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2013 Heater on Eco blows only cold air

25K views 59 replies 29 participants last post by  novaks47 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Had my 2013 Volt 2.5 wk now; first cold night tonight. I had a headcold; wanted a warm car. 57 degrees outside; felt like colder than that in the car

Set it on comfort; upped the temp to 78 degrees; set the onscreen vent selector to blow on my face (I wasnt accidentally set to "no vents" like previous user.) Opened the physical vents. Fan to maybe the second notch up. And it just blew cold air on my face. The indicator on left-lower corner of climate screen said it was using 87% climate energy; the heat indicators in right-lower corner both said heat was on.

So the interface "thought" it was heating, bigtime, but no heat came out. I could get the seatwarmers to work, but my butt isnt what needed warming; I needed to breathe warmer air in my lungs, and warm my hands (Renaud's syndrome - frostbite starts to set in at 50-55 degrees F air temp.)

Questions
1) Is there some trick wherein something (like the fan) has to be on auto before you get any heat?

2) Is there a nasty little secret like the heater (apart from the seats) only works when car's plugged in?

3) Typically how long does it take for the Volt's electric heating system to actually produce heat?

Or do I have a defective car that I need to take back to the dealer?
 
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#2 · (Edited)
I have everything set to auto on ECO. I get whatever temp I set.

The climate system works like most automatic systems in other cars (except no driver/passenger split).
 
#5 ·
Just dropped my 2013 off at the dealer for the same issue. Had it intermittently last year as well, but never got it in to be checked. Usually reset overnight. 42 degrees this morning and nothing but full on AC cold air would blow. I guess this will be a good test for my service department to see if they find the software update that needs to be performed.
 
#6 ·
Good Morning PhilKatz,

Sorry to hear about the head cold and your experience yesterday. I would like to get your Volt into your servicing dealership. I would be more than happy to get you connected with your Dedicated Advisor. Your Advisor can arrange the appointment for you! All I would need is the last 8 of your VIN and the best way for you to be reached.

Thanks!

-Ian Chevrolet EV Customer Service
 
#8 ·
I've been getting little heat in ECO mode too in my 2013. It's going to require another visit with the dealer to fix software bug? ugh. (I did the center console blank fix after about 2 weeks)
You guys who are getting this done, please post your experience. Thanks.
 
#15 ·
My 2013 has done the same thing. I started out in Eco mode, no heat in spite of it being called for and it showing 60% power usage. I finally go it to come on by setting the temp to Max.
 
#16 ·
OK here's what I did, based on advice seen on these boards:
1) Went inside parameters and unchecked auto defog/defrost (I'll leave it that way; there's a defogger button on console stack for manually selecting dedicated defog, and turning it off again.)
2) On the console stack pushed the "auto button" to put climate control in auto mode
3) W/ climate control selected onscreen I ran the temp up to 77 deg F
4) Set climate control to C "comfort"
Started (fully charged) car up and immediately, on battery-only power, got lots of warm air.

So my climate control can be made to produce heat. And right away. It's not defective or mis-designed.

When I wanted heat/airflow to stop I went on climate control screen, selected "floor and windscreen" (to knock it off auto") then selected fan only and ran the fan down to off.

Two possibilities:
A) I've found a workaround to seize control of the heater/defroster from the programmed "smarts" and make it nearly as simple to operate as the heater on my 1978 Volvo. If I leave the autodefrost unchecked and the temp at 77 I should be able to turn on the heater w/ one push of "auto" on the stack (1 step). If I really need faster heat I'll have to select climate control w/ its console button, then switch from ECO to comfort on the screen (2 more steps, at least one of which is eyes-off-road). Closing down, then assuming climate control view is still up on screen, I'll onscreen-select one of the other vent options to clobber "auto", then select "fan only" then fan down to zero. (A disconcerting 3 eyes-off-road operations, but maybe I can learn to operate the fan control on the stack by touch.)
If I need defog/defrost I can use that button on the console stack, which (unlike "auto") cancels by pushing a second time. I'm hoping that in summer when I need AC instead of a window cracked, I can do the same as for heat, except by running temp down to 55 or 60F and leaving it there.
B) The possibility I'm hoping against is that I have some intermittent prob, as some have reported. I'll keep using the sys as in A) above and an intermittent, if it exists, will reveal itself. In which case I'll see about the software upgrade, advice from the Volt company rep who posted in this thread, etc.

