[?'smyvolt]

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

 

[Luvthevolt]

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

 

[stuart]

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 spoke with my VA "Kevin" yesterday. He told me that they had put the upgrade on hold again because they were trying to streamline the upgrade and reduce it to a much shorter process. I'm guessing that the bean counters at GM are looking at 4+ hour warranty claims from the dealers and are hoping that they can shorten the time and reduce their costs.

When the upgrade was first announced, I decided that I had no reason to be on the bleeding edge of that process. I'm glad I waited and I will continue to wait.
Stuart #B2209

 

[scottf200]

I spoke with my VA "Kevin" yesterday. He told me that they had put the upgrade on hold again because they were trying to streamline the upgrade and reduce it to a much shorter process. I'm guessing that the bean counters at GM are looking at 4+ hour warranty claims from the dealers and are hoping that they can shorten the time and reduce their costs.

When the upgrade was first announced, I decided that I had no reason to be on the bleeding edge of that process. I'm glad I waited and I will continue to wait.
Stuart #B2209

Not sure why you are thinking of it negatively and as "bean counters" as it behooves so many people if they can optimize this process. Helps the dealerships, the techs doing the work and helps the end users (us) as we may choose to wait or shop nearby vs renting a car, etc. It is a great thing they are doing IMHO to stop a rollout and adjust. They get some heat but they are reacting and being agile. Props to them I say!!

 

[stuart]

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

 

[bitguru]

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??)

Where did that come from? I can't speak for everyone who is annoyed by the radio behavior, but I'm not asking for the turn signal sounds to be silenced or anything like that.

It's not a matter of consuming power, it's a matter of not being able to do simple things like toggle the climate control recirc setting or take a quick look at the GPS map without the audio system suddenly coming on.

btw, I have learned to hit the mute button in these circumstances, but (1) the brief bit of sound is still annoying, and (2) if I'm in the middle of a podcast or recorded book, to which I usually listen when driving alone but not when carrying passengers, it loses my place.

That said, I don't expect this software update to change this. If I'm incorrect then I'll be pleasantly surprised.

But please don't be one of those people that sticks to one bad dealer. Try other ones since it's a Chevy and not a Lambo, you have choices, and they are all owned and operated by different people with differing levels of service.

I'm displeased with my dealer's service department, so we've essentially decided to switch. But it's not necessarily easy to find a better one. I have reasons to believe the service department at the dealer closest to my house would be even worse. There was a time, according to my grandfather a couple of decades ago, that all GM repairmen were crooks.

 

[JohnK]

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.

 

[techtom]

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

 

[MichaelH]

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?

 

[?'smyvolt]

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

I have delayed as you suggested.....

Thanks!

# 565

 

[Mybatcar]

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 .

 

[fishhawk]

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

 

[tfford]

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.

 

[solar_dave]

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.

 

[tfford]

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!

 

[panzer948]

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!

 

[ctdeng0]

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.

 

[MichaelH]

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.)

 

[Fluke]

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.

 

[maynard]

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.