Unpluged the Voltec this morning, and got CEL code P1EBF again (contactor stuck closed). Two weeks ago, dealer replaced coolant heater and charge port. Worked for about a week.

Starting to wonder if the Voltec level 2 could be involved? No obvious problem with it, as both green lights are good, no problems since September, and it has not trashed the loaner Volt that the dealer has been giving me.

The dealer's one Volt smart-guy is on vacation till after New Year's, so I'm back in the loaner. At least I don't have to buy gas for it.

Morser

Two weeks ago, dealer replaced coolant heater and charge port.

Morser, I do sympathize with your plight but as a collector of oxymorons, I have to thank you (and/or GM) for "coolant heater". :)

Regards

LOL, I actually pointed that out to the service manager last week when he was explaining the repair, but he didn't get the joke. I told him he was awfully nice to lend me another Volt, and he didn't get that one either. And I'll pass on pointing out that my green car is (wait for it...) red.

That definitely sucks. You have to wonder why two have apparently gone south. Seems like an unlikely co-incidence.

Unpluged the Voltec this morning, and got CEL code P1EBF again (contactor stuck closed). Two weeks ago, dealer replaced coolant heater and charge port. Worked for about a week.

Starting to wonder if the Voltec level 2 could be involved? No obvious problem with it, as both green lights are good, no problems since September, and it has not trashed the loaner Volt that the dealer has been giving me.

The dealer's one Volt smart-guy is on vacation till after New Year's, so I'm back in the loaner. At least I don't have to buy gas for it.

MorserThat's not good...
What are the part numbers of the replaced components listed on your last repair order?
Anything "odd" or "special" about your 240V installation?
WOT

Parts replaced:

22792167 Heater 8.845
22822889 Receptacl (sic) 2.215
12378390 Coolant 8.800

The Voltec Level 2 install is plain vanilla. 8 guage wire (to anticipate next-gen current requirements) in a run of approx 65 feet in plastic conduit from breaker box. 20 amp dual breaker used, 3rd wire (also 8 ga.) connected to ground buss.

Um... well... although this is a funny part designation, I think I know what it could be good for...

Let's assume the "coolant" is the fluid running around the battery. Now the battery needs to get cooled when it's hot, but it also needs to get heated when it's cold. So the "coolant heater" would heat up the fluid which is called the "coolant" in order to heat up the battery. Maybe the "coolant" is a bit misleading if the fluid transfers cold as well as heat.


Morser, I do sympathize with your plight but as a collector of oxymorons, I have to thank you (and/or GM) for "coolant heater". :)

Regards

Heat-exchanger fluid world probably be more accurate, but if we let the engineers have free reign with language, I'd be typing this on a digitally activated hexadecimal neuro-linguistic conversion interface device.

Sorry to hear the code came back. Glad the dealer is able to put you in their loaner until their Volt technician gets back. Keep us updated and let us know what he finds when he gets back.

Parts replaced:

22792167 Heater 8.845
22822889 Receptacl (sic) 2.215
12378390 Coolant 8.800

The Voltec Level 2 install is plain vanilla. 8 guage wire (to anticipate next-gen current requirements) in a run of approx 65 feet in plastic conduit from breaker box. 20 amp dual breaker used, 3rd wire (also 8 ga.) connected to ground buss.Hmmmm
Thanks for getting back so quick with that info as it was in fact quite helpful to me.
The part # you have provided me 22792167 is actually the coolant heater for the cabin heating system, but the coolant heater associated with the multifunction contactor (in which this DTC P1BEF is involving) is actually for heating the BATTERY coolant NOT the HEATER coolant.So without pointing fingers, somebody has messed up here IMO. While please don't take this as anything "official" but IMO the coolant heater for the cabin heating system could have nothing to do with this DTC.

