 2011 manual for a reprint, so the delay is due to GM. The 2012 manual hasn't been available, either.

Please be patient. I have bought all of my GM Service Manuals since 1967 through Helm (previously named as Lansing Lithographers) at least a year after the vehicle was on the market, and all were ordered by mail (ordering through the World Wide Web arrived much later), and the shipment takes time. Use your dealer if your need is urgent.

I didn't realize that the service manual was available at one time. Thanks for clearing that up. Hopefully, they'll get everything reprinted soon. Ford has a wonderful service where you can "rent" the service manuals online for a one month period for $10.00. I wish GM had the same service. I would sure save on paper! Or, if they'd sell the service manual on CD-ROM for $75.00 or something. The only other alternative is to buy the very very very expensive DVD that contains ALL the service manuals (that I don't need since I only have a Volt).

For the head restraints in my Volt, they come out just like the head restraints in any other car. Each restraint has 2 metal tubes that slip into the seat back. Just like other cars I've owned, there's 1 button at the edge of one of the 2 holes that allows you to release the restraint and pull it up and out of the seat back. I just did this recently to put an iPad Frame on the back of my seat.

Perhaps you need more detailed instructions for some special project, but in case the above would suffice, I figured I'd add my 2 cents.

I remember a post here where there's a little release on one of the posts that you have to press to get them out. It's not the one you use to adjust the height, it's another one (on the other post maybe?) on the side opposite the height-adjusting one. Try search?

Sorry I'm not more helpful...

The front headrests come out a little different. I removed mine to install some seat back protectors for my kids. Using these directions are at your own risk, or installing anything aftermarket at your own risk.

If you move the headrest up to the top of it's shaft, then unscrew the black plastic pieces against the seat, now you have access into the seat cover. Here's where it gets tricky. Each shaft has a little external c clip of sorts, buried down in that black piece you see there, there is a loop on one side (I think it's on the left if you are sitting in the back seat), which you need to pry gently away from the shaft, which will let the chrome shaft slide up a little. I used a small screwdriver, you can see the possibility of ruining the leather, so it's really risky. While holding that side up, you need to do the other side. Using your octopus arms (or a friend maybe), or if you are really slick, you can get the other one loose, and the whole headrest will slide out the top. I hope you remembered to put the driver's seat all the way down if you had it jacked up, as there is not enough room to remove the headrest if it's up. Ask me how I found this out, the hard way.

Thanks RedVolt! That did it!

For the other two posters (Ron C and pavers123), the front seat headrests are totally different than the rear seat headrests. The rear seat headrest removal is documented (albeit poorly) in the owners manual. The front headrests are removed only with difficulty as Red Volt's posting reveals. Uh, I'm not sure pavers123, but that's not how my Volt's front headrest is configured.

I wish they came out easier. In my accord, when the kids were little (I mean like babies) and we took trips to grandma's house (over the river and through the woods), my wife would ride in the back seat on the passenger side and take care of the kids (bottles, etc) as it was just easier. I'd remove the front headrest (they came out easy) and place it on the front floor, so she could see forward (and not get as carsick) and talk to me easier. I think it's a mistake on GM's part to do this, though I can see why they might. And the rear headrests, they should just make them easier, that little button is just plain dumb, and the manual isn't that great on it. This should be something the Dealer goes over every owner with as it's tricky (the rear seat rests, I'm sure they will not do it for the front....).

I wish they came out easier. In my accord, when the kids were little (I mean like babies) and we took trips to grandma's house (over the river and through the woods), my wife would ride in the back seat on the passenger side and take care of the kids (bottles, etc) as it was just easier. I'd remove the front headrest (they came out easy) and place it on the front floor, so she could see forward (and not get as carsick) and talk to me easier. I think it's a mistake on GM's part to do this, though I can see why they might. And the rear headrests, they should just make them easier, that little button is just plain dumb, and the manual isn't that great on it. This should be something the Dealer goes over every owner with as it's tricky (the rear seat rests, I'm sure they will not do it for the front....).The thing is the headrest is an important element of an integrated safety system. They are technically not there for comfort. So the problem with making them easily removable, is they might not get properly reinstalled and adjusted when an adult occupant is back sitting in that seating position .
In a rear-ender the lack of a headrest (or improperly adjusted) can result in severe neck/spinal injuries. So there is a trend to make them a more permanant fixture within the seat assembly and/or potentially even part of an "active" headrest mechanism that moves the pad a bit forward when a rear collision occurs and the body is kinematically "planted" into the backrest during the event.
So right or wrong the rationale from a car company perspective is - safety first, convenience second.
HTH
WOT

