Is this the software update that has been discussed in several different threads lately (service bulletin 11137)?

 

I would wait on the update. My Volt has had a few problems since the update.

 

So I am scheduled to drop the car off tomorrow night so they can do the deed Wednesday - - they tell me the upgrade takes about 4.5 hours. Is it worth the risk of fixing something that isn't broken?

# 565

 

I just had it done today and I'm waiting for the dealer to deliver the car. I'll let you know if I notice any difference. B-1567

 

My Volt recieved the update Monday, wile in to get the charge port door sensor problem fixed.
One thing that I thought would be in the update was the fix for the problem with the delayed charging being overridden with out connecting and reconnecting the plug.

Even though I had not experienced this problem before, I did today.

So was this correction included or not?

I did specificly ask the dealer for that update.

Also as others had mentioned on the other update thread, my Volt was returned clean but with the battery 28 miles lower on charge and about 18 miles more on the odometers, no gas was used.

 

One thing that I thought would be in the update was the fix for the problem with the delayed charging being overridden with out connecting and reconnecting the plug.

Do you have another thread that describes this? You can override right before exiting the car like is clarified in this thread: http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread...t-the-movement-charge-quot-off-peak-quot-even-if-you-don-t-have-TOU-hourly-plan.

 

Well it wiped out all of my radio presets, as someone warned that it would. I specifically asked them to charge the car with their Level 2 charger, and they promised that they would. It was returned with 8 miles of AER showing. I would be willing to bet that someone either didn't know enough to override the preset charging time, or just forgot. Oh well, everybody has to learn sometime. Stay tuned.

 

We got the Volt software update today and really wish GM would let us know what was changed or fixed. It really would be great to get the KW/mile data on the LCD instead of miles driven, or in addition to that.

 

I was not trying to overide the delay, it just did it by it self, a bug that the up grade was suposed to fix.

 

Back to the original post to this thread. Is GM recommending that we wait if we have not yet got the update? Perhaps a VA could comment on this?

 

I had the update done on my Volt #2389 and have had no problems whatsoever, and I have put 2,305 miles on since, including separate trips to Arkansas and Chicago. The update is subtle, somewhat like a Microsoft security update. The dealer said 7 modules were re-programmed. Other than the delayed charging not being delayed, nobody has mentioned specific problems. I use delayed 240 volt charging and have not seen that problem. Could it be that your estimated start time was before the charge would be complete, so it started charging earlier? (Option is something like charge based on rate and drive time).

You trusted GM enough to buy the Volt, why wouldn't you trust their update based on a year of engineering experience? (It's not some small software company putting out a new version). I think it's commendable that the update did not include "mission creep"; changes wanted that would not be documented in the owner's manual. And for those of you who want to turn the radio completely off (it would be in violation of Federal Vehicle Safety Standards because the radio is used for the turn signal sound and various chime warnings), they could have done something that made the radio look like it was off, but it would still be consuming power. (Do you guys also unplug your toasters when they are not being used??)

Yes, I had to reset the time, radio resets and some vehicle configuration options, but no big deal doing that.

 

...including separate trips to Arkansas and Chicago...

Another Volt came to Arkansas and I missed it! I still have not seen a Volt on the road other than mine.

 

@ Frankman,

If you have not had the update yet, we do recommend that you wait. We will let you know when we are ready to start up again. If you have had the update and are experiencing an issue with your Volt, hold off for now and once the newest revision is complete you can take it in to your dealer to be looked at. I will keep everyone on here updated and once the revision is complete, I will make a post.

 

This is one time when my procrastinating personality has really paid off. I didn't get the adviser call on the first round, but I did on the second and I have been a slacker in calling back. Good thing!

 

Trevor, you just replied 1 hour ago and I had mine done last Thursday after the first "software update pause" was issued. What issue is it now?

So far I've noticed that my battery no longer charges to 40 miles and my steering is slightly heavier.

 

@AllenL

I have not been told any specifics, I have just been told that it is temporarily on hold while they make another minor revision. Like I said, I will keep everyone updated, and once the revision is made, I will be posting about it.

 

Trevor, I think it's important for us to know at this point when this next revision is released whether it's considered, critical; high/medium/low, cosmetic or simply suggested.

I for one am not particularly interested in putting up with my dealer again anytime soon and would prefer my next visit (if I have to have one) to be of a warranty nature and simply get an update at that time as well, if one exists.

As GM/Chevy has introduced a product with significant technological advances over the standard automobile it's a sad predicament for those of us who want more than simply to drive from point A to B economically to have to deal with such an arcane infrastructure, our dealers, which really have no clue what this is all about. To them if it don't fit, get a hammer and if it still don't fit, get a bigger hammer.

 

I've been a "propeller head" enough years that I should have known (and really did) when the first notice was given.

Maybe January would be a good time frame?

 

I Would wait a few weeks or a month if you can wait.

 

I have delayed as you suggested.....

Thanks!

