Best products from r/volt

We found 49 comments on r/volt discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 254 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.

3. Bafx Products - Wireless Bluetooth OBD2 / OBDII Diagnostic Car Scanner & Reader Tool for Android Devices - Read/Clear Your Check Engine Light & Much More

    Features:
  • [Compatible] Our automotive OBDII diagnostic engine reader works with all consumer automotive vehicles, cars & trucks in the USA that are model year 1996 or newer! Compatibility varies depending on vehicle country of location. See product description to check your vehicles computer compatibility based on your country of location. (NOT IPHONE / iOS COMPATIBLE)
  • [Simple To Use] Plug our OBD2 diagnostic scanner into your vehicles automotive OBD2 port; Pair diagnostic scan tool with your Android phone via Bluetooth; Download an app to use it with; Then connect & start scanning for live sensor data like a professional direct from your vehicles on board computer! (NOT IPHONE / iOS COMPATIBLE)
  • [Fix & Service Your Car For Less] Using our diagnostic code reader you can read, reset & clear your check engine error light fault codes with your Android phone (does not read ABS or SRS). Check and fix your emissions system readiness, know if you will pass emissions & smog test before you go with our diagnostic tool! (NOT IPHONE / iOS COMPATIBLE)
  • [Live Data] Monitor live real time live gauge data direct from your autos computer systen with our diagnostic trouble code reader such as O2 sensors, fuel pressure, Engine load & more; Freeze fram data; Map based sensor tracking plus so much more! Making it extremely easy to check up on the health of your vehicle just like the pros! Our automotive health tool will help you keep your gas or diesel vehicles running many miles longer!
  • [Guaranteed] Unlike other OBD2 car diagnostic scanners we guarantee ours will work on ALL OBDII protocols including J1850 which many have problems with! Works on both gas & diesel vehicles. Reads at faster speeds than most other OBDII wireless Bluetooth OBD 11 readers.
  • Our car trouble scanner works with all consumer cars, light trucks & other autos purchased in the USA model year 1996 & newer (gas OR diesel) including but not limited to Audi, Ford, GM, Chevy, Chrysler; Dodge, Jeep, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Lincoln, Mercury, Mercedes, Nissan, BMW, VW, Porsche & More!
  • [Elm327 Compliant] If the app you wish to use states you will need an ELM327 compatible tool, our OBDII diagnostic programmer / reader tool will work with it! Our OBDII engine scan tool is fully compliant with the ELM327 programmer command set giving you access to numerous professional level programs to choose from!
  • [3rd Party App Required] A paid or free app is required to use our OBDII engine scan tool, we do not develop or sell these apps but have many to recommend such as: Piston, Torque Pro, OBD Fusion, DashCommd, OBD Auto Doctor plus so many more! compatibility in other countries, please see product description.
  • [2 Year Warranty] We proudly back our OBDII trouble code reader with a professional 2 year warranty against all manufacturing defects! Our friendly, USA based, professional support team provide top notch service and will help you make the most of your new OBD 2 scan tool!
Bafx Products - Wireless Bluetooth OBD2 / OBDII Diagnostic Car Scanner & Reader Tool for Android Devices - Read/Clear Your Check Engine Light & Much More
▼ Read Reddit mentions

Top comments mentioning products on r/volt:

u/bhollra · 7 pointsr/volt

I bought a used volt right after my graduation this spring. 2013 with ~41k miles. Traded up from an 04 Jeep Wrangler and haven't had any regrets at all.

To address your concerns about space:
The volt fit way more stuff in it than I was expecting, especially if you are able to fold the rear seats down. I was able to fit a foldable 8ft table, a mini fridge, two large bags of clothes, microwave, TV and a few boxes of kitchen stuff and other knick knacks if that kinda gives you an idea of how much camping equipment you could pack.
I also installed a hitch (Curt Manufacturing CURT 11221... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0072UHJ8W?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf) for exclusive use with a bike rack. Did the install with my dad and with the right tools it wasn't bad at all.