I've got a question: Does anybody know how to unselect "auto" climate control using only console (not onscreen) buttons. (Since with proper self-training I could learn to operate the former w/ eyes on road, but not the latter.)
 
#23 · (Edited)
OK here's what I did, based on advice seen on these boards:
1) Went inside parameters and unchecked auto defog/defrost (I'll leave it that way; there's a defogger button on console stack for manually selecting dedicated defog, and turning it off again.)
2) On the console stack pushed the "auto button" to put climate control in auto mode
3) W/ climate control selected onscreen I ran the temp up to 77 deg F
4) Set climate control to C "comfort"
Started (fully charged) car up and immediately, on battery-only power, got lots of warm air.

So my climate control can physically be made to produce heat. And right away. It's not defective or mis-designed.

When I wanted heat/airflow to stop I went on climate control screen, selected "floor and windscreen" (to knock it off auto") then selected fan only and ran the fan down to off.

Two possibilities:
A) I've found a workaround . . .
B) The possibility I'm hoping against is that I have some intermittent prob, as some have reported. I'll keep using the sys as in A) above and an intermittent, if it exists, will reveal itself.

OK I did what I said above; it's an intermittent for sure
1) In one evening w/ four separate drives (ie turn off and lock car in between drives; waiting from 3 min to 3 hr in between), and one turn-off of heat while driving and turn back on, I had (using the above workaround settings always the same) no heat, heat, heat, no heat, no heat.
2) It always sez it's using a high percentage of climate energy when blowing cold, as others have reported.
3) Mostly (but not always) when blowing cold and display showing high climate energy usage, symbols for both heat and AC are on. But sometimes when there's no heat, display shows only the symbol for heat-on, but blows cold anyway.
4) In the Owner Manual page 8-5: "The AC and electric heat could be on at the same time when dehumidification is required in ECO or Comfort Modes", and also: "The AC may also run if (windshield defog symbol) is selected regardless of the climate mode". And on page 8-6: "If (windshield defog symbol) is selected in Fan Only or ECO mode, AC or electric heat may turn on and have a noticeable effect on ..range..and fuel economy." So I wonder if the "is required" is programmed to be over-aggressive in deciding to run the AC with the heat, the net effect being to save energy by blowing cold air instead of warm when it "thinks" its necessary to avoid fogging up, but to prevent the driver from being heated.
5) More alarming, though: Page 8-4 "When in Fan-only mode, the AC system may turn on automatically if the HV battery is being cooled. To prevent cold air from blowing into the interior, turn off the fan..., select vent mode and manual recirculation, and close the air vents". Does that mean that if the HV battery is hot but the driver is cold, too bad, the driver gets AC

If 4) or 5), I don't need an explanation of "that's how it works", I need a fix.

I've got an appointment to take it into dealer tomorrow afternoon. (They're paying for a rental.)
 
#17 · (Edited)
Its an intermittent bug and no setting will get you warm air when you experience it. I have tried Hold Mode, comfort, HI settings, etc. Nothing but freezing air blows out. Save yourself from a cold ride in the dead of winter and take it in now to get the software update.

To unselect the "Auto" setting, just hit the fan button down or up.
 
#18 ·
To unselect the "Auto" setting, just hit the fan button down or up.
That will only take the fan out of Auto. Everything else will still be in Auto. The "Auto" light on the center stack just shows when you are in "Full Auto".
 
#19 · (Edited)
Climate controls should be complete operable without stopping and poking settings to get the thing working. This is a car. The controls should work, intuitively and without fiddling. God forbid you want to turn on the heat at 60mph in traffic.
 
