[Arcanox]

I just went to lunch and my 2016 wouldn't remote start. The app told me to "try again" and when I tried with the remote, the lights flashed but it didn't turn on. It worked this morning, so I wasn't sure what could have changed, but then I remembered I didn't have that much gas left and had used 0.2 gallons on the interstate this morning. I filled up and it works again. I still had 45 miles of gas left (and 36 miles of EV), and there was a notch lit up on the fuel gauge...I could have sworn I've remote started it with no notches on the fuel gauge before.

Does anyone know the actual fuel level that's used as the threshold for remote starting (or why an EV even requires fuel to remote start when there's over 50% battery left)? I think the actual gallons remaining is provided via OBD2 but I don't know the threshold value.

 

[Arcanox]

I just asked my friend who has a 2017 and he said he's started his with less than 30 miles of fuel left. Does the ambient temperature maybe raise the fuel threshold? It's colder today than it has been since last winter.

 

[somms]

If any of the conditions listed below occur, a remote start event may be aborted or cancelled:
• Vehicle is in valet mode
• Vehicle doors are ajar
• Rear compartment lid is ajar
• The bonnet is open
• The doors are not locked
• The hazard switch is ON
• Vehicle power mode is incorrect
• Vehicle speed is greater than 0
• Transmission is not in P
• Excessive engine coolant temperature
• Low oil pressure
• The malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is commanded ON
• Engine crank time is greater than 30 seconds
• Excessive engine speed
• Accelerator pedal position too high
• Remote start timer equals 0
• Immobiliser system indicates a theft attempt
• Vehicle propulsion system fault conditions
• High voltage battery fault conditions

FWIW: Above list of what may prevent remote start for the Gen1 Volt, low fuel isn't even listed...

 

[Arcanox]

FWIW: Above list of what may prevent remote start for the Gen1 Volt, low fuel isn't even listed...

Interesting. The Gen 2 manual says "A second remote start or extension will not occur if the fuel level is low." Here, I couldn't even get a first remote start (via app or remote) until filling up. I tried again right after I heard the fuel tank valve close as I was waiting for my gas receipt to print, and it worked fine. I wonder if the manual's wrong (as it is in several other sections as well).

 

[MP81]

Mine has not been able to precondition (while plugged in) via the app, or the fob for the past two days.

My friend informed me it's due to the fact I am teetering between one blue bar of fuel left - and that blue bar turning yellow with the "Fuel Level Low" message displaying - depending on the vehicle's mood.

Means I need to fill up on my way home (for the first time since I filled it up the night it was delivered - back in March) so I can precondition tomorrow morning as it is supposed to drop down into the low 30s.

 

[Arcanox]

Mine has not been able to precondition (while plugged in) via the app, or the fob for the past two days.

My friend informed me it's due to the fact I am teetering between one blue bar of fuel left - and that blue bar turning yellow with the "Fuel Level Low" message displaying - depending on the vehicle's mood.

Means I need to fill up on my way home (for the first time since I filled it up the night it was delivered - back in March) so I can precondition tomorrow morning as it is supposed to drop down into the low 30s.

My app reported "Vehicle precondition failed" the other day, but I went outside to see it running. I think the app is having its own issues lately.

I have a feeling the vehicle increases the fuel level threshold at which it will not remote start if the ambient temperature gets too cold. It probably doesn't check the "Engine Assist Heat" setting before remote starting, and assumes it's set to "on" and not "deferred". It's 37 degrees out, which is right on the border of non-deferred ERDTT coming on. My fuel was teetering on 1-2 blue bars this morning, but I drove several miles on the interstate in hold mode and it went down to (what I'm guessing is) right on the border of 0-1 bars.

 

[wordptom]

The Volt owner manual has always mentioned low fuel conditions associated with Remote Start, with a slight change in Remote Start conditions from Gen 1 to Gen 2 to include the key fob and the shift lever position.

If the computer allows an initial remote start on one day when you have a low fuel volume, it most likely sets a low fuel flag, so it won’t allow you to use remote start again later that day or on any following day until you add more fuel.

The Low Fuel warning comes on with ~1.2-1.5 gallons in the tank. A 30 mile Gas Range estimate is not necessarily a reliable indicator of the amount of fuel in the tank. During my second FMM in my 2012 Volt, my gas range said 26 miles, then switched to “low fuel” just 15 minutes later. I then drove 60 miles further before running out of gas. The 26 miles gas range estimate was based on recent history of limited amounts of cold-engine driving and EMMs, and driving with a warmed-up engine during the FMM gave me many more miles.


From the 2012 Owner’s manual:
Conditions in which a remote start may not occur include:
. An open hood.
. Vehicle propulsion system fault conditions, including an emission control system malfunction.
. High voltage battery fault conditions.

A second remote start or extension will not occur if the fuel level is low.

From the 2017 Owner’s manual:
Conditions in which a remote start may not occur include:
. An open hood.
. The RKE transmitter is in the vehicle.
. The vehicle is not in P (Park).
. Vehicle propulsion system fault conditions, including an emission control system malfunction.
. High voltage battery fault conditions.

A second remote start or extension will not occur if the fuel level is low.

 

[Arcanox]

The Volt owner manual has always mentioned low fuel conditions associated with Remote Start, with a slight change in Remote Start conditions from Gen 1 to Gen 2 to include the key fob and the shift lever position.

If the computer allows an initial remote start on one day when you have a low fuel volume, it most likely sets a low fuel flag, so it won’t allow you to use remote start again later that day or on any following day until you add more fuel.

The Low Fuel warning comes on with ~1.2-1.5 gallons in the tank. A 30 mile Gas Range estimate is not necessarily a reliable indicator of the amount of fuel in the tank. During my second FMM in my 2012 Volt, my gas range said 26 miles, then switched to “low fuel” just 15 minutes later. I then drove 60 miles further before running out of gas. The 26 miles gas range estimate was based on recent history of limited amounts of cold-engine driving and EMMs, and driving with a warmed-up engine during the FMM gave me many more miles.


From the 2012 Owner’s manual:
Conditions in which a remote start may not occur include:
. An open hood.
. Vehicle propulsion system fault conditions, including an emission control system malfunction.
. High voltage battery fault conditions.

A second remote start or extension will not occur if the fuel level is low.

From the 2017 Owner’s manual:
Conditions in which a remote start may not occur include:
. An open hood.
. The RKE transmitter is in the vehicle.
. The vehicle is not in P (Park).
. Vehicle propulsion system fault conditions, including an emission control system malfunction.
. High voltage battery fault conditions.

A second remote start or extension will not occur if the fuel level is low.

The odd part is that I remote started it twice this morning before hopping on the interstate...once while plugged in and once a few minutes later while waiting in Dunkin Donuts.

Then used the 0.2 gallons of gas, and parked at work. When leaving for lunch it wouldn't remote start at all until refilling, so it must set that flag while the vehicle is running too.

 

[jcanoe]

Supposedly there is a limit of three times a day that OnStar enables you to precondition your Volt using the MyChevrolet or OnStar App.

 

[Arcanox]

Supposedly there is a limit of three times a day that OnStar enables you to precondition your Volt using the MyChevrolet or OnStar App.

I'm pretty sure I've done it more than 3 times in a day before. I had only done it once today when it failed, though. Then after filling it up I remote started it twice more with my fob and twice more with the app and it worked all 4 times.