Pawlik Automotive Podcast Apr 13, 2026

2023 Chevy Bolt EV Maintenance Service

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0:00

6:13

Concept

$800

The episode uses the dealer’s “over $800” estimate as a reference point for discussing whether the recommended maintenance level was appropriate. It highlights how EV maintenance scope can strongly affect cost.

Term

brake fluid flush

A brake fluid flush replaces old brake fluid with new fluid. Over time, brake fluid can pick up moisture, which can make braking less reliable.

Term

rotate the tires

Tire rotation means swapping tire positions so they wear more evenly. It can help your tires last longer and grip more consistently.

Term

brake service

A brake service here means more than just looking at the brakes—it can include taking parts apart, cleaning them, and making sure everything moves freely. That helps the brakes work smoothly.

Term

sliders

Sliders are the parts that let the brake caliper move smoothly. If they get stuck, the brakes can wear unevenly and feel less consistent.

Concept

premature

“Premature” means doing the service earlier than it really needs to be done. They think the dealer’s brake work was probably too early for this car and where it’s driven.

Concept

road salt or harsh winters

Road salt and harsh winter conditions accelerate corrosion and can increase the need for certain maintenance, especially brake-related components. The shop notes their climate is not as harsh, so they expect less urgency for brake service.

Term

engine compartment

The engine compartment is the space under the hood where key parts live. Even on an EV, there are still important systems there, just not the same as a gas engine.

Term

high voltage cables

Electric cars have special wires that carry a lot of power. When a mechanic works on them, they have to make sure the system is shut down safely before touching anything.

Term

brake fluid reservoir

Brake fluid is the fluid that helps your brakes work. Over time it can pick up water, which can make the braking system less effective.

Term

regenerate

Electric cars can slow down by turning motion back into electricity. That means they often don’t need to use the brake pads as much as a gas car.

Term

emergency stops

An emergency stop is when you have to brake hard and fast. Even in an electric car, the normal brake system still has to work when you really need it.

Term

brakes will lock on, hold your car in place

When you’re stopped at a light, the car still needs to stay put. It may use the brakes to hold the car in place, which still affects brake wear over time.

Concept

three year service on an EV

The shop is saying they recommend a brake-related service about every three years. Even though EV brakes wear slowly, the parts can still rust and start sticking.

Term

corrosion

Corrosion is rust. If a car sits a lot, rust can build up on brake parts and make them stick.

Car

GMC pickup

They’re using their GMC truck as an example of brakes lasting a long time. Different vehicles and driving habits can change how quickly brakes wear or rust.

Car

Land Range Rovers

They’re talking about Range Rover SUVs and saying the brakes don’t last as long. Brake wear can vary a lot depending on the vehicle and how it’s driven.

Car

Chevy Bolt

The Chevy Bolt EV is an electric car, but it still has regular brakes. Even with regen slowing the car, the brake parts can rust or get stuck if you don’t maintain them.

Term

warranty

A warranty is coverage for repairs if something goes wrong within a certain time. The important takeaway here is that getting service at the right time—and keeping records—usually doesn’t cancel your warranty.

Concept

documentation

Documentation means keeping records that you followed the maintenance schedule (e.g., service invoices and proof of completed work). This is important because warranty coverage can depend on demonstrating that required maintenance was performed.

Company

Pollock Automotive

Pollock Automotive is the shop they recommend in Vancouver. They’re saying the staff there are experienced with EVs and can help you with service.

LIVE

Hi, it's Mark Bossard. I'm here with Bernie Pawlik, Pawlik Automotive in Vancouver, Vancouver's

best auto service experience. And we're talking cars. How are you doing, Bernie?

Doing very well.

Today's guest is a 2023 Chevy Bolt and EV. What was going on with this vehicle?

This vehicle is about somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 kilometers and it was due for a

maintenance service. So the owner decided to bring it to us for a maintenance service.

So a pretty new car, not even three years old, possibly. Why would they bring it to you instead of the dealer?

They didn't really like the dealer's quote for the service. It was somewhere over $800. We're in Canada.

That's the Canadian dealer price and whatever service they were offering for this mileage and time.

They thought it was a little excessive. And yeah, and so did we. The vehicle, in our opinion,

didn't really need the level of service that they're recommending at the dealer.

Not exactly even sure what they were recommending for that kind of money, but we offered a service.

It was a whole lot less and very thorough.

You gave me the vapors. I got a Chevy EV, $800.

Yeah, that's a good question on a car that really, you know, fluids to be replaced.

So what we did do on this particular service is we did flush the brake fluid.