As for my considerations buying used:
The general consensus I found online (largely from this sub, thanks y'all) was that Volts are well built and reliable, especially regarding the battery so I wasn't too concerned about range degradation and just and went with one I found within my budget and general location (was not a very wide selection). I maybe could have shopped around a little more, had one shipped to a dealer near me, etc. but I found one that fit most of what I was looking for and didn't really have time to be picky. One thing I do wish I would have payed more attention to was tire wear as I'm likely going to have to replace mine soon but live and learn I guess.
Having a 2013+ is nice because you get a slightly bigger battery over previous models I believe. You also get hold mode which is nice for road trips but by no means a necessity. Mine also has heated seats which I hear are great in the winter because they're much more efficient on the battery than blowing hot air. Haven't had had to test this yet and won't be a big issue for me in south Texas anyway but I think it would be worth considering for colder climates.
I don't have a backup camera. This was concerning to me at first. The volt is really pretty awful as far as rear visibility is concerned, at least compared to my jeep. After a about a month though it started feeling normal and isn't a big concern for me anymore. I thought about installing one aftermarket but getting it integrated into the original infotainment system was more complex/expensive than I deemed worth and I didn't want to mess with adding other screens or projecting to my phone or anything like that.

When it came to picking a volt in general. After factoring in the value of my Jeep + cost savings from way better fuel economy + the savings of using electricity vs gas I realized the volt would pay for itself in less than 5 years + I get nice things my jeep didn't have like Bluetooth audio, remote doors, and maybe most importantly for me reliable AC so it just made sense for me.
As a previous commenter alluded to, everyone's finances are different so it's totally up to you to decide if a volt is worth it for you.
I'm three months in and so far loving my decision. A PHEV is a perfect fit for me. I make regular trips ~400 miles to see family and friends so full electric wasn't viable. But during a typical week I get to drive on all electric all the time for ~ ½ the price of gas. As far as I could tell the Volt is the best PHEV at its price point for a used ~ 5 year old model.

Sorry for being a little long winded but I hope this helps your decision. And congrats on your upcoming graduation!

u/GonadsOfWrath · 2 pointsr/volt

>What are the brightest headlights you guys have found?

The absolute brightest would be these guys. These are 9012+30 bulbs--9012 bulbs that put out 30% more light than stock 9012 bulbs.

>I switch to LED and they are just a little bit brighter than the stock ones I took out.

That's because LEDs can't be focused correctly by your Volt's headlamps.

>I just don't want to waste more money buying stuff that is not very bright.

I've personally used and tested the 9012 bulbs linked above and they are very good. Better than the standard 9012 bulbs, and better than any 9012 bulb with blue tinted glass. There are also a bunch of Russians who tested these 9012 bulbs and found them to put out 30% more light than a standard 9012 bulb.

u/knikkie86 · 3 pointsr/volt

If the rear hatch still has that dim mismatched incandescent (every other light in the volt interior should be LED), then this should be a direct drop-in replacement. It's very very bright and a similar color/temp as the rest of the LED lighting. It's pretty much a required swap if you want to see anything in the back hatch when its dark out. Worked amazingly well on my 2018.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NCGFNB0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

For service/warranty issues, not all GM dealers are Volt/Bolt service certified. A non-Volt/Bolt certified dealer can service any part of the car that doesn't have to do with the HV system, but outside of that you have to visit a dealer with a certified service dept. I have about 6 dealers within 50 miles, but only one of them is certified by Chevy to service the voltec system.

​

The entire power train and battery and in fact anything considered part of the "Voltec" system are warrantied for 8 years or 100k miles (150k in California). It is both disappointing and surprising how many of the dealers selling the Volt don't actually know this. "Voltec" encompasses a lot, even including such things like the AC compressor and the AC system itself, as it is required for proper operation of the EV drivetrain. While not GM's site, this page explains it better: https://www.chevynorthcountry.com/parts-and-service/warranty-information/volthybrid-warranty/

​

I didn't come up with this information, it's just information that was shared with me from another Volt owner when I bought my 2018. I'm just passing it forward. :)

​

u/IckesTheSane · 1 pointr/volt

I've found this thread to be the most definitive:

https://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?218442-2016-Volt-120v-EVSE-is-L1-L2-Conversion-Capable

Page 7 has the best 'wire this wire to this wire' guide diagram. Lots of good info all over the thread. Plenty of people saying it works fine, others saying it will burn your house down.

