I am definitely leaning towards not doing the "battery fix." The only feature that I see that would be worth having is the coolant level sensor. But then I think, if the coolant level is low then wouldn't the coolant run hot, and wouldn't this generate a code?

Well if there the temps are not extreme and you are not doing a lot of regen you maybe it would not overheat the battery. But I think its a good idea.. it did not take much of a leak to cause a problem for the volt or the Karma. What if there is a bad seal or pin hole. Don't want a short..

Riiight - it might not be so much a problem that you've lost a little coolant - but where it went might be a disaster, and it's easier to just measure how much you've got than check all the places a leak could make trouble in.

The 2012 volts will also get their first Software update with this fix and I can't see how any systems engineer could resist adding any pending updates.

So you might want to think about the liability of not having the GM "safety enhancements" done... Say for some reason that you park in a parking garage somewhere. Say for some unknown reason your car catches fire. (Not likely but possible.) Now the parking garage's insurance company starts looking for reasons to sue. They find out your Volt has not had the work done. Now they can sue for negligence.

Another reason to have the work done is it probably adds to the resale value of your Volt. And it makes the car safer too. And it's free. And it eliminates the liability issues. I see no downside to having the recommended GM safety enhancements done. Heck they even give you a loaner car while the work is being performed.

I agree. I will have the update done on my car.

The only thing I do not want is to be the first fix done by the techs. That one will be the learning experience. Then it will become routine.

:)

C-5277

I see the coolant sensor as a plus - how often do you check the fluid levels in the reservoirs? I had a small leak in the coolant for the power electronics at a clamp - it was 1/2 inch below the full cold mark.

I see the "bracket to prevent overfill" as a real positive. This essentially tamper proofs the cap for the battery coolant reservoir and limits service to qualified dealer personnel, unless someone is very determined to mess up their Volt. Since the battery thermal system is very sensitive and requires deionized water and a special anti-freeze coolant, this will prevent oil change places, backyard mechanics and unknowing owners from dumping something like even windshield washer fluid into the battery reservoir.

The structural enhancements are probably the most questionable in my mind, as it requires the battery to be removed. But my servicing Chevy dealer and their trained ASE-certified technicians are very qualified, so I have no qualms. I had resisted the campaign on my Yukon XL to remove the heated windshield washer system (it is handy when there is freezing slush on the wiper blades), thinking it was political and unnecessary. When I got my Volt, I figured I did not want the Volt to get blamed for a potential fire started by the Yukon XL. The dealer told me a cases they had of the windshield wiper switch melted, and that was caused by a problem with the heated washer fluid system in the Yukon.

Can you imagine how much work went on at GM between Thanksgiving and Christmas on the battery issue? I will not second guess their fixes.

Have any of you guys gotten a letter or any notification to have the work done? Mine is at dealer right now getting the front bumper fixed from having that stupid front license plate bracket on. Would be nice to kill to birds with one stone and have the update fix taken care of as well.

there most likely will not be a battery fix for the non battery problem. if there was though, every one should know that the first vehicles to be worked on would be the demo vehicles so that whe would be better prepared for the customer vehicles

Is everybody absolutely sure that the coolant level sensor is solely for low levels? The battery fires were started when the coolant flowed into the electronics atop the inverted batteries during the rollovers after damage. Is it possible that coolant levels that are too high could overflow into the electronics after less than catastrophic damage? Is it just possible that the sensor is intended to note when the coolant reservoir is *over* filled? Ditto the tamper-proof cap?

I'm not going to second guess GM's Volt engineering staff. They say that the fix is necessary. I'll have the fix installed.

Is everybody absolutely sure that the coolant level sensor is solely for low levels? The battery fires were started when the coolant flowed into the electronics atop the inverted batteries during the rollovers after damage. Is it possible that coolant levels that are too high could overflow into the electronics after less than catastrophic damage? Is it just possible that the sensor is intended to note when the coolant reservoir is *over* filled? Ditto the tamper-proof cap?

I'm not going to second guess GM's Volt engineering staff. They say that the fix is necessary. I'll have the fix installed.
It is normal for the coolant to expand as it heats up and the level to increase in the reservoir, so increased level would be a condition that is not easily diagnosed. It is unlikely for the coolant to flow back into the reservoir after a crash. In the original test, it is estimated that less than a cup (1/3 cup?) of coolant was lost (onto the electronics, not back into the coolant reservoir) after it was put on a rotisserie spit and rotated.

As for the tamper-proof cap, I think this is just a good opportunity to do something they should have done in the first place. Since the battery thermal system is very sensitive and requires deionized water and a special coolant, you don't want oil change places, shade tree mechanics or unknowing owners putting stuff in there, such as tap water or windshield washer fluid.

I've heard part will be available in (mid?) February. I will be getting the modification done, but for me, there is no hurry and it's not the highest priority on my agenda.

I've posted this before, but it's worth posting it again in this thread.

Interesting fact in the NHTSA site documentation: If the new level sensor detects low battery coolant level, the Volt's control system will run the battery down to a very low level as you drive and will not allow charging.

So, the sensor is not just level indicator. It is used for significant automatic control action that will quickly take your battery offline and leave you solely on under-powered ICE electrical generation. It will motivate all but a small percentage of owners to bring their car in for immediate servicing. Based on this, you have the believe that GM engineers have determined that low battery coolant level is a possible precursor to a very serious future event.

My view (as a professional engineer who has dealt with safety matters): Follow GM's advice and make this change.

Link:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/defects/results.cfm?action_number=PE11037&SearchType=QuickSearch&summary=true

Quote:
"The second involves adding a sensor that detects excessive HV battery coolant loss, and control system software that then alerts the driver and prevents recharging of the HV battery. When the battery cannot be recharged, it will be depleted to a lower energy state as the vehicle continues to operate on the internal combustion engine."

I've posted this before, but it's worth posting it again in this thread.
So, the sensor is not just level indicator. It is used for significant automatic control action that will quickly take your battery offline and leave you solely on under-powered ICE electrical generation. It will motivate all but a small percentage of owners to bring their car in for immediate servicing. Based on this, you have the believe that GM engineers have determined that low battery coolant level is a possible precursor to a very serious future event.

Don't forget the coolant has to come in contact with the electronics on the top of the battery. In the crash test this was done by rotating the car 360 degrees. So a loss of coolant wouldn't by itself cause a problem, but something you would want to get fixed.

I'll see if I can convince the owner to do the demo Volt before I get mine done, we're both at the dealership all day anyway.