I've been testing the app for a few weeks now on my Ampera and it works great. We never got OnStar in Europe and this app makes up for it. Really happy.

 

I am interested. I did download MyVoltLifetime, and it worked to reset the display in the car. It appears to only modify that value and not the underlying data, which of course is good.

Is this new post here to get a feel for how much interest there might be, or are you looking for testers? If so, I have a spare phone to leave in the car, If I have understood rightly.

 

I am interested. I did download MyVoltLifetime, and it worked to reset the display in the car. It appears to only modify that value and not the underlying data, which of course is good.

Is this new post here to get a feel for how much interest there might be, or are you looking for testers? If so, I have a spare phone to leave in the car, I have have understood rightly.

I wouldn't mind another tester but you will also need a OBDLink MX Bluetooth for everything to work correctly.

 

Very nice Brian keep up the good work!

 

No Onstar in Australia either.
Sounds like a pretty handy solution.
The spare phone needs cell access right, can't use a phone without a SIM?
Have been playing with MyGreenVolt and feel I need more interaction

 

The spare phone needs cell access right, can't use a phone without a SIM

It depends. To really have an OnStar replacement experience, you would need to be able to reliably remotely interact with the car, thus requiring cell service.

On the other hand, MyVoltStar does allow commands to be generated locally. For example, I live in an apartment building whose garage is two levels underground and has no cell reception. Until this app appeared I never could use the pre-conditioning function. Now, I have MyVoltStar scheduled to pre-condition the car.

 

Scheduled preconditioning is a nice thing to have, should have been available in the car.
Nice little project you have going. I still have onstar service, but will be following it as that comes to an end. (but really just for gathering of stats/scheduled precondition - I will still be able to use onstar for lock/unlock/remote start for years)

 

for iPhone is not present in your application?

 

I'd like to make an iPhone version for this. Is the full command set available?

 

There is no command set. It is just a combination of a few messages that is sent to the bus to perform functions. Finding the messages is easy or hard depends on who you ask. I used this guide https://theksmith.com/software/hack-vehicle-bus-cheap-easy-part-1/ which helped a bunch.

 

I'm flagging this thread. Looks good. As a fellow software developer, I love creative projects like this. One big benefit is that I bet it will is much more responsive that waiting for the standard OnStar infrastructure to connect to the vehicle.

For me, this would be easily to implement as I leave an extra Android phone laying in each vehicle that I use for mapping and media. It's only hooked to WiFi but everywhere I park has WiFi and, if not, I can leave the Mofi on.

A couple of questions...

(1) Windows down : can that be just two windows or a single window and can be it set to just "crack" the window open, such as "one second of down" ?

(2) Is there information available to you on charge status, modes and charge rates, and perhaps even be able to alter mode and rate?

(3) When I added your application to my "watch list"in the Google Play store, I saw MyGreenVolt. A basic status display similar to their "Dashboard" would be useful to have in a single application with a single connection to the Bluetooth adapter.

(4) An option to display the battery temperatures in °F would be appreciated.

Ooops, that was four questions. Well, four comment-question somethings. Anyhow, I'll be watching with interest as I look for a OBD-II Bluetooth adapter...

Cheerios!

 

Thanks for the interest. To answer your questions.

1. The default is set that all windows roll up or down at the moment. I can set it in a future update if you want each individual window control from a sms. I cannot set it to crack the window just yet it may be a possibility in the future.

2. The app sends you in a message SOC:"RAW SOC" Fuel:"in Gallons or Liters" OAT:"Outside Temp in F or C" AC cur:"Charger Amperage" volt:"Charger Voltage" Last Chr:"Total Watt hours AC charger consumed since last plug-in". I know how to make changes to charge mode from delayed to immediate and vice versa but I have yet to test if it will work from the Volt powered off. I can read the schedule that is set in the radio but haven't decoded all the hex values yet.

3. My app is intended to be used while vehicle is powered off and only connects to bluetooth when needed then it disconnects and puts adapter into sleep mode.

4. I could display batt temp the same as mygreenvolt but within a status message.

 

I'm interested in beta testing too but I only have a ELM327 adapter so I don't know if it will work. Also, I'm on a Nexus 6P with Android 7.1.1 is that a problem? Finally, when I click on the link in your OP I only see 2 apps: MyVoltLifetime and MyVoltSMS. Is there some reason I can't see MyVoltStar?

I hope I can help. I'm not a coder but I love helping coders develop awesome stuff like this!