You could also buy an adapter for an electric dryer, which would have half of the wiring done for you already, then get a standard plug for the other end. Start with something like this:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B002R0DXNM (making sure it matches the plug you already have, that particular one is an older style) Add on this to the other end:

https://smile.amazon.com/Leviton-5369-C-Connector-Industrial-Black-White/dp/B00002NAUA

The dryer plug could be long enough that you could cut the wire in half and add a different 220 style and a second one of those 110 ourlets, if say your parents house had one style and yours had another.

https://smile.amazon.com/Camco-PowerGrip-Replacement-Transform-55255/dp/B000PGVZ30

Or at least, that's maybe what friend of mine did...

u/davethetaxman · 4 pointsr/volt

Remember that you only get the lesser of 50% or $500 for both the charger and the installation/ESA inspection for a maximum total of $1,000 incentive.

Some suitable alternatives:

Super economical charger that delivers near 5kw of power. Not hardwired but has a weird sized plug. Good for the Volt, but maybe not a future vehicle and also on the list of eligible chargers:
https://www.amazon.ca/Leviton-EVBL2-P18-Evr-Green-Electrical-Charging/dp/B0173JGZNQ

Another economical charger that gives you a little bit of future-proofing as it delivers 9.6kw of power and on the list of eligible chargers. Hardwired though so tougher to take with you if you're going to move:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01MY70I8N

ChargePoint chargers - good for future proofing, wi-fi connected, but a little more on the expensive side. Comes in both hardwired and plug versions. 10% off right now helps, but discount expires July 9:
https://www.chargepoint.com/en-ca/products/home/summersale/

u/stevewm · 3 pointsr/volt

Individual conductors with no protection or insulation.

Using a outlet box with no apparent sign of strain relief.

220v plug with no apparent sign of strain relief.

Given that you are using a outlet box I assume you mean to permanently install this? This is not recommended... A NEMA 5-15 outlet providing 220v is not something that should be permanently mounted, because then it would look like any standard 120v outlet. Someone could easily plug a 120v device into it.

​

Something like this: http://www.kawal.net/volt%20adapter.htm is considerably safer and the way it should be done.

Even better, a pre-made 6-50 adapter cord can be had here!: https://www.amazon.com/ALEKO-WAC105015-Welder-Adapter-Female/dp/B01LQZZPUC

u/montyprime · 1 pointr/volt

I see no need for 240v. It is perhaps a move to future proof, but not needed right now. 12amp will charge the car overnight even if the battery is empty. As long as you have a good 15amp socket that can handle 12amp or a 20amp socket, you are fine to charge overnight.

If you want to leave a charger outside all the time too, I would recommend using a 3rd party charger to avoid having the factory one nabbed. I leave the factory one in my car for trips. I use this one every day and leave it outside: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075GJK2S9 It can work with 240v also if you do upgrade the outlet in the future, no need to buy another charger. The ends are easily removable and replaced for different outlet shapes with a screw driver.

You can also keep any charger out of the weather in a deck box if you need to charge outside because of no garage: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BWNZKI0 I use this one, cut holes in the back at the top. The charger sits in the box out of the elements and keeps the charger off the ground and makes it a little harder for someone to see it and nab it so I don't have to constantly put it in the car or inside. Also this is free standing, so no need to mount to your house. You can put it in the best spot near where your car parks and not on the wall of the house.

u/Parallelodox · 3 pointsr/volt

I owned a Dodge Charger before and did black plasti dip only on the grille and rims. It looked good, but I always thought a dark gray would look better. I really think on the Volt it will look better than just straight matte black also.

Here is the kit I'm probably going to buy to do it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TANNOYC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1UMBRA5ZTBCX8

That should be enough for everything, including the grille.

u/bostwickenator · 2 pointsr/volt

They are very generic 9005 bulbs, 650 lumens on a good day. I got these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XHD4HV3 They are easily 2 times are bright (remember perceived brightness is logarithmic)

u/PDXPayback · 2 pointsr/volt

If you’re still looking for a replacement, I picked up [this EVSE](
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075GJK2S9) for traveling, and it’s worked great, and it was the cheapest I could find. Also looks like the one being used in the picture.

u/Cewkie · 2 pointsr/volt

You would need the vehicle interface device. I wouldn't begin to know what's a quality interface or what's recommended, but I think I've seen one of these posted on here before.

Then you would need to purchase a subscription with GM TDS to get the software as well. It's about 60 dollars for 3 days. I'm not entirely sure what subscription is the one you need or what software you would need. This is the site, I believe.

