Something different today

[Tuna]

Howdy,
After 6 months of having a Volt in the garage, it was doing something this morning that we have not seen/heard before - there was a fan or something like that running this morning when I went to the garage.

Sounded like the garage refrigerator running (noisy) when I opened the door. Walked past the Volt to check the refrig and it was find and the noise was behind me. The Volt was making the noise. It was plugged in and showing a full charge.

I got the key fob to check it and the noise was almost gone when I went back to the garage. Checked the dash and it was not showing anything unusual when I got in - just the "fully charged" display.

Did we inadvertantly put it in the remote start mode?
Never used that mode before so I don't have a clue how it's supposed to respond.

Wife drove it to work this morning and did not report any issues with it.

[2BeLivingGreen]

You just heard the battery cooling system running the A/C system to thermally manage the battery. So this does happen even if you are not driving it or running the car but have it pluged in.

Enoy the VOLT.

[DonC]

No doubt it's happened before and you just weren't around to hear it.

[Noel Park]

No doubt it's happened before and you just weren't around to hear it.

Yeah, mine does it all the time. No big thing.

[BAZINGA]

Aside from the "green glow" the charger emits and has caused my neighbors to comment on the green glow in my garage at night, the car does make some odd noises. As others have said the car will do things on its own to protect the battery. How hot was it in your garage when this was going on? I've heard my car making whirring and other noises when the temps are in the 80's. And it will do the same thing this winter.

[dax777]

no cause for concern, the noises are normal and as the temp rises, you will hear them again...its necessary to keep the battery at a constant temperature and the Volts does it automatically...this car is smarter than a lot of people that I know...love my Volt...

[voltedge]

Does the car do the thermal management even when it is unplugged sitting in a parking lot?

[dax777]

Does the car do the thermal management even when it is unplugged sitting in a parking lot?

yes it does, its automatic, just set back and enjoy the ride...

[AySz88]

Does the car do the thermal management even when it is unplugged sitting in a parking lot?

Yes, a little bit, at least until it's down to some particular level of charge. (Can't remember if that's to conserve charge or if that's just the point at which it's no longer needed?)

[edit] Doh! Ninja'd.

[Tuna]

You just heard the battery cooling system running the A/C system to thermally manage the battery. So this does happen even if you are not driving it or running the car but have it pluged in.

Enoy the VOLT.

Thanks all for the help and information.

We got our Volt in November and last week was the first of the warm weeks so the garage was probably still in the 80's this morning. We didn't drive the Volt much over the weekend so it left on charge most of the time. So, this morning was the first time we heard it making the noises.

This week is supposed to be cooler, so we'll probably not notice it again until the temps get back into the 90s.

Again, thanks for the responses.