 

You will need to buy a https://www.scantool.net/obdlink-mxbt/ or build one yourself here http://ahdesign.us/blog/stn1170-bluetooth-obdii-adapter/. To be a tester you will need the hardware first no other OBD2 dongle is compatible with my app, then I will need your gmail email on the play store to grant you access to my app as a tester. I am nearing the limit on how many free testers I am supporting, a few more free testing positions are open until filled. I need someone with a Gen 2 to test this app if it even works and more UK testers.

 

A test from the cloud ☁ to car. Testing my DIY project http://www.instagram.com/p/BQ_Pe-bgKRV/

Very cool.

 

I'm glad this is happening!

Is this project Open Source? I'd like to work on an iOS/React Native version of it. The fact that Volt data is only available via OnStar is disappointing. I investigated Automatic which I have, but it doesn't currently support EV vehicles https://community.automatic.com/automatic/topics/hybrid_and_ev_battery_capacity_monitoring

I need a OBD Bluetooth Module, the linked one isn't compatible with iOS.

Update: This one supports iOS and Android https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00652G4TS?ref_=ams_ad_dp_ttl

 

The module I linked doesn't support third-party apps. I contacted Automatic about their module, they do not support hybrids or EV even with their newest OBD module.

Thank you for contacting us. Unfortunately, right now we don't support any electric only or hybrid vehicles with an electric only mode. We designed Automatic around gasoline engines and adding support for electric vehicles presents some challenges we're not quite ready to take on just yet. Buying an Automatic Pro wouldn't provide the information you're looking for.

Best,
Derrick S.
Customer Care Specialist

 

 

If anyone wants to build their own OBDLink MX module here is the link to a guide I found googling. http://ahdesign.us/blog/stn1170-bluetooth-obdii-adapter/

 

Do you need to leave your phone in the car for the scheduled pre-conditioning to actually work?

 

Nothing can be stored in the car computer without hacking it (which to my knowledge, no one has done yet). All this app does is pass the appropriate commands at the scheduled time (like you were pressing the fob to remote start in real time) - so it needs to be in the vehicle or within bluetooth range of the vehicle in order to send the signal.
What you could do, is repurpose an old cell phone that you could leave in 24/7, then you can take your main phone with you.

I plan to do a similar thing with a Pi at some point. Just haven't gotten around to tinkering. Plus, I still have onstar service, so no urgency on that.

 

Guys, will this "addon" enable me to use the preheating/cooling option on an European Volt that does not come with OnStart?

 

Hello,
i have a Opel Ampera, the OBDlink MX and MyVoltStar.
I get this error message on the phone in the car:

"Authentication Failed"

"Security Alert! A valid command has been received from an unauthorized number"

and this error message via sms on the other phone:

"Security Alert! A valid command has been received from an unauthorized number"

In the app on Phone1, I have my phone number so written: +49160xxxxxx50
Is that correct?

I hope somebody can help me.

 

Hello,
i have a Opel Ampera, the OBDlink MX and MyVoltStar.
I get this error message on the phone in the car:



and this error message via sms on the other phone:


In the app on Phone1, I have my phone number so written: +49160xxxxxx50
Is that correct?

I hope somebody can help me.

I haves so too, with the same configuration
have you succeeded since ?

 

there are successes in the program with the iphone?

 

My number starts with +386...but it didnt work in the app so I put only 386 and it works

 

How did I miss this thread all this time?!

Brian, are you still working on and supporting this? I see the apps in the Play Store now so I'm guessing they are more publicly available vs the private/invite-only status previously?

I just bought a 2011 with non-working OnStar as it needs the hardware upgrade...which now costs nearly $350 CDN by the time I'm all said and done, plus the monthly service obviously. If I can buy an old Android handset, stow it away in the trunk permanently mounted there hooked up to the battery (so it doesn't ever get power cut when the car shuts off the cigarette lighter plugs) and put it on a cheap $10/month PAYG text-only cellphone plan, this would work AWESOME for me.

Questions: (See updated in edit responses below, answered some of my own questions, just updating things...)

- Any chance it'll EVER support standard ELM327 OBD adapters, bluetooth or WiFi? I have one of both - the WiFi one because I'm an iPhone user and Apples stupid Bluetooth restrictions prevent the BT version from working. (EDIT: Nevermind, I now understand better why the more advanced MX adapter is *required*, not an option - the cheap ELM327 adapters can't talk to the car at the level required for things to work.

- Any issues with working on a non-USA number? I see some comments above by others that are suggestive of the fact that people elsewhere in the world are having difficulties getting it to work. EDIT: No problem with a Canadian number, works fine....