Either way, I would not recommend this at all. You could end up irreparably or at least have to take it back to the dealership or even MORE expensive work like reflashing your car's computer or potentially replacing it.

u/nekyia_on_fridays · 2 pointsr/volt

Thanks, I found one on Amazon that I think I will try. It looks like it can do Level-2 Charging without needing to install a big unit. I have a 240 outlet. I'm going to try it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BGGVD9V/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

u/Quillava · 1 pointr/volt

Can't say much about ios compatibility, but I ended up getting this one - BAFX Products 34t5 Bluetooth OBDII Scan Tool for Android Devices - for my Android phone. Using it with the myGreenVolt works without any issues. There's a ton of similar products on amazon that look like the same thing but re-labelled as iphone compatible.

I started off buying a cheap $8 one that didn't work at all and had to return, so I would suggest looking at something in the $20 range like this one. The only downside is that my knees are constantly bumping into it when I drive, because of how much it sticks out under the steering wheel.

u/GreystarOrg · 6 pointsr/volt

I've used Torque (Lite) with this OBD2 reader: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NLQAHS

Works pretty well for what I wanted (reading codes). I've not used it for anything other than that though.

u/pat0102 · 1 pointr/volt

This is how I installed mine. You can see me taking the picture from the blind spot in the round mirror. It is less useful when it's raining and dark out, but works wonders for most situations.

https://www.amazon.ca/Ampper-Blind-Mirror-Frameless-Convex/dp/B01CV4ANCC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1537892313&sr=8-3&keywords=blind+spot+mirror

I do recommend sticking it in the inside upper corner. Other positions actually blocks too much of the original mirror... you need the far side of the stock mirror to judge distance of the car next lane.

Blind spot mirror

u/mafco · 1 pointr/volt

I agree. Just put a new plug on. Ask a friend if you're not comfortable doing it yourself. If you do buy a new one here's a level 2 (220V) model for under $250

https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Electric-Vehicle-Charger-Charging/dp/B071ZT5JZY/

u/but_how_do_i_go_fast · 1 pointr/volt

I would recommend the search feature for this kind of stuff. Lots of people are always talking about their roof racks, bike racks, kayaks, and customizations. Tagging /u/taxag70 from below.

Anyway, here is my post from just a couple of days ago:____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Rhino Rack (areo) is the roof rack we put on a couple of years ago, and it has worked flawlessly. We have a bike rack that I was able to put on in 15 minutes, and a kayak/canoe can be ratchet strapped up there with a pinch of common sense.

Notice any buffeting/noise or range degradation? Link to the ones you got?

Nope, the range has been the same before and after. The bike is thin enough to produce little to no drag. And I would argue that there isn't that much drag from the kayak, either.

Here is the type of bar:https://www.amazon.com/d/Car-Rack-Parts-Accessories/Rhino-Rack-Vortex-Aero-Cross/B00KT4D16M

I don't recall if the mounts are different or not. We went through etrailer.com and the customer service there was amazing. They picked it all out for my wife, and I got it as a birthday present. Otherwise, I would probably remember more about the specific models :)

u/mlor · 2 pointsr/volt

We have Leviton 240 charging stations at work. They look like this. The cars with disconnect alarms enabled definitely go off if unplugged.

u/somms · 4 pointsr/volt

https://i.imgur.com/GiYC8ug.jpg

Replaces the previous 48hr access for $55 subscription option that wasn't locked to a single VIN. Useful for DIY'ers to enable programming the most current GM calibrations for the multiple modules equipped on their Volts via an appropriate OBD-II programming tool.

u/chevyman142000 · 2 pointsr/volt

This is what I use and is suggested on the GM-Volt forums. I think it is worth it, you can update any of the other modules too, if you need.

​

https://www.amazon.com/VXDIAG-Tech2Win-Diagnostic-Programming-System/dp/B074365Q6H/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=vcx+nano&qid=1558923764&s=gateway&sr=8-3

u/bryanchalker · 5 pointsr/volt

Several out there should work fine, but I got this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NLQAHS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Just remember you will need to install the custom PIDs (requiring the $5 purchase of the Torque Pro) for the Volt/Bolt, in order to use properly.

u/MetalSavage · 2 pointsr/volt

I bought this one: ALEKO WAC105015 Heavy Duty Welder Adapter Cord 12 Inch STW 10/3 RV Adapter 50A Male to 15A Female https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LQZZPUC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_NmJhAbG746VJM