1) Can anyone tell me if when the volt engine starts while you are driving is it started by a starter or is it started by the Generator?
2) If engine is started is it started by the lithium battery or is there a separate battery just for starting, in case the Lithium battery is dead?
3) In the winter time does the engine start when you first turn on the key to get heat or does the heater use electricity and and when the battery runs low the engine starts?
4) If you leave the lights on with out the engine running will they shut off before the battery runs low, even if they are the E-flashers and if the lights do shut off and the battery is low when you get in and try to run the car does the engine start right away?
I work at the volt/Cruze engine plant.
I have More Questions but if these can be answered I would be great-full .

1) Can anyone tell me if when the volt engine starts while you are driving is it started by a starter or is it started by the Generator?
There is no separate starter motor. The engine is started by the generator.


2) If engine is started is it started by the lithium battery or is there a separate battery just for starting, in case the Lithium battery is dead?
The engine is started by the lithium battery. There is a small sealed lead acid battery to run 12 volt accessories but it is not used for starting the engine.


3) In the winter time does the engine start when you first turn on the key to get heat or does the heater use electricity and and when the battery runs low the engine starts?
If you left the car plugged in the interior and the battery can be pre heated with electricity from the wall. The heater and AC are electric, so the engine does not have to run to heat or cool the interior, but that heating or cooling will reduce the all electric range.


4) If you leave the lights on with out the engine running will they shut off before the battery runs low, even if they are the E-flashers and if the lights do shut off and the battery is low when you get in and try to run the car does the engine start right away?
I work at the volt/Cruze engine plant.
I have More Questions but if these can be answered I would be great-full.
As far as I know GM hasn't provided detail on this last question of yours.

Williams, if you happen to know:

1. does the Volt use any belts in the engine?.. there is no starter or alternator but there may be one for the water pump and AC

2. what is the compression ratio on the Volt's engine?

Williams, if you happen to know:

1. does the Volt use any belts in the engine?.. there is no starter or alternator but there may be one for the water pump and AC
Here is a link to drawings of the 1.4L turbo for the Cruze (top) and the 1.4L normally aspirated engine for the Volt (bottom): http://auto-report.net/?attachment_id=2324 Note that the Volt engine has an accessory belt for the water pump only. The AC is electric.


2. what is the compression ratio on the Volt's engine?
I don't think GM has said.

Yeah but Williams works at the engine plant.. he might know.

The wikipedia entry for the family 0 engine says that all the recent non-turbo variants have had 10.5:1 compression, so that is a plausible guess for the Volt engine. (Not that wikipedia is always right, mind you.)