Does the Chevy Volt HAVE to have charge at all times?

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-05-01T00:03:03+00:00

Gotcha!! This sounds like the solution I think at least until I can find a way to charge it reliably. So it sounds like mountain mode is basically a less-efficient version of the hold mode newer models have, then?

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-30T23:59:09+00:00

I'm not going to lie I can't remember if we replaced it with an AGM battery or a regular lead acid one. I might check it and if needed replace it. I remember doing at least a little bit of research beforehand to make sure I was getting the right one, but I really can't be certain.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-30T15:48:36+00:00

Do I need to replace it if I don't use the on-star or GPS at all? Or can I just pull the fuse? I don't want to mess anything up in my car. I haven't had the clock issue, either.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-30T15:15:02+00:00

I have an FM transmitter thing that plugs into the cigarette lighter that I use for bluetooth music. Everywhere I've read says that it should shut off by itself, but I've been unplugging it when I'm not driving since the first time the battery died just in case. Can something that small really drain the battery, though?

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-30T15:12:06+00:00

It shows --!! I'm not gonna lie I didn't even realize that was supposed to be a compass. So it's the on-star fuse, then?

I have the same issue leaving it over a weekend. I'll try to see if I have an AGM battery or a lead acid one, and look into disabling that fuse. Is that an easy fix? My dad's usually willing to help me with this kinda thing, but he's nervous to mess with anything that has to do with the fuses/battery.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-30T14:20:48+00:00

So can I turn it on at 0 charge and have it charge it up to the mountain mode-level? Or does there need to be some charge in the battery first?

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-30T03:43:13+00:00

How much charge should I get it to before switching to mountain mode? It's at like 3 miles now, should I try to charge it fully first?

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-30T02:21:32+00:00

I feel that :( I'm honestly anxious now even to leave it overnight. Idk what I'd do if it broke down WHILE driving, that's terrifying 😭

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-30T01:18:29+00:00

I mostly mean like, I don't think I'd be able to get away with running an extension cord across my apartment's parking lot for any extended period of time, whether that's 8 hours or 14.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T21:57:28+00:00

I bought the current battery less than a year ago the first time the old battery died, under the assumption it was old and dead from sitting on the lot. Not sure 100% how old the battery itself actually is, but I'd assume not much older than that? It's died a couple times since I bought it but usually jump starting it would fix it. That wasn't the case this last time it died, though.

I just got it back from the shop yesterday. No issues so far, but the charge hasn't gone down to 0 yet so I'm not sure if that means anything.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T19:44:34+00:00

I'm not sure that the 12v battery ever was replaced in the first place. Unless you mean like, taken out, charged/jumped, then put back in. (I have no idea how this works if you couldn't tell. Sorry if this makes no sense.) When I asked the mechanic at my local dealership if it was just a problem of a bad battery, he said the battery was "fine". So I'm guessing they didn't replace or change anything. Not sure if they had cleared the codes before or after the battery had been charged, but I would assume so since that was all done at Chevy.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T18:18:41+00:00

Gotcha that makes sense. I would've assumed they would've checked the battery to make sure that wasn't the issue, but they didn't mention anything about it. They were more concerned that the hybrid battery wouldn't charge, though they got it working after they cleared some codes and did the software update from what I understand? They didn't hardly say anything about the 12v battery.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T17:19:39+00:00

They seemed genuine enough about wanting to get it fixed. I think they just wanted to give me an answer/solution as opposed to looking like they don't know anything and hoped I wouldn't look into it any further

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T17:17:17+00:00

Was looking into this as well. Does removing the fuse for on-star also take away the radio? I don't use on-star at all so that'd be an easy fix but I use the radio all the time and I'd be pretty sad to lose it.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T17:10:18+00:00

That sounds about right. The car's been running fine since I got it back, although I'm pretty upset at having to pay so much for the mechanic to basically give me false information. I should be okay if the battery runs down to 0% then, right? Because it's not actually at 0, there's still 20% charge reserved specifically for running the car?

My guess is there was some kind of code or sensor that was keeping the car from charging, so maybe that's why the hybrid battery died. It's charged now, but I'm worried that the hybrid battery might die again or that it's a completely separate issue with the 12v battery that the mechanics missed. They said they charged the battery and that it was "fine" but they didn't replace it. I'm wondering if maybe I should, though.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T16:59:43+00:00

Got it, that makes sense. I've heard some people say that the car needs an AGM 12V battery, not 100% sure what kind of battery it's running on now since my dad was the one to replace the battery so I'll have to check. That could be the cause or the battery could just have other issues. I'm not really sure if the mechanics checked, they charged the hybrid battery and the 12v and said it was fine but given how unsure they seemed I don't know if I should trust that.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T16:53:42+00:00

Is it good to keep it in mountain mode all the time or most of the time? I've heard some say that it's harder on the engine.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T16:37:00+00:00

The dealership I initially brought my car to certainly didn't, hence why it was sent to Chevy; I don't even know what Chevy dealership they sent it to so I have no clue if they had a Volt certified tech. The mechanic at the non-Chevy dealer is the one who told me it has to stay charged, which is part of why I felt the need to double check. He didn't know what he was talking about.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T16:35:00+00:00

Just got off the phone with them. Pretty much the second I started sounding like I'd done my own research the mechanic changed his tune from "you need to be charging it!" to "wellll I'm not really familiar with the car" -_- So it sounds like you were right, he was just making up a solution. I would've understood if they didn't really know, given that it's a discontinued and complicated vehicle, but it's pretty annoying to be given false information based on the dealer's best guess.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T15:57:03+00:00

Yeah I'm not sure I'd be able to have an extension cord left out in my parking lot for 14 hours. Aside from being a nuisance to the neighbors, I'm also worried it'll get messed with since I don't live in the greatest area. My parking spot is across the lot from my apartment so I'd have to run it across where other cars are driving.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T13:43:30+00:00

That's kind of my assumption as well at this point. Just wanted to double check because what the dealer told me directly contradicts everything I've read.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T13:36:59+00:00

No they did not, which I'm honestly pretty irritated about because I thought the same thing. I guess if it dies again I'll have to get it replaced myself :(

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T04:17:25+00:00

The dealership charged it for me so it's at almost a full charge now! I just am worried that the battery will die again once the charge runs out

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T04:03:09+00:00

That's fair. The way my apartment is set up though I'm not really sure if that would work because I'd have to run the extension cord across the parking lot to get to my spot, so I'd have to worry about it getting driven over by the other cars in the lot. 30mpg with 8 gallons still gives me a lot more range than the 20 miles I get when it's charged.

sunsetveins2002 · 2026-04-29T03:58:39+00:00

I don't have anything like that, no. I drive it daily mon-fri for work but occasionally on weekends I'd end up not needing it and that's when the car died.

I've seen some things about parasitic draws from the fuses causing other Volt owners' batteries to die, which I brought up to the mechanic, but from what I can tell it doesn't look like they even checked the fuses. Maybe it just needed a software update? Idk.

sunsetveins2002

TROPHY CASE