[Russ]

This is a worrying trend as I had hoped that these bearing failures that have plastic cages (as I understand it is the cage that fails) were few and far between.
Do we have any details of the mileage these failures have happened at?
I read that the bearing has been changed on later builds. Does anyone know the VIN number sequence that the later bearings were fitted to?
Bearings are so cheap that it is a shame that such a great design has been spoilt by such a cost cutting exercise.

You would have thought that GM would have had a long history of costly warranties to cut this cheap skating out.

 

[Russ]

@George Jetson
I understand that your car is a low mileage one.
Do you know if it is a 2012 model? This bearing failure is rather worrying to us purchasers of second hand cars as we are only given one year warranties on the car mechanics.

Did they confirm it was caused by the plastic bearing cage breaking up or did they keep quiet about it.

Such a pity that someone decided plastic was an acceptable replacement to brass or steel.
I guess heat or manufacturing tolerance is causing the failures as it doesn't yet seem to be a major failure but had that bearing been reliable, the Volt/Ampera would have had an enviable reliability record.

 

[Russ]

My local one is Drive Leicester so reasonably close for @Richard Gledhill .
Anyone have experience of them?
They readily changed my EVSE under warranty but I haven't used them for anything else yet.

 

[Russ]

They took less than a day to fit it, most of the delay was getting Vauxhall's OK to do the work then three to four days to get the part from Germany.
Mine was one of the first Ampera's (April 2012) and from all I can gather most of the bearing problems seem to be with the early models.

How is it that a large company like Vauxhall don't have a simple bearing in stock in the UK?
Having this problem after 48,000 miles is worrying as mine is an early one, doesn't have a lifetime warranty and has only covered 17,000 miles

 

[Russ]

I drive mine in D full regen all the while and expect some "techno wheee" due to generated power and have the same approximate whining level at upper 2.

 

[Russ]

Would it be a little premature to suggest that the number of these "bearing failures" is reducing as the miles are increasing on the cars.
If as often suggested, the failure is more to do with misalignment rather than being caused by a poor quality/plastic bearing cage so it would be nice if it was so.
I wonder if a visual check for floaters in the oil would act as an early warning?

 

[Russ]

I wonder if the "bearing alignment and preload" problem that @donald mentions is why the MkII Voltec has been re-designed.
I assume the very large diameter but narrow bearing cannot take much side load and really should only act as a support for the motor shaft.
Probably not possible in this case but I always tap a bearing centre or shaft on both sides to help locate when changing them as it is easy to pre-load them incorrectly.

Does anyone know if the 300,000 mile Volt in the US has its original bearing?

Such a shame that the rest of the drive mechanical parts including clutches seem to be bullet proof and never even get a mention yet a simple bearing causes so much grief!

 

[Russ]

but given that it's really only a 2-hour repair job, plus the parts... I'm not convinced that it would be a terribly expensive repair, either.

The bearing and parts are actually listed as a sub £100 part and is a couple of hours labour.

I hadn't realised that it was apparently easier to replace the bearing than a Corsa cam belt. As @donald says, it is almost cheaper as they are a service item every few years.
BTW, how is the interval measured with the ICE belt on the Volt/Ampera as mileage is not accurate enough.

With enough info, I would be happy to try a DIY replacement if out of warranty as long as the alignment tool was available.

 

[Russ]

Volt Whine or Whistle Noise while Driving

First time I've seen a picture of where the bearing is.

 

[Russ]

@donald silly me! My son had a Corsa and I remember it had a chain! Recommended replacement mileage was quite low I think.
As chains are only subject to operational wear unlike belts which deteriorate, I doubt any Volt/Ampera's will get replaced.
Certainly not mine!

 

[Russ]

My understanding (from talking to Chevy) is that the job requires specialist kit to do the job, the whole problem with the bearing is because of bad alignment so I don't think DIY would be a practice solution.

From what I have read the "specialist tools" are a bearing puller and another to push the bearing back on to its seat and probably just a sleeve that is used to tap the inner bearing race on to an interference fit ground bed on the shaft.

@donald is correct in saying that there is a better chance of the problem being caused by machining tolerances on the cover which supports the outer race of the bearing.
It would be very difficult to know if you have caused a side load on the bearing when replacing the cover which I assume has a blind end where the bearing is located.

 

[Russ]

Page 2 is more interesting as I personally would use a hide mallet.

Whine, Scrape, Whistle Type Noise While Driving – 2011-2015 Chevrolet Cadillac Opel | gm.oemdtc.com

 

[Russ]

The work sheet now is to replace the transmission end cover at the same time as the bearing, the theory being that if the tolerance is wrong then its probably the end cover that caused it.

This end cover replacement used to be done if the bearing failed a second time. Now it is done routinely.

So in actual fact, to perform the repair per the new technical bulletin, you also have to cost in a new end cover.

However ...... I am yet to be convinced this makes much of a difference. I think they started doing it just to 'jump' the second fitment stage, were it to occur. Easier just to swap the cover once it is off. Then if it fails a second time the bulletin says to replace the transmission.

Definitely has to be the reason that the Voltec was re-deigned for MkII.

It looks as though the designer(s) overlooked basic design principles with the support bearings for the main drive motor.

When you consider the relative complexity of the rest of the drive unit with a second motor/generator and hydraulic clutches etc., it is a shame that there is such a basic fault.