In fact, even the battery coolant heater replacement wouldnt really be something replaced first or on it's own anyways for the presence of this DTC until the multifunction contactor (part of the contactor/battery junction block relay assembly) was tested and/or replaced. Then AFAIK at this time replacing this multifunction contactor would require replacing the entire battery junction block relay assembly (an up-side-down T-shaped plate/cover that mounts on the very front of the Volt's lithium ion battery assembly). Therefore this single part number services ALL of the high-voltage contactors, precharge resistors AND EVEN INCLUDES the battery coolant heater! ALL of which are somewhat suspect with this DTC setting (and assuming there were no other DTCs present).

I'm pretty confident, this is what they will want to replace.
To replace this junction block relay the battery will need to be drained of coolant, dropped down from the vehicle, cover lifted and the neccessary fasteners, connectors, bus bars, and hoses removed in order to pull the electrical junction block off the front of the assembly.(not really that bad, about a 4-hour job)

So hopefully the Volt techncian with help from Volt techncial assistance, will get it sorted out for you and this time the right parts replaced.
Frustrating I know when things like this are not fixed right the first time- but it can happen occassionally.
I havnt heard of another case where these particular components were not functioning correctly so, they're breaking trail here...
Thanks for your patience and keeping an upbeat attitude.
Hopefully you'll have you Volt back soon!

WopOnTour

Thanks, WOT. When the dealer told me the "gurgle" I posted about after the first repair was from an air lock in the the cabin heater core, do to the "coolant heater" replacement, it made no sense to me either (having also assumed it was the battery loop cooling/heater that was the problem). But since they said their Volt smart-guy was on the phone with the Chevy tech reps for the entire repair, I hesitated to question further.

If you don't mind, I will fax this thread to the dealer's service dept in the hopes that it might help their guy when he gets back from vacation...

Dealer called bright and early this AM, said that after reading WOT's analysis (thanks again WOT, your help is invaluable as always) they got on the phone with GM and decided that they would overnight the part WOT described. They ordered it last night from Lansing, but the holiday weekend being what it is, they don't expect it until Monday. Stay tuned. In the meantime, I will practice the Zen art of acceptance, releasing my attachment to having the poor thing be pristine and factory-perfect. I've had a few major surgeries myself, and while the new parts work pretty good, the old bod's just never quite the same.

Part came today! Damaged! Figgers! New part Monday, plus they are shipping an engineer with it! Hope he arrives undamaged also. Happy New Year to all!

morser

Dealer called bright and early this AM, said that after reading WOT's analysis (thanks again WOT, your help is invaluable as always) they got on the phone with GM and decided that they would overnight the part WOT described. They ordered it last night from Lansing, but the holiday weekend being what it is, they don't expect it until Monday. Stay tuned. In the meantime, I will practice the Zen art of acceptance, releasing my attachment to having the poor thing be pristine and factory-perfect. I've had a few major surgeries myself, and while the new parts work pretty good, the old bod's just never quite the same.Yea, pretty obvious someone missed the boat there. Glad to hear they are back on track though! This "procedure" really isn't that intrusive though.
BUT slip this into the next conversation, "I hope you plan to SMOKE TEST the battery assembly before reinstalling it!"
They should pressurize the battery box with the smoke machine (used mostly for EVAP diagnosis) to insure it's all sealed up correctly.(supposed be SOP when the battery box was disassembled to this extent ) Telll them to watch the video! - LOL
Good luck and keep that smile on!
WopOnTour

WOT, I really hope you're not as old as you claim to be - we could really use you on here for many years to come ;) This is just one more fine example of your awesomeness...

WOT, I really hope you're not as old as you claim to be - we could really use you on here for many years to come ;) This is just one more fine example of your awesomeness...

Right on that! (I've been saying that all through these threads, but was afraid if I said it much more, he'd start to think I was hitting on him). ;)

morser

WOT, I really hope you're not as old as you claim to be - we could really use you on here for many years to come ;) This is just one more fine example of your awesomeness...LOL
Just an old man that's been around the block once or twice is all... But thanks for the compliments
WOT