- What's the minimum version of Android required for it, and do you plan to update it at some point perhaps making the minimums step up? Like I said, I'd just be buying an old/cheap handset for this so I doubt it'll be running any of the latest versions of Android.

- And just confirming, it's only the phone in the car that needs to be Android, correct? I can still use my iPhone as my "daily driver" and just text the droid in the car without any issues? EDIT: Works fine, the other phone communicating with the car is just texting the phone IN the car, after all,
so platform doesn't matter. Android users are the only ones capable of running the MyVoltSMS companion app, however - non Android will have to just issue text commands manually, no problem.

Thanks so much for your work on this. I can't believe it's not getting more interest!

 

Minimum android is 4.2, i use old galay s3 mini

I am from europe and it works great. You can send commands from two phones, no matter what OS

 

Thanks. Picked up an Alcatel OneTouch for $40 this afternoon. Cheap, does the job, confirmed all the usual Volt related apps (Including MyVoltSMS, so I assume MyVoltStar is good) work fine.

Working on finding a local Canadian solution for the MX. Found a place about an hour away that has them, confirming if I can pickup in person...otherwise Amazon it'll be.

 

One of the Canadian dealers for the MX is out of stock, and the other took 4 days to respond to my inquiry..had already ordered one from Amazon by then. No wonder some businesses are struggling.

Anyhow, providing Amazon doesn't drop the ball on shipping I should have it tomorrow, and I should be up and running with everything by tomorrow night.

 

Too bad thou, that OP, stopped working on the app. I've read he had plans to include function that would turn on car's 12V plug in case GSM's battery falls. This is the only downside as phone only chargers when car is ON. So I have to take it out of the car every few days and charge it fully.

Workaround is to get a powerbank that can be charged fast and then provide power for the phone.

 

My MX Module arrived today (I went to the post office to pick it up in person vs dealing with the gamble of it arriving in my mailbox either on time, or before 9PM) and I got it running today, it's working 95% awesome!

Got a $13.50/month (cheapest possible option) text-only plan for the phone I'm using.

If anyone has any questions I can answer them perhaps His last visit here was about a week back and I see he last posted about this project in June over at SpeakEV. That's when he posted the app freely available in Alpha form on the Play Store. Gladly paid my $12 for it today.

EDIT: I talked to Brian in the Volt Owners FB group, he's still poking at things but understandably has some other priorities right now, but it sounds like he has some updates and new features coming eventually - I'm looking forward to it! . Brian, I hope you haven't lost faith in the community here because of lack of support for this or something. I think that if more people understood it better and realized it's really a cheaper (and more functional, the best part!) alternative for OnStar it would gain more traction. In my case, with OnStar hardware in my car that doesn't even work anymore here in Canada, this sure beats paying the dealer $350 for the new hardware update.

I'd love to see a few more things included if you get back to poking at this again:

- Ability to manually override and start charging immediately if the vehicle is plugged in but on time delay charging (OnStar does this). Ability to STOP charging as well and return to the programmed charging schedule would be a bonus!

- The "turn on the chargers and top up the phone if power is low" feature would be awesome, but I have a workaround for that. See below.

- The ability to turn off ERDTT via a command to MyVoltStar instead of using the MyVoltHold app separately. I noticed today that if MyVoltHold (which FWIW works awesome through the MX, good riddance ERDTT when I don't want/need it!) is left running in the background that MyVoltStar seems to loose communication with the MX module and then won't work, so one needs to remember to kill the app after using it. I know some day I'll forget to kill MyVoltHold and will be unable to communicate with the car. EDIT: I ended up setting up a macro that kills MyVoltHold when the phone loses power (therefore assumes I've turned the car off) and boots up MyVoltStar to be ready to accept commands, problem solved..but would still love to see ERDTT disable/Hold Mode become a part of MyVoltStar natively, even if it's via an in-app purchase upgrade or something. One app vs multiple apps makes things potentially simpler.

Also, is it possible to get proactive feedback FROM the car like OnStar - charge completed, charge interrupted, etc?

Dare, my solution for the power issue this - I plan to simply run a small fused circuit directly from the 12V AGM battery in the trunk (or rear fusebox) up to the passenger compartment area and then use that for a constant 12V source of power for a standalone charger used solely for the phone running MyVoltStar - no issue that way. Your idea of using a powerbank has merit as well but the issue there is that it too will need to be charged once it's depleted, and my experience is that they take FOREVER to charge up, so you'd need to driving for potentially 3-4 hours to get them recharged depending on the size. Some also won't charge when something is plugged into them as well. I want this to be as little hassle as possible without really needing to interact with the phone at all in the end so the permanent-power solution is easiest for me.