We replaced the cabin air filter to a basic inspection. There's not really a lot to look at on a vehicle of this age.

We did rotate the tires, inspect the brakes.

And I think their quote may have actually included in the GM quote may have included a brake service,

which would involve taking the brakes apart, cleaning and lubricating them, make sure all the sliders work fine.

And that's an important thing to do. But I think with the mileage on this vehicle in the age,

it's a little premature, maybe next year or the year after would be a good time to do a brake service in our climate,

which is not super road salt or really harsh winters.

What are we looking at here?

Yeah, so we're looking at the engine compartment, but I guess we're called at the motor compartment.

So what's under the hood? It's kind of interesting. A lot of orange cables.

Those are all high voltage cables. So you have to be very careful.

You can touch the outside of them, no problem.

But when you're working to dismantle things, you got to make sure things are powered down when you touch those cables.

If you look in the back, you can see a clear reservoir with a black cap on the right hand side.

That's a brake fluid reservoir. So we did flush the brake fluid, which you should do every two to three years.

What I find interesting under this hood is there's three cooling system reservoirs.

So there's actually three separate cooling systems on this vehicle.

And those will need service at some point, but not for many years.

The anti-freeze, the coolant in these is first not under the strain.

It isn't a combustion engine. And second of all, the chemistry of these tends to last a long time.

So we can probably speculate that it's for the battery system is one, the electric motor is another.

And we don't know what else.

Yeah, exactly. I didn't actually research why there's three of them.

But typically some will have a cooling system for the electronics in the vehicle.

The other will do the battery. I'm not sure why this thing has three of them, but a little research I could probably get back to you and tell you.

So with the brake system, like EVs regenerate, they don't necessarily use the brakes in the same way that a normal car and ice car uses them.

So what's the difference? What have you noticed and seen you service quite a few EVs?

Yeah, brakes can last a very long time in EVs because they're really not used very often.

They're in fact, sometimes only for emergency stops or maybe the very last minute of stopping.

Or of course, when you're sitting at a light, the brakes will lock on, hold your car in place when you're stopped.

So brakes can last a very long time, but servicing them is an important thing to do because over time, you don't service the brakes.

Things rust and corrosion will build up where the brake pads slide and then the brake pads will eventually stick and then they'll wear out prematurely.

As I mentioned, we usually have what we call a three year service on an EV and so about every three years, you do a brake service.

That's a good thing to do. That'll keep the brakes lasting a long time.

So in a way, then not being used as much allows them maybe to have other issues that you have to keep an eye on.

Exactly. And in all fairness, you should do brake services on an internal combustion engine vehicle as well.

Because they're subject to corrosion as well.

Some vehicles, the brakes don't really last.

It's odd because some internal combustion vehicles, like I have a GMC pickup, like a one ton pickup truck.

I bought it new. It's five and a half years old.

The brakes still have 60 or 70% left on them.

And it's amazing how long some break.

It's got 120 Ks on it.

I mean, at the rate it's going, it'll probably go to 200.

So it's funny how some cars, the brakes last.

Range Rovers, big European SUVs, they don't last that long.

All that extra go power that needs a lot of extra power.

Yeah, I'm still yet to figure out why some last and some don't.

But anyways, we're talking about EV.

Yeah, service them because it's important.

It keeps your cost down in the long run.

Either that or if you leave it, then eventually they'll seize up and you'll have to replace everything and that costs a lot more money.

And so what was the overall shape of this bolt?

What's your opinion of a Chevy Bolt?

Oh, it seems very good.

This vehicle is in perfect shape.

Nothing to complain about.

I believe the owner's happy with it.

And these things, they are covered by warranty.

I don't know for how long, but being a two and a half year old car, I guess at this point,

any issues that the customer would have should still be covered by warranty for a little bit.

And I know there's been some recalls on them.

I'm not sure any details on that, but overall it's a nice little vehicle.

So warranties, if I bring my car to you, do I void my warranty?

No, you don't.

As long as you follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule and you have documentation,

you can bring it to any shop and it's all good.

So if you're looking for your service for your Bolt or your EV of any kind, make and model,

get it serviced in Vancouver at Pollock Automotive.

There are experts in this.

Pollock Automotive in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

You can reach them online at PollockAutomotive.com.

You can book your appointment right there or you can call them 604-327-7112.

They'll book your appointment.

You have to book ahead though.

They're always busy.

Pollock Automotive in Vancouver.

Thanks so much for watching and listening.

Thanks, Bernie.

Thank you, Mark.

Thanks for watching.

0:00

6:13

2023 Chevy Bolt EV Maintenance Service

$800

GMC pickup

About this episode