Chevy Volt LT 2017 Audio System Problems (Aux. input / Bloothooth)

8488 Views 12 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Riggs, Aug 31, 2019

allenwp

Discussion Starter · Dec 4, 2016

Hi there,

I'd like to personally ask that if you have any of these same problems with your Volt, please report them to GM's T.A.C. department. The more people that report the problem, the more likely it will be fixed with a software update. You're welcome to reference this video and mention that you've heard of others with the same problem(s).

Description of problem:

Audio output problem with auxiliary input and bluetooth audio in 2017 Chevy Volt LT. Software version 84089006 Gracenote 23199236.

Occurrence test results:
1:36:11 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=1h36m11s

iPhone 4S version info:
1:32:54 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=1h32m54s

Android Nexus LG 5x version info:
1:35:04 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=1h35m04s

---

*** PROBLEM 1 ***
- Audio output does not work -
Both auxiliary input audio and bluetooth audio output do not work at all when the car is started and will not work until the car is turned off. This problem appears to happen randomly, but happens regardless of whether a bluetooth device is paired.

Demonstrations:
When starting car with iOS bluetooth connection:
1:58 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=1m58s
10:59 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=10m59s
15:54 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=15m54s
28:14 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=28m14s

When starting car with no auxiliary input and NO bluetooth connections:
53:44 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=53m44s
1:23:52 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=1h23m52s
1:30:05 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=1h30m05s

When starting car with Android bluetooth connection:
1:06:56 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=1h06m56s
1:17:43 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=1h17m43s

---

*** PROBLEM 2 ***
- Auxiliary input audio makes glitch sounds -
Both auxiliary input audio and bluetooth audio output do not work at all when the car is started and will not work until the car is turned off. This problem appears to happen randomly, but happens regardless of whether a bluetooth device is paired.

Demonstrations:
41:54 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=41m54s

---

*** PROBLEM 3 (minor issue) ***
- Audio takes abnormal time to start -
Sometimes, regardless of whether a bluetooth device is connected, the audio system takes an abnormal amount of time to start. Before it starts, a fan somewhere behind the main console can be heard spinning briefly. Audio playback will start after the fan finishes spinning. This is a minor issue to me, but I thought this might be relevant information to pass on. (To me, it sounds like a part of the HMI module has crashed when trying to boot followed by a restart where the fan can be heard spinning... But that's just a guess I'm making about what's happening.)

Demonstrations:
13:14 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=13m14s
36:59 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=36m59s
1:14:30 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=1h14m30s
(and many more through the test process)

---

*** PROBLEM 4 (minor issue) ***
- Chime sounds are staticy/glitchy -
Sometimes the "bluetooth connected" chime sounds staticy/glitchy. This is a minor issue to me, but I thought this might be relevant information to pass on.

Demonstrations:
17:01 https://youtu.be/4A_HkZHpFqs?t=17m01s
(and many more through the test process)

---

A GM T.A.C case has been opened by my dealer regarding this issue (opened on Nov. 29, 2016).

This video was taken after the HMI module was replaced. Replacing the HMI module appears to have made no change to the behaviour and problems.

HMI module was replaced during a service visit to my dealer (Myers, 1200 Baseline Road, Ottawa, Canada) to attempt to resolve the problem. The third party "York Electronics" has been dealing with this issue.

See less See more

Save

1 - 5 of 13 Posts

allenwp

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 4, 2016

jbakerjonathan said:
I read your post and I can't offer any advice, sorry.

A point of clarification: how has York Electronics been involved with the issue? Have they been attempting to resolve your issue for you, or what? Are they somewhat expert in the Gen2 Volt?

Good luck.

No worries, thanks for taking the time to look through the details.

I believe that York Electronics is a local third party that my dealer contracts out to for work on software / high tech systems on their cars because my dealer does not have the expertise for some specific components, such as the bloothtooth and Chevrolet MyLink functionality. I have only interacted with York Electronics through the two service appointments with my dealer where they tried to resolve the problem by replacing the entire HMI module. I believe the HMI module is produced by Bosch, since a link in the "Open Source Software" page of the car's console points to their website ( http://x.co/boschcmoss ).

I suspect that the problem is with the HMI module's software or the interaction between the HMI module and the rest of the audio system. Because this appears to be a software issue (replacing the HMI module hardware did not make a difference), I expect that this happens with all Gen2 Volts (or at least 2017 LT). So, as I mentioned earlier, if it ever happens to anyone else, it would be helpful to let GM T.A.C. know about the issue through your dealer.

Thanks!
Allen

See less See more

Save

allenwp

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 6, 2016 (Edited)

quirkySquirt said:
I'm new to cars with manufacturer warranties, but don't people who service the warranty need to be approved/certified to a GM standard? So any accessories electronic work done on the Volt has to be by someone approved by GM?

Do you by chance have another dealer nearby for a second opinion?

Hmm, good point. I could take the car in to another dealer to see what they say. Heh, it'd be funny if they ended up also making use of York Electronics for dealing with the issue. But at this point, the issue has already been raised to GM T.A.C., so I should probably wait it out a bit longer to see what ideas they come back with. I might do that if this route goes nowhere, but for now I've just bought an FM transmitter as a stop-gap solution for some reliability.

Save

allenwp

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 11, 2016

Thanks for letting us know that this problem was happening with you as well, snorth!

I've found that if you're willing to turn the car on and off at least 80+ times, you'll be able to easily reproduce problem number 1, 3, and 4 with no problem. But all of three of those problems appear to occur randomly, so be ready for many, many attempts before you can reproduce them. Or, you might get "lucky" and the problems will happen every 5 or 10 times. I don't know if it matters, but I always open the driver's door after turning off the car to make sure it fully shuts down. (And I turned off the "keys left in car" warning sound in the settings so it doesn't honk every time.)

I personally feel like problem 3 and 4 are a hint that something bigger is going wrong... Please let us know if you experience problem 1 or 2 as well!

Allen

Save

allenwp

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 30, 2016

Thanks for letting us know that it's happening with the premiere model, Ash45. I believe that you have the Bose sound system, so seems that the Bose/non-Bose system has nothing to do with this problem.

Save

1 - 5 of 13 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month