# 565

 

you're right. I agree completely. didnt mean to say that this was a bad thing. Just thought that the financial realities of the upgrade were probably driving the moment. In any case, streamlining and becoming more efficient is a good idea.
Stuart #B2209

 

Got my software update done on Monday. Last night (2nd nightly charge cycle - first "normal" cycle where I plug it in and delayed charging starts the charge at 11PM) the car did not charge. Found out when I went to take the garbage out for weekly pickup. There was a red light on the 240V EVSE. There was a message on the DIC "unable to charge" (scary). Unplugged and replugged. By departure for work time it was close to fully charged.
This morning after plugging in at work (at reduced charge rate) I got a text message (timestamped about 30 minutes after start of charge) that the car was not charging. Walked out to the parking structure and all was well. Probably just coincidental.
Not able to tell of any changes other than the various sound volumes were kind of out of whack and the radio favorite stations were gone - and set to all kinds of things.

 

Got my update today. Disappointed that it didn't include the kilowatthours (kWh) as the 2012 models have. Called the VA's and they mentioned the 2011s will not be getting the kWh readout. Other than that, I haven't noticed too much. Seems like the ECO climate fan control is a little slower. VA said they basically corrected a few glitches.

Tom
1996

 

Got my update today. Called the VA's . . . Tom
1996

The last I heard, Trevor said the update was on hold and that he would let us all know when it was available again. Did you hear from a VA that it was now available again, or did you just go in because you didn't hear about it being on hold? I cancelled my appointment based on the "on hold" announcement and a call to my VA on Wednesday morning.

Trevor, can you weigh in?

 

Since getting the software upgrade my VOLT no longer shows an estimated battery range beyond 40 miles when fully charged. It used to regularly predict 42 - 44 miles range with a full charge. I have not made any changes to driving style or AC settings.
** There's another thing I have noticed** It is very subtle, but I believe this has changed. It seems the deceleration rate when removing my foot from the accelerator while driving in L has lessened. It does not feel the same as before, it seems like the car rolls farther in L than it did before the upgrade, and I seem to be using more brake pedal to stop. Driving on the same street, to the same traffic light, at the same speed as before the upgrade, I now must use more aggressive braking to stop, whereas before the upgrade I would practically come to a complete stop in that same distance only by coasting in L.
I would like to know why this range prediction has decreased, and if anyone from GM can comment on the deceleration in L aspect regarding the upgrade.... or is it just me .

 

The update did not affect my range prediction. I still see 40-42 miles every morning.

 

I've also had the software update although I'm not 100% WHICH ONE. I think it was after the first hold but before the second. Jeez!

This morning my predicted range was 48 miles. I drove 31 to get to work and it says I have 25 left.

 

I have been holding off on this update until I hear about the success and issues. They have put a hold on this a couple times, still waiting on it to stabilize.

 

Can you say . . . wait for it . . . wait . . . MICROSOFT!

 

Does one have to make an appointment with the dealer and drop it off for an extended time for it to be completed (like my BMW has to) or can I just schedule a time and wait about 30 mins for them to complete it?? Other than that I have no reason to take my Volt to the dealership. Oil change still shows 75% after 7000 miles. Nice one!

 

They are updating 7 modules and it takes more than 2 1/2 hours. You also need to bring in your charger at the same time.

 

And I was told that your battery must be fully charged. For me that means taking it in and leaving it overnight so they can charge it at 120V. (My closest dealer is 40 miles away and they don't have a 240V charging station yet.)

 

I had mine updated this week. The car did not have to be fully charged, but it does have to be plugged in (mine was plugged in using 120V) during the update process.

 

We had our Volt software updated 2 days ago. The battery had 15 miles left so you don't need a full charge. The entire update took 1:30 from start to finish. Our Volt has 7,800 miles so I had the tires rotated and set to 45psi. I also had the oil changed. I know it wasn't due but I like to do the first oil change on a new engine early. We do have a fair amount of engine use as we took a trip from Michigan to Florida and back, plus our weekly trips of 100 miles each way on weekend to our cottage on Michigan's thumb. Our update included the usual clock error issue and we also no longer show a range above 40 miles. The actual mileage seems to be a bit better than before. We have always noticed that we would lose about 3 miles in the first mile after charging. That no longer happens.

 

After upgrading the software on Sept 13th, my car is finally showing a full battery charge predictive range above 40 miles as it did the previous 9 months. I'm not sure why it was showing less than, or no more than 40 mile range for two weeks after the upgrade, but it had me concerned I was never going to get the high battery mileage predictions in the mid 40s and I thought the upgrade was to make the car more efficient. This morning it is up to 42 predicted miles. All seems fairly close to normal again with that aspect of the car with the newer software and I hope the predicted miles return to 44-45 as they used to. A sigh of relief....

 

Sounds like the FL temp might have something to do with that. Is it cooling off there?

Mine jumped up without a software upgrade. But it jumped overnight from a real world (not estimated) 31 mile range to a real world 42 mile range. That was wierd.

It's now slowly creaping down to around 36 real world.

Wish I had more of the data of the car to know why the dramatic changes with very little change in outside temp.