#20 ·
Ours is in the shop as we speak.
Ours was showing 100% energy usage, 45 degrees outside, set to 78 and full auto climate.
Went in Tuesday and they performed the software update and sent us home as fixed.
Yesterday and this morning no heat unless in hold.
They talked to tech and there is a module on the heat pump that I was told is a known problem. They ordered the parts and we have a provided rental until they can fix it Monday or Tuesday.
Neither the volt advisor or the dealers Volt specialist were aware of this???
Will let you know the result.
 
#25 ·
It's a 2013 bought from Bill Pierre Chev (Seattle).
White; beige cloth seats, rear safety pkg and heated seats
Delivery early Sept (after they hunted down the car I wanted at a dealer in coastal Northern CA)
Car was originally shipped or delivered from factory 4/23/13 (145089)
 
#26 ·
Tier two heater problem

Just got off phone with dealer. Has had the car since last Thursday which was second trip. After software update did not work they talked to "Tier 2" tech support and found out that there is a problem with a "heater control module" which they had to order. They were told it is a known problem. It is behind the ER engine on the firewall and required the battery pack to be removed to get to it. Picking car up tonight so hoping for the best. Had a provided 2013 Impala LZT for the time and yuck, we miss our VOLT!!
 
#27 ·
Try again

Bad news. Got the car home and charge fault on both 120 and 240 volt attempts to charge. OnStar showed no faults. The vehicle shows interrupted charge and both lcd screens glow when car is plugged in. Does not come up with the screen showing vehicle is charging just goes to fault. Wife is NOT happy with her spaceship right now.
 
#28 ·
Bad news. Got the car home and charge fault on both 120 and 240 volt attempts to charge. OnStar showed no faults. The vehicle shows interrupted charge and both lcd screens glow when car is plugged in. Does not come up with the screen showing vehicle is charging just goes to fault. Wife is NOT happy with her spaceship right now.
Afternoon Gmcbus,

Have you contacted your Dedicated Advisor yet regarding this? If you are unsure who they are please PM me the last 8 of your VIN and the best way to reached, I will have them contact you!

-Ian Chevrolet EV Customer Service
 
#29 ·
OK, just confirmed - itermitent heat issue remains - Damn the cold weather! thought the dealervhad it fixed last spring, with the service updates and all. Went through all combinations of pre-conditioning, and driving settings, using a complete full battery charge - all the old symptoms have returned - no heat at all this go around. Well, guess its time to restart the heater fix process with the dealer and Volt Advisor.
 
#30 ·
Good Morning Hank101,

Sorry to hear that the heat concern you previously experienced is occuring again. I hope with the aid of your Advisor and Dealer they will get a quick resolution!

-Ian Chevrolet EV Customer Service
 
#31 ·
Seems to me this is the new problem with future cars. The more programming controlling the car the more errors as opposed to hardware that either works or does not in the past. Seems GM has to tighten down their car programming process as if it is say a release of software upgrades and past issues lost accidentally of course and not packaged correctly for any current new updates, that is not good. I wonder if when software upgrades are tweaked is it specific functions or the whole image reloaded. Both have their drawbacks in that any past fixes not carried forward on newest versions can be problematic. To me this is unacceptable once fixed.
 
#32 ·
Latest problem

Still don't know if heater works. No codes from car but dealer said tech said to replace the car charge plug. Delaer tried 3 charge cords and could not get car to charge. Seems strange that never had a problem with that but it fails right after dealer had the batteries out?? I think something there did not get put back in correctly but what do I know, lol. Right now car is setting at dealer with low batteries.
Have talked to our adviser Takisha once but seems the only info we get is when I contact the dealer. Seems to be a lack of communication/cooperation between the dealer/advisor link.
So as of now it's been 2 weeks and $75-100 in gas we would not have used in our Volt. Wife drives 80 miles round trip daily with a 240 charge there in Oregon with very little or no gas usage. Sure miss that car!
 
#33 ·
I have a 2014. I think I experienced the same problem. I thought it was an operator problem. I even put the fan up as high as it would go and it wouldn't blow anything out (all the time watching the %usage go up), not even air. I was fiddling with the flow control at the vents. The markings are kinda small and i wasn't sure which setting were open, but I tried both. Switched between auto and manual. Pushed the temp up high. Next time I use the car I get hot air. Does anyone know who they outsource their software to?
 
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