WOT,

I agree I can see where GM wouldn't want to do it. We never drove without the headrest installed when an occupant was in that seat. That is dangerous, and I agree. I would never do that. I hope no one read it that way.

The rear headrests are made removable, but are a pain. If they are removable, why make it a pain? If they just made both buttons the same size, it would be much easier and fine with me.

Someone is selling a2011 Volt Service Manual set at eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130619554776

RedVolt's headrest removal instructions above have been added to the FAQ.

I never imagined this would make it to an FAQ.

Even though I have a 2012 Volt, I was tired of waiting and I went ahead and ordered the 2011 manual offered on eBay. Figured better to have something than nothing and the changes between the two model years likely are not that great. Plus the uses I'll put it to will not touch on topics that will get me into trouble:)

The manual (or should I say manuals) arrived today. There are three manuals, each well over a 1,000 pages and each covering different categories of information. Given the sheer volume of pages it's no wonder these things are expensive.

Even though I have a 2012 Volt, I was tired of waiting and I went ahead and ordered the 2011 manual offered on eBay. Figured better to have something than nothing and the changes between the two model years likely are not that great. Plus the uses I'll put it to will not touch on topics that will get me into trouble:)

The manual (or should I say manuals) arrived today. There are three manuals, each well over a 1,000 pages and each covering different categories of information. Given the sheer volume of pages it's no wonder these things are expensive.


Congrats on getting the manuals. I've been thinking about it but cannot really justify the cost.

One the the things I was wondering was if it shows the location of the temperature sensor (been told its behind the grill, but been unable to accurately locate it). I want to add a light at just the right spot behind the grill to keep that puppy warm enough to avoid ice running due to temp. (And maybe a glowing grill will look cool too). Any chance you can locate the temperature sensors in a manual drawing? No problem if its a hassel but figured no harm in asking.

P.S. you PM mailbox if full (tried to send this message via PM first).

I'll check tonight and see if I can find info on the location. i'm sure it's there.

I'm searching the manual now. There's nothing called a "temperature sensor, but there are a number of sensors that could be candidates. As it's in the Engine Controls section, the "Mass Air Flow Sensor with Intake Air Temperature" seems to be the prime suspect. The manual does not describe its function, so this is a guess. This sensor is located on the front side of the arm leading into the air filter. You might experiment with it and let us all know what you find. Here's a photo of the relevant page from the manual.

http://photos.imageevent.com/artsci/volt/websize/DSC_1253.JPG

I'm searching the manual now. There's nothing called a "temperature sensor, but there are a number of sensors that could be candidates. As it's in the Engine Controls section, the "Mass Air Flow Sensor with Intake Air Temperature" seems to be the prime suspect. The manual does not describe its function, so this is a guess. This sensor is located on the front side of the arm leading into the air filter. You might experiment with it and let us all know what you find. Here's a photo of the relevant page from the manual.
..Snip..


Thanks I'll try that when I get a chance. The MAF measures how much air is going into the engine for fuel injection which is something I can measure on OBD sensors. The air intake temp sensor could be a good candidate and I try to can test it over the weekend. Though its now way too warm for me to be able to test the impact on the ICE, I can see if the internal temp sensor on the stack changes. Unfortuantely that will be a touugh sensor to "warm" as it may be inside the air filter.

Anyone where its still cold want to test if that the sensor that impacts ice running due to temp.

What about the INSIDE air sensor ?
Dealer said it migh be up by the On.star mic ?

I found info on that. If I recall it's located somewhere in the driver side footwell area. But I'll